Introduction to I.O.B I.O.B = Indian Ocean Basin Zone of Interaction Oceans, deserts, grasslands Served as meeting places for people of different backgrounds Indian Ocean First real ocean humans could cross w/o clinging to coastline Where Africa and Eurasia came together A Sailor’s Ocean Ideal for early sailors Most of waters are warm Most major storms stay in south (few people) Monsoon winds Predictable cycles Just had to “wait” for right time W shape – across smaller bodies of water 3 circle pattern of travel and diffusion
The Ocean Connects Medit. trade = E to W ( little variation in ecology) Indian Ocean – connects variety of environments Variety = stimulus to trade Exotic & Unique goods Human Diversity Port Cities (waiting for next monsoon) Cosmopolitan living People in Motion Spread of Austronesia Language (Madagascar) Slave Trades & Labor Migrations Brings ethnic diversity Merchants Religious teachers and missionaries Import teachers (Hinduism SE Asia) Arabic in Java and Polynesia I.O.B - Five things Connected Asia, Africa, India, Europe, and Middle East Fostered the spread of Islam Trade Diasporas all over the world There is not a single era w/o the Indian Ocean as a component Central to World History and its development. Lynda Schaffer -Southernization Trade in Sub-Saharan Africa West Africa Camel domesticated c. 2nd-5th century C.E Regular caravan trade across Sahara Creation of three large empires Ghana(700-c.1100) Mali (1100-c.1400) Songhay (c. 1300-c.1600) Sub Saharan Trade Empire Rose to power through trade – unlike other empires that control land Gold, slaves, cloth, ivory, ebony, pepper- North Salt, Dates, Brass, Copper, Gold, Leather, Textiles, - south 2/3 of Gold used to finance trade in Eastern Hemisphere comes from Africa Fusion of Islamic / African ideas Strong patriarchs / groups of rulers Mali Malinke (founders) Economic basis = agriculture Juula (Merchants) Sundiata (Sunjata) & oral tradition Griots and the tale of the “Lion Prince” Mansa (ruler) who divided up the world Created social order / set up political institutions Secured Travel / Punished crime severly Mansa K. Musa Muslim ruler that makes hajj in 1324, passes through Cairo Contact w/ outer world brings changes Ishak al-Sahili (Granada, Andalucía {Muslim Spain}) - 1321 Ibn Batuta 1304 - 1369 ***Ibn Batuta*** • Muslim from N. Africa • Trained as judge (Quran) in Shar’ia . Logged some 60,000-70,000 miles of travel, logging his journeys in journals Illustrating the cultural unity of “Dar al-Islam” Impressions of “places” are based upon gifts recieved • One of his final trips is to Mali • Scandalized by Muslims in Mali – where men and women are co-mingling Mali Development of cosmopolitan (multinational) court Polygamy was/is a common social practice Major Trade cities include: Jenne (Central Mali) Timbuktu (W. Africa/Mali) Relied heavily on “Book trade” and knowledge 80% of the population still rely on farming Communal clearing of land Africa and I.O.B Numerous City-states grow up along Eastern coast including: Mombasa, Mogadishu, and Zanzibar Later called the Swahili Coast “Lingua franca” or common tongue Sawahil al-sudan “shores of the blacks” Trade in Gold (from inland): Great Zimbabwe - best known for its massive stone walls. Indonesians settle Madagascar looking for economic opportunity. Muslim and Jewish traders Both formed important international trade communities Joined by religion and ethnicity Jews Dispersed as far away as China Muslims Dominant force in Indian Ocean Trade Gradual conversion of much of S.E Asia Hajj (need for international travel) South Asia and I.O.B Delhi Sultanate (1206–1527). . Loose collection of Indian states could not defend against attacks. . Destroyed temples and massacred thousands of Hindus. . Pay special tax in exchange for protection created tension between Hindus / Muslims *** Sultan Raziya - 1236 - 1240 *** . One of the few female sovereigns in the history of the Islamic civilization Indian Ocean trade dominated by Arabs 8th – 16th centuries Displaced Hindu and Buddhist influence in S.E Asia South Asia and I.O.B Sultanate *destroyed* by Timur (1398) . Delhi is ultimately sacked and captured.
Despite multiple shortcomings - Delhi Sultanate . Centralized its Bureaucracy (Sultan, Viziers, govs) . Promoted and Expanded Trade . Regulated Currency . Overall prospered from I.OB. trade
Monsoon winds . Dhow (lateen sails) . Junks ships Chinese Trade China – by 1500 C.E. had the most advanced economy in the world. Highly developed internal markets 4th Century C.E. China took part in international trade. Developed a powerful navy by the 12th century. Radical theory – “Voyages of Zheng” Believed to have reached Americas, Africa, and Australia Controversial theory / rejected by many historians Important to Note: I.O.B was NOT controlled by one central authority . series of smaller economical relationships. Islam = uniting factor of all languages and ethnicities. . Ibn Battuta - Moroccan Muslim chronicled many prominent locations in I.O.B in Voyage. . India was the quest of most explorers by the end of the period. Hinduism / Buddhism Influenced by India (Trade) Cambodian Empires (Khmer) and Indonesian Empires (Srivijayan) took hold of trade routes in S.E Asia for a time. Angkor Wat and Borobudur. Malacca - Connected I.O.B with China Conquered by Portugal @ end of period in 1511. Angkor Wat Cambodia (Khymer Palace) Constructed c. 12th cent. Dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu C. 13th Century Converted to Buddhist temple. Borobudur Java Indonesia 9th cent. Buddhist shrine Levels represent steps toward enlightenment. Cultural Diffusion in Oceania. Islam in I.O.B Flourishing of Literacy Not so much in India City of Timbuktu - 150 schools - books $ Development of a “Common code of morality” Standardization of Marriage and family “Death-nail of Buddhism” in some regions Technology and cultural continuities Transmission of Tech Papermaking (China) Crops & Foodstuffs Wheat, rice, sugarcane, bananas, oranges, lemons, limes, cotton* Largest agricultural exchange in World History up to this time! More food = more people.