In 1632, Basilides is king of Abyssinia, with the centre of power based on Gondar. With the arrival of the Portuguese, attempts are begun to convert the Ethiopians to the Catholic form of Christianity. The Ethiopians follow Coptic Christianity, which dates back to the earliest Christian times. After 1632, Catholic Jesuit missionaries are expelled from Ethiopia.

The kingdoms of Rwanda, Burundi and Ankole (in Uganda) are formed. However, many people in east and central Africa continue to live in very decentralized communities where the highest form of government is the village council.

In 1415, the Swahili city state of Malindi sends a giraffe to the emperor of China. Beginning in 1405, the Chinese sailor and explorer, Cheng Ho led the largest Chinese fleets of exploration across the Indian Ocean yet seen. The biggest was recorded as containing 317 ships from small junks to the massive treasure ship, almost 150 metres long and carrying nine masts. Cheng Ho made his last voyage in 1433, ending more than 500 years of direct trade between China and East Africa. The Chinese at this time began to break off all contact with the outside world. And just as the Chinese voluntarily withdrew from Africa and the Indian Ocean, the Europeans were arriving.

The Chinese junk was quite different from European ships. The sail, something like a venetian blind instead of a single huge sheet of cloth, and the broad, square hull were both design innovations to make ships that could survive the stormy seas of southeast Asia, made dangerous by the seasonal typhoons and monsoons.

After their first voyage in 1498, the Portuguese came back in strength. The Swahili city states on the coast were attacked and conquered one by one: Zanzibar in 1503, Kilwa and Mombasa in 1505, Malindi and Pemba in 1520.

Expecting aid from the Ottoman Turks, who had expanded south into Egypt, some Swahili cities revolt against the Portuguese in 1585. But the Turks cannot help and the revolt is put down. In 1593, the Portuguese build Fort Jesus at Mombasa as their main base.