Week 5 Flashcards
What types of economic, social and political structures were found in the kingdoms and states along the west coast and in the Sudan?
Benin (southern Nigeria)
Culture: 1600s-1700s artistic creativity
Society and Politics: Stability given by the
opa (the king) ≠ disputes between
families in Senegambia
Trade: From 1485 rich profits from slave
trade with the Dutch and Portuguese
Expansion: Late 15th-century Expansion to
the Niger river (East) and Yoruba country
(West)
Read the descriptions of Timbuktu by Leo Africanus, and of Jenne by al-Sadi on page 569,
A) What impresses the authors about the places they visit?
B) What do you learn about the economy and social society of Timbuktu and Jenne?
A) Leo Africanus on Timbuktu:
Architecture of palace
“princely palace… built by a most excellent workmen of Granada”.
Modesty
“All women of this region except maid-servants go with their face covered…”.
Wealth
“The inhabitants, and especially strangers that are residing here, are exceeding rich”.
Al-Sadi on Jenne
Charatable
“The rich king of Tombuto hath many plates and scepters of gold”.Al-Sadi on Jenne: “It is the nature of Jenne’s inhabitants to be kind and charitable, and solitious for one another…”.
Resources
“These two blessed mines [that of Taghza and that of Bitu] have no equal in the
entire world…”.
B) Timbuktu: rich people; great abundance of milk, butter but not of salt.
Jenne: kind and charitable people; Muslim; important mines
Locate the places visited and described by Duarte Barbosa on a map (p. 578-79). What do you learn about the economy, natural resources and diet of the places he visits?
Duarte Barbosa was a Portuguese explorer who traveled extensively in the Indian Ocean region in the early 16th century. Based on his writings, we can learn about the economy, natural resources, and diet of the places he visited.
In India, Barbosa observed a vibrant trade economy with a wide variety of goods, including precious stones, spices, textiles, and timber. He also noted the cultivation of rice, wheat, and other grains, as well as fruit orchards and vegetable gardens. Barbosa described the use of cattle and buffalo for plowing and transportation, and the production of silk and cotton textiles.
In the Maldives, Barbosa noted the abundance of fish in the surrounding waters, as well as the cultivation of
coconuts, betel nuts, and spices such as cinnamon and cardamom. He also observed the use of coral as a building material and the production of lacquerware.
In Sri Lanka, Barbosa observed the cultivation of rice, sugarcane, and spices such as pepper, cinnamon, and
ginger. He also noted the use of elephants for transportation and military purposes.
Overall, Barbosa’s writings suggest that the places he visited had diverse economies based on trade and agriculture, with abundant natural resources such as fish, spices, and timber. The diets of the people he encountered were based on a variety of grains, fruits, and vegetables, supplemented by seafood and meat from domesticated animals
Compare the phenomenon of slave trade in Africa before the arrival of Europeans, with the slave trade fomented by European intervention. Take note of figure 20.2.
Figure 20.2 shows the volume of the transatlantic slave trade from Africa to the Americas between 1500 and 1900. While slavery and slave trade existed in various forms in Africa before European intervention, the scale and brutality of the transatlantic slave trade had a significant impact on the continent.
Before the arrival of Europeans, slavery existed in Africa but was generally a smaller-scale practice, often
involving individuals captured in warfare or debtors. Slaves in Africa were not considered property, and their offspring were not automatically born into slavery. There were also mechanisms for manumission, or the release of slaves from bondage.
The transatlantic slave trade, which began in the 16th century with the arrival of Europeans, brought about significant changes to African societies. The trade was fueled by demand for labor in the Americas, and African elites began to capture and sell their own people for profit. European slave traders often relied on these elites to provide captives, and violence and warfare increased as a result. The transatlantic slave trade was characterized by extreme violence and brutality. Millions of Africans were forcibly transported across the Atlantic, and many died during the journey.
Those who survived were subjected
to harsh labor conditions and often brutal treatment. The slave trade had a significant impact on African societies, causing demographic and social disruptions, and contributing to economic underdevelopment.
Overall, while slavery and slave trade existed in Africa before the arrival of Europeans, the transatlantic slave
trade brought about significant changes to the continent, with devastating consequences for millions of
Africans who were forcibly transported and enslaved in the Americas.
What role did the military play in the success of the Ming, Qing and Tokugawa dynasties?
Ming dynasty: in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), the military was responsible for overthrowing the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty and establishing the Ming dynasty. During the early Ming period, the military was organized into three branches: infantry, cavalry, and navy. The Ming military was also known for its use of firearms, including cannons and muskets. The military was instrumental in defending the dynasty against internal rebellions and external threats, such as the Mongol Empire
and the Japanese pirates known as wokout.
Qing dynasty: in the Qing dynasty (1644-1912), the military played a crucial role in the Manchu conquest of China and the establishment of the Qing dynasty. The Manchu army was skilled in horseback riding and archery, and they used these skills to conquer the Ming dynasty. During the Qing dynasty, the military was organized into the Eight Banners, a system of military and social organization that helped to maintain Manchu dominance over the Chinese population. The military
was also responsible for defending the dynasty against internal rebellions and external threats, such as the Russian Empire and the Western colonial power.
Tokugawa dynasty: in the Tokugawa shogunate (1603-1868), the military played a key role in the establishment and maintenance of the shogunate’s power. The Tokugawa shogunate was founded by
Tokugawa Ieyasu, who defeated his rivals at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. The Tokugawa shogunate established a system of military rule, known as the bakufu, that lasted for over two centuries. The military, led by the shogun and his samurai retainers, was responsible for maintaining
social order and enforcing the shogunate’s policies. The military was also responsible for defending Japan against foreign invasion, such as the attempted invasions by the Mongol Empire in the 13th century and the Western colonial powers in the 19th century.
To what extent were China and Japan maritime powers?
China
China was a significant maritime power during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644),
particularly during the early part of the dynasty.
The Ming dynasty saw a period of great exploration and maritime expansion under the leadership of Emperor Yongle (r. 1402-1424), who commissioned a series of seven naval expeditions led by the famous Chinese admiral Zheng He.
Zheng He’s expeditions, which began in 1405, were massive in scale and covered a vast area, from Southeast Asia to the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, and the coast of East Africa.
The fleet consisted of hundreds of ships, some of which were reported to be as large as four football fields, and carried tens of thousands of sailors, soldiers, and merchants.
The expeditions were intended to establish diplomatic relations, promote trade, and project Chinese power and prestige. In addition to the expeditions led by Zheng He, the Ming dynasty also established a robust maritime trade network that extended throughout Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East. Chinese merchants traded in a variety of goods, including silk, porcelain, tea, and spices, and Chinese ships dominated the sea routes of the Indian Ocean. However, the Ming dynasty’s maritime expansion and exploration declined after the early 15th
century, due to a variety of factors including internal political and economic issues, as well as the emergence of the isolationist policies of the succeeding Ming emperors. Eventually, the government banned maritime trade and exploration, contributing to the decline of China’s maritime power and the rise of Western colonial powers in the region.
Japan
During the period between 1400 and 1600, Japan was not yet a major maritime power, but it was gradually expanding its naval and maritime capabilities. During the Muromachi period (1336-1573), Japan experienced a period of internal turmoil and warfare known as the “Warring States” period. During this time, there was limited maritime trade with neighboring countries such as China and Korea, but there was little naval expansion or exploration beyond Japan’s immediate
coastal waters. However, during the late 16th century, the rise of the powerful daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-
1598) led to significant changes in Japan’s maritime capabilities. Hideyoshi recognized the importance of naval power and initiated several naval campaigns against neighboring countries, including Korea and China. These campaigns were not always successful, but they contributed to the development of a stronger Japanese navy and expanded Japan’s maritime trade and influence. Additionally, Hideyoshi’s successor, Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616), also recognized the importance
of naval power and established the “maritime prohibitions” (kaikin) in 1633. These prohibitions restricted maritime trade and travel to certain designated ports and effectively isolated Japan from the
rest of the world for over two centuries
Read ‘Interior view of a Kabuki theater’ and answer the questions
What types of economic, social and political structures were found in the kingdoms and states along the west coast and in the Sudan?
Senegambia
Language: Wolof, Serer, Pulaar
(West African language group)
Culture:
Center for contacts with North Africa and the Middle East + contacts with Europe and the Americas for the transatlantic slave trade = both Muslim and Western influences Culturally homogeneous ethnic populations
Society and Politics: Stateless societies, Small villages without a central capital, Both Wolof and Serer speakers had defined social classes: royalty, nobility, warriors,
peasants, low caste artisans and enslaved
people.
Age-grade systems: among the societies of Senegambia, groups of teenage males and females whom the societies initiated into adulthood at the same time. Social life centered on the family → disputes between families (≠ stability given by the oba in Benin)
Trade:
Slaves were individuals who were pawned for debt, house servants who couldn’t be sold, people who were acquires
through war or purchase
In some places, slaves were considered chattel property: “chattel” comes from the Latin word “caput” (“head”) + “al” = “so many head of cattle” → enslaved people weren’t human, but subhuman, like beasts.
But in Senegambia and other places many slaves were not considered chattel property and could not be bought and sold. Some even entered the royal palace and gained
prestige.
Enslaved people’s descendants were sometimes considered free (≠ Americas)
What types of economic, social and political structures were found in the kingdoms and states along the west coast and in the Sudan?
Songhai (Western and Central Sudan)
Culture: Muhammad Toure
Converted to Islam (elites)
Many doctors, judges, priests who had studied in Cairo and other Muslim centers
Cosmopolitan atmosphere (Jews
and Italian traders
Society and politics: Muhammad Toure
Centralization through strong army,
improvement of taxation procedures,
replacement of local Songhai officials
with Arabs
Economic prosperity (abundant food
supply, high demand of luxury goods…)
Many strengths, but also many problems:
like Islam never took route in the countryside
Muslim officials alienated the king from his
people
Muhammad Toure’s reforms were a failure
No cohesive elements between different
peoples
No strong method of transferring power (only three of the nine rulers of Muhammed
Toure’s dynasty died natural deaths)
Muhammad Toure’s death → political instability → 1591: end of the empire
due to a defeat by Moroccan soldiers
Trade: Important role in economy played by
slaves → they produced rice for the royal granaries. Slaves could posses their own slaves, land and cattle, but they could not
bequeath any of this property; the king
inherited everything
Muhammad Toure: increase of royal slaves
Expansion: Muhammad Toure: expansion
in Western Sahara (salt mining center at Taghaza) and to the East
What types of economic, social and political structures were found in the kingdoms and states along the west coast and in the Sudan?
Kanem-Bornu
Culture: Idris Alooma: devout Muslim →
mosques
Society and Politics: Idris Alooma
feudalism by granting land to able
fighters in return for loyalty and the
promise of future military assistance
After Idris Alooma’s death → no
successors with his vitality and military
skills → decline
Trade: Trade of young girls
and eunuchs to North Africa in return for horses and firearms
Expansion: Idris Alooma
he subdued weaker peoples and gained
jurisdiction over an extensive area
What types of economic, social and political structures were found in the kingdoms and states along the west coast and in the Sudan?
Hausaland
Culture: Intellectual centers (e. g. Kano and Katsina) that attracted scholars
Society and Politics: Muhammad Rimfa
Muslim practices
Seclusion of women
Ramadan
Trade: Slave trade with North African communities in the Sahara → Islamic
influence
