This book presents the results of an archaeological study of early urbanism at Unguja Ukuu on southern Zanzibar. A substantial settlement of timer structures was established there from c. 500 AD and it was in contact with the interregional trade network of the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and the African interiror. The result of this study challange previous understanding of the origins of urbanism on the East African coast. The author, Abdurahman Juma who is in charge of the Antiquities Unit at the Department of Archives, Museums and Antiquities, Zanzibar, Tanzania defended his doctoral thesis at Uppsala University on May 26th 2004.