Tropical Africa and Asia, 1200-1500 Chapter 8

I. Tropical Lands and Peoples A. The Tropical Environment Warm year round Tropics set between Cancer and Capricorn, equator at center Africa, southern Arabia, most of India, SE Asian mainland and islands Heavy rainfall on western coast of Africa all year, dry inland Monsoons throughout Indian Ocean Heavy rainfall produces rainforests. Most people in this area live between the deserts and rainforests. Many rivers assist in survival.

B. Human Ecosystems Ecosystem: how people make use of the plants, animals, and other resources of their physical environments Domestication existed, but some preferred to rely on “wild” food (hunting, fishing, plants) Pastoralists used knowledge of local water and rain patterns to feed animals Northeastern Africa and Arabia was home to world’s largest concentration of pastoralists Most Africans made livelihood through agriculture Farming even more dominant in South and Southeast Asia (dense populations as a result)

C. Water Systems and Irrigation Basic form of cultivation had always been extensive Farmers abandoned fields every few years after soil’s natural fertility was exhausted. Cleared new fields, ashes from burned trees boosted soil fertility Intensive agriculture: rice in Niger River delta Farmers in SE Asia built special water-control systems to irrigate terraced rice paddies Villagers in SE India built dams to slowly release water through canals. Largest irrigation systems in the tropics were government public works projects Vulnerable to attack, but could be rebuilt through local initiative, simpler technologies

D. Mineral Resources Mining and metal work throughout the tropics Copper and gold most valuable, important in long-distance trade Iron most abundant and useful Farming and hunting tools, needles and nails, weapons African blacksmiths tied to magical powers Indian gold and silver mines exhausted by this time period, imported lots of gold E. Cities and empires rested on the food, labors, and taxes of the regular people of these lands.

II. New Islamic Empires A. Largest and richest tropical states of the time period B. Mali in the Western Sudan Founded by an indigenous African dynasty Replaced Ghana Adopted Islam through peaceful influence of Muslim merchants and scholars Takrur: location of first sub-Saharan African ruler to adopt Islam, about year 1030 Muslim rulers fostered the spread of Islam. Wealth depended on participation in trans-Saharan trade

Mansa Musa (r. 1312-1337): made pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca Depended on a well-developed agricultural base and control of trade routes Larger than Ghana, controlled trading area and gold fields of upper Niger river; great prosperity as a result Mansa Musa (r. 1312-1337): made pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca Travelled with large entourage Gave out gold for gifts, depressed value Built new mosques and schools in Mali cities Ibn Battuta (Muslim scholar from Morocco) praised Mali’s government. Began to decline after 200 years Central states (Hausa, Kanem) grew in importance

C. The Delhi Sultanate in India Founded and ruled by invading Turkish and Afghan Muslims Divided states of northwest India subject to raids since 11th century Warlords motivated by desire to spread Islam and plunder for goods Between 1206 and 1236, Muslim invaders extended rule over Hindu princes and chiefs Muslim rulers eventually grew more benign, required Hindus to pay special tax Hindus never forgot the intolerance and destruction of first contacts with invaders

Ruler Iltutmish designated daughter Raziya as his heir. Good ruler, did her best to please subjects, imprisoned by Turkish chiefs, killed by a robber Sultan Ala-ud-din Khalji (r. 1296-1316): ruthless but efficient, frontier raids and high taxes kept treasury full Wage and price controls in Delhi, network of spies Extended south and took Gujarat in 1298

Rulers mixed in terms of tolerance and success Turkish rulers relied on terror more than toleration; harsh military and high taxes Threats to Delhi Sultanate: personal and religious rivalries within Muslim elite, discontent of Hindus Bahmani kingdom (1347-1482) controlled Deccan Plateau Hindu states of southern India united and formed Vijayanagar Empire Bengal (east) became center of Sufi tradition of Islam

Gujarat (west) got independence in 1390. Turko-Mongol leader Timur took Delhi Delhi Sultanate important to in development of centralized political authority in India Efforts to improve food production, promote trade and economic growth, est. common currency Islam gradually acquired permanent place in South Asia

III. Indian Ocean Trade A. The Indian Ocean region was the world’s richest maritime trading network and an area of rapid Muslim expansion. B. Monsoon Mariners Desire for luxury goods Larger ships built Greater strategic importance after collapse of Mongol Empire disrupted overland trade routes Two legs: Middle East across Arabian Sea to India and India across bay of Bengal to SE Asia Chinese junk the top ship Networks tied together through commercial interests rather than political authority

C. Africa: The Swahili and Zimbabwe 30-40 separate city-states along East African coast by 1500 Swahili: “shores of the blacks,” mixture of African, Arabic, and Persian influences Mogadishu the most important commercial center Great Zimbabwe hit peak in 1400 Lots of gold Unmortared stone structures built for upper class Mixed farming, cattle herding, long-distance trade Ecological crises hastened decline in 15th century

D. Arabia: Aden and the Red Sea Aden at southern coast of Arabia Monsoon winds brought enough rain to survive. Convenient stopover for trade Good relations among different cultures and religions of the area

E. India: Gujarat and the Malabar (southwestern) Coast Prospered through trade, rich agricultural hinterland Muslim rulers extended control over neighboring Hindu states Exported cotton and indigo in return for gold and silver Marco Polo wrote about leatherworks.

D. Southeast Asia: The Rise of Malacca Principal passage from Indian Ocean to South China Sea Between Malay Peninsula and island of Sumatra Mainland kingdom of Siam and Java-based kingdom of Majapahit had control. Malacca dominated the narrowest part of the strait Meeting point for traders from India, China, and Southeast Asia Cosmopolitan residents

IV. Social and Cultural Change A. causes: state growth, commercial expansion, spread of Islam between 1200 and 1500 B. Architecture, Learning, and Religion Wealthy merchants and ruling elites spent lots of money in cities. Mansions, palaces, places of worship Muslims promoted literacy in order to read religious texts. Advanced Muslim scholars studied Islamic law, theology, administration, and math and science. Muslim rulers did not impose their faith; merchants, missionaries more persuasive. Islamic invasions reduced Buddhism to minor faith in India

C. Social and Gender Distinctions Significant growth in slavery as the elite prospered Status of Hindu women may have improved Sati ritual now optional for widows Marriages still arranged before puberty Women expected to observe stricter rules than men, punished by lighter penalties than men for crimes against law and custom Female status determined by male “master” Roles for women: child rearing, food preparation, farming, making clay pots, making clothes, spinning yarn, marketing in Africa

V. Conclusion Much of this chapter can be found in the travels of Ibn Battuta (1303-1369). Tropical Africa and Asia contained nearly 40% of world’s population Commercial, political, and cultural expansion drew diverse people together Delhi Sultanate brought South Asia its greatest political unity since the Guptas Mali extended Ghana’s role in West Africa. Empires and kingdoms rose and fell, but villages endured.