Both Christianity and Islam arrived in East Africa because of trade. Christianity first arrived in Axum. Islam arrived later in the trading towns along the coast of East Africa. Christianity's spread was mainly limited to Axum and Ethiopia. Islam became more widespread in East Africa. It even spread into Axum and weakened Christianity there. Christianity influenced the government and culture of Axum and Ethiopia. Rulers in each kingdom adopted it and helped it gain hold there. Although Axum weakened, the Christian tradition continued in Ethiopia and is still strong there today. The strong Muslim influence on the coastal trading towns helped to shape the Swahili culture there. Like Christianity in Ethiopia, Swahili and Islam are still strong on the coast today.
