The Silk Road, along the ocean, hit the Swahili Coast. From there, Swahili traders exchanged Asian goods for African goods from the interior.
Of course, the Europeans would end up rerouting this trade to preference Europe, leading to the end of that trade route.
My question: if China were to keep her interest in ocean navigation, thus remaining a player in ocean-going trade and keeping this route open, what would be the effect on the Swahili? Would gunpowder reach them from Asia, along with other new technologies? Economic outlook? Really, anything you guys think, I'm interested in.