CH. 13 TROPICAL AFRICA AND ASIA

Tropical Lands and Peoples

Afro-Asian tropics have cycle of rainy & dry seasons = caused by winds Africa: west coast rainfall, except in Dec/Jan Indian Ocean Monsoons: Dec-March is southern Asia’s dry season; April-Aug is wet season Environmental variations from wind, rain, altitude Rivers redistribute rainfall

Human Ecosystems

• • • • • Adaptation essential Hunting (C. Africa/Himalyas), fishing (E. Africa/SE Asia), pastoralism (NE Africa/Arabia) Farming dominant way of life b/t 1200-1500 Bananas, yams, coffee to the tropics Extensive vs. intensive agriculture: ext = soil exhaustion moved farmers; slash and burn • • • • • • • • • Water Systems & Irrigation Uneven distribution of rainfall Farmers moved water to crops via conservation Terraced hillsides; water storage & irrigation Largest irrigation systems were gov’t public works Crops grown throughout year Delhi, Ceylon, Angkor Disruption when gov’ts faltered Village-based vs. gov’t systems Iron most abundant; copper/gold in Africa;

Ibn Battuta

• • • • Moroccan Muslim scholar (1304-1369) Visited Islamic lands: Dar al Islam from China to Spain and Western Sudan Traveled 73,000 miles; Islam provided safe passage Details of the cosmopolitan nature of 14 th century Islam

NEW ISLAMIC EMPIRES

Mali and the Delhi Sultanate

Mali

• Islam not forced into western Africa  Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa thru gradual & peaceful conversion; commercial contacts  Sundiata established Mali empire 1230s  Based on agriculture and trans-Sahara trade, fostered by Islam  Gold & Copper trade controlled; prosperity and power for rulers

Mansa Kankan Musa

• • • Ruled from 1312-1337 Pilgrimage to Mecca showed Mali’s wealth Traveled with huge entourage:  Wife and “other ladies” and slaves  60,000 porters and tons of gold So much gold to Cairo that it depressed its value there for years

The Delhi Sultanate of India

Compare Islam in India vs. Islam in West Africa…  Turkish dynasty from Central Asia captured Lahore and Delhi  Hindu gods/temples replaced w/ Muslim mosques  1206-1236: northern India controlled by Muslim invaders; looting, enslavement, destruction of Hindus  Brutal conquest turned into benign rulership  Hindus protected if paid a tax

The Sultans of Delhi

ﮡ ﮡ ﮡ ﮡ ﮡ Iltutmish: 1211-1236; recognized by caliph of Baghdad; consolidated northern India Raziya: Iltut’s daughter; 1236-1240; killed for being a woman, though more able than anyone to rule Ala-ud-din Khalji: 1296-1316; frontier raids & high taxes; seized Gujarat, extended to south India ibn Tughluq: 1325-1351 expansion; religious toleration to win loyalty of Hindus; Firuz Shah: 1351-1388; taxed Brahmins and alienated Hindus Sultanate ruled thru terror & high taxes; conflicts b/t Muslims & with Hindus led to its downfall

INDIAN OCEAN TRADE

Africa

• • • • The Swahili Coast Sawahil al-sudan; East African portion of Indian Ocean trade network Mogadishu-Kilwa Commercial expansion w/ arrival of Arab & Iranian merchants Gold in Kilwa passed thru Great Zimbabwe • • • Great Zimbabwe 1250-1450 peak Mixed farming & cattle herding Gold trade brought great wealth = had to pass thru GZ to get to Swahili coast and beyond • Depletion of nearby forests & overgrazing led to decline

Arabia: Aden and the Red Sea

• • • • Location ideal for monsoons and trade w/ India, Persian Gulf, East Africa, Egypt Merchants very wealthy Generally good relations among diff’t religions and cultures Commercial interests above all else Goods from…  India: cotton cloth, beads  Southeast Asia: spices  Arabia/Ethiopia: horses, slaves, gold,ivory  Red Sea: pearls  Cairo: luxury manufactures  Hinterland: grain, opium, dyes

• • • •

Gujarat: Cambay

Increased trade after land trade disrupted Export of cotton textiles/indigo; gold/silver in return Spread Islam to Malacca Manufacturing: large markets in Eur, Africa, ME • •

Malabar Coast: Calicut

Rulers tolerant; location key to trade prosperity Clearing-houses in long distance trade; locally grown grains and spices

India

Southeast Asia: the Rise of Malacca

• Geography: eastern end of Indian Ocean & main passage to South China Sea Commercial Choke Point!!! Meeting point for traders • • • • Political: Malacca became important thru alliances Subject to Siam (Thailand) and China Conversion from H to I promoted trade w/ Muslim merchants Emporium for SE Asian trade Cosmopolitan residents; 1500 peak

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHANGE

TIMBUKTU

Architecture, Learning, & Religion

• • • • • • • Islam the major force for change in tropics; most change noticed in urban areas Islam blended w/ local styles and resources for mosques Mosques, churches, temples centers of education; Sub Saharan Africa: Islam & literacy together Timbuktu and Malacca: 1500s major centers of Islamic learning Spread of Islam thru example & persuasion; Long-distance trade/markets Marriage: merchants were single men who married local women, thus conversions increased Rural conversions: some saw forced inequalities of Hinduism as hopeless; variations in diff’t areas

Social and Gender Distinctions

Slavery India: product of wars of expansion (Hindus) Africa: wars of expansion & export of slaves Most slaves trained in skilled trades & military Slaves as servants for wealthy Women • • • • Hindu Sati optional Status based on male master- dad, husband, owner Not active in commerce, admin, religion Food preparation key; brewing for rituals Much of farm work; pottery; spinning; selling work in local markets