1. CH. 13 TROPICAL AFRICA AND ASIA

2. 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

4. Human Ecosystems Adaptation essential
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;
Adaptation essential
Hunting (C. Africa/Himalyas), fishing (E. Africa/SE Asia), pastoralism (NE Africa/Arabia)
Farming dominant way of life b/t
Bananas, yams, coffee to the tropics
Extensive vs. intensive agriculture: ext = soil exhaustion moved farmers; slash and burn

5. 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 14th century Islam

8. Mali and the Delhi Sultanate
NEW ISLAMIC EMPIRES
Mali and the Delhi Sultanate

9. 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

10. 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

13. 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
: northern India controlled by Muslim invaders; looting, enslavement, destruction of Hindus
Brutal conquest turned into benign rulership
Hindus protected if paid a tax

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

15. INDIAN OCEAN TRADE

16. 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
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

17. 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

18. India 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

19. 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

20. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHANGE
TIMBUKTU

21. 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

22. 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