Fort Jesus National Monument
INNOVATION
Fort Jesus bears witness to Western civilization's first successful attempt to dominate the Indian Ocean trade routes, which until then had remained under Eastern influence. The fort's design, with its proportions, imposing walls, and five bastions, reflects Renaissance military architectural theory.
Built at a time and in a region that were at the center of emerging political, commercial, and cultural globalization, Fort Jesus, with its imposing structure and various traces of subsequent modifications, is a significant testimony to the exchange of cultural values between peoples of African, Arab, Turkish, Persian, and European origin. Built and first occupied by the Portuguese, Fort Jesus in Mombasa changed hands several times throughout its history, passing under Arab, Swahili, and English control. Its important role in controlling trade also saw it welcome many peoples from the Indian Ocean basin.