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Topic 1: History Topic 1: History Lectures: Jan 30: The Ottoman Empire and Africa Feb 1: Swahili Coast - from ‘colonialisms’ to revolution Feb 3: Guest Lecturer (Nader Hashemi) Feb.6: Slave trades and their legacies Feb. 8: European Colonialism and its legacies Seminars: Feb 10: TBA Feb 13: TBA Feb 15: TBA Feb 17: Guest Lecturer January 30 The Ottoman Empire and Africa: seeking the links, living the legacies Early Medieval Empires in Africa and Asia 12-15th Centuries Early Medieval Empires West Africa 12-16th Centuries Western Eurasia: 1258-1405 ” Mamluk State c.1400: “The Golden Age” Ottoman Empire 14th c. through 17Th c. Early Medieval Empires West Africa 12-16th Centuries Kanem –Bornu • origins in 7th century • became Muslim between 11th c. and 13th c. • known for extensive trade with the north: exporting ivory, slaves, ostrich feathers; imported horses used in warfare • gift-giving with Sultans of the north also common – evidence of a giraffe having been given as a gift by the ruler of Kanem to the Sultan of Tunis in the 13th c •14th century moved centre of kingdom south-east to Bornu • closer contacts with the Muslim world to the east established • became centre of Islamic learning • latter part of 16th c. army Borno modernised and expanded: firearms were imported from North Africa; Turkish mercenaries were recruited • palace life and ‘etiquette’ came to mirror that of Istanbul Kanem –Bornu • IDOLATRY •"The inhabitants of Kanem are idolatrous Sudan. It is said that there exists in those parts a clan descended from the Umayyads, who took refuge there when they were persecuted by Abbasids. They dress in the fashion of the Arabs and follow their customs." •The Spanish muslim scholar Al-Bakri. Kanem –Bornu •BEDOUIN KING •"The King is a wandering Bedouin. When he sits on his throne, his subjects make obeisance to him and fall on their faces. His armies, including cavalry, infantry, and porters, number 100,000. Between Aljama and Yalamlam there dwell a great many unbelievers…the king of Kanem has five minor kings under his sway. His horses are small. Kanem is a vast region through which the blessed Nile flows." 14th century Egyptian historian Al-Maqrizi. Kanem –Bornu •POET FROM AFAR •"Kanem …is part of the land of the Berbers in the farthest west in the land of the Sudan. Some say that the Kanem are a people of the Sudan. At the present day there is a poet at Marrakesh in Maghrib known as al- Kanimi (the one from Kanem) whose excellent work is attested to, but I have never heard any of his poetry nor learnt his proper name." 12th century Greek bookseller and scholar Yaqut. Born in Greece, he was sold into slavery to a Syrian merchant. He was later freed and travelled widely. Early Medieval Empires West Africa 12-16th Centuries Hausa States – ‘Kano’ • theories of origin vary: • many connect earliest states with Kanem Bornu– shared traditions of horsemanship, music, religion (Islam) • others to various places ‘north’, including Egypt (sacred sword, for example, said to have come from the Pharaohs • most interesting is the ‘Baghdad’ connection Hausa States – ‘Kano’ • the King of Baghdad's son, Bayajidda or Abuyazidu, quarrelled with his father, left Baghdad and ended up in the state of Daura (directly north of Kano in present day northern Nigeria). There, the people were terrorised and deprived of water by a snake which lived in a well. •Bayajidda gained the gratitude of the king of Daura by killing the snake. In return the king gave his daughter's hand in marriage. Bayajidda and his wife had a son, Bawo, who married and in turn had six sons who then became rulers of Kano, Zazzau (Zaria), Gobir, Katsina, Rano and Daura; a seventh state Biram is added to the list. These are the Hausa Bakwai, the seven Hausa states. • Bawo is said to have had a further seven sons by his concubine. These became rulers of the Banza Bakwai, or seven 'illegitimate' Hausa states: Zamfara, Kebbik, Nupe, Gwari, Yauri, Yoruba and Kororofa Early Medieval Empires West Africa 12-16th Centuries Ancient Mali • Empire of Mali rose in the 13th C., encompassing much of West Africa • most famous for ruler Mansa Musa: MANSA MUSA'S PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA "It is said that he brought with him 14,000 slave girls for his personal service. The members of his entourage proceeded to buy Turkish and Ethiopia slave girls, singing girls and garments, so that the rate of the gold dinar fell by six dirhams. Having presented his gift he set off with the caravan." Cairo born historian al-Maqurizi. • returned with architects from ‘Middle East’ built famous mosques Gao, Jenne among others; attracted scholars to Timbuktu; established long-standing intellectual connections with Fez (Morocco) Songhay • Songhay rose to prominence from shadow of Mali, in 15th C. • end of century a particularly religious ruler (Muslim) promoted Songhay in the Muslim world: went to Mecca and visited the Caliph of Egypt, who in turn made him Caliph of the whole of Sudan (area embracing Mali, Chad, north west Nigeria, and Niger ) • early 16th c. description by Moroccoan Travelle Leo Africanus to Timbuktu:: "Here there are many doctors, judges, priests and other learned men, that are well maintained at the king's cost. Various manuscripts and written books are brought here out of Barbarie and sold for more money than any other merchandise. The coin of Timbuktu is of gold without any stamp or superscription, but in matters of small value, they use certain shells brought here from Persia, four hundred of which are worth a ducat and six pieces of their own gold coin, each of which weighs two-thirds of an ounce." Songhay Shows interesting similarities with Ottoman Music (Listen at http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/4ch •Traditional apter4.shtml , bottom of page) Sonahqy ‘griots’ (top) •Ottoman Jannissay musicians (bottom) (Listen at http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/~amcdouga/Hist323/default.htm Click on ‘Ottoman music’) Mamluks “The Mamluks (from an Arabic word meaning "the owned") were non-Arab, mostly Turkish or Kurdish slaves owned by men who had themselves once been slaves. After being purchased in the slave markets as young boys, they were raised in special segregated barracks in Spartan fashion, their education consisting almost wholly of military and religious training. When they reached adulthood, they were freed, issued a horse and weapons, and then admitted into the service of their amir ("commander"), their former owner, whom, almost without exception, they served until the end of their lives with fierce loyalty and devotion. The Mamluk emphasis on youth and vigor is reflected in the fact that their salaries decreased as they grew older. When the reigning sultan, himself a former slave raised in this manner, died, one of the amirs replaced him, but usually not without a bloody power struggle between himself and other ambitious amirs.” http://www.nmhschool.org/tthornton/mehistorydatabase/mamluks.htm Mamluks • mamluk ‘sultan’ built up army Turkish, Kurdish slaves – established garrison on island near Cairo, replaced existing Sultan • leader married Sultan’s wife, established ‘mamluk dynasty’ • commander of army was Baybars I • 1260 became ruler or ‘emir’ himself • brought uncle of former Sultan from Baghdad to Cairo • re-established the Caliphate there • power remained in Mamluk hands – major opposition to both Ottomans and Europeans • 1798 Napolean invaded, conquered much of Egypt (attempt to take Palestine unsuccessful) • Short-lived control (returned to France 1799) but ‘loosened’ ties of Mamluk rulers with Ottomans • Remained formally part of empire until British victory 1882 but effectively autonomous Rise of the Ottomans • Mamluks and Ottomans c. 1405 Rise of the Ottomans • Ottoman Emperor Selim I defeated Mamluks of Egypt and Syria • took Cairo (1517) and assumed succession to the caliphate • Under Suleyman ‘the magnificent’ empire reached largest geographical expanse – Ottoman administration, law and culture spread with his conquests Suleyman 1: ‘The Magnificent’ (1520-1566) Rise of the Ottomans • Mediterranean commerce fell to gazi fleet of admiral Khayr ad-Din (c. 1483–1546) – Europe’s “Barbarossa” • Algiers taken from Spanish (1518) • 1533-44 control extended to other ‘Barbary’ (North African) states • from there, regulary attacked Spanish, Italian, Greek coasts/fleets "Mohammed! Reveal good news to the believers that the conquest is soon." “Barbarossa’s Standard” Rise of the Ottomans The Empire in 1520 Rise of the Ottomans The Empire in 1566 Rise of the Ottomans The Empire in 1566 Rise of the Ottomans Expansion Into North Africa Enabled Significant Extension of Trading and Commercial Interests Into the Sahara and West Africa Rise of the Ottomans • North Africa: vassal relations since 16th C. • Morocco never under Ottoman control: ongoing issue because Morocco had extensive commercial and political relations in and across the Sahara – direct competitor with Ottoman interests further to east (Sudan, Bornu) for trade in gold, ivory, slaves • Tunisia, Algeria, Libya tied into both Saharan, Mediterranean trade: frequent tensions with Morocco – Ottomans served as mediators The Ottomans in the 19th C. Shrinking boundaries: 1815 (left) to 1914 (right) The Ottomans in the 19th C. • Two Major ‘African’ Challenges: Egypt and Sudan • Egypt: Albanian soldier Mehmet (Mohammed) Ali Pasha (1769-1849): • Trained fighting Napoleon's armies • played off Mamluk factions against Ottoman governor • declared ruler 1804/5 First real Egyptian national flag. Three crescents/stars may symbolize victory of his armies in Europe, Asia, and Africa or his sovereignty over Egypt, Nubia, and Sudan [http://www.crwflags.com/fotwflags/eg- ott.html#ott] The Ottomans in the 19th C. • Extended rule into northern Sudan • Drew slave troops from there loyal to him (following Ottoman tradition) • Established control of capital, continued to extend power to interior - Uganda • Built sailing ships, used the Nile to aid expansion • Used European weapons • Established extensive commercial relations • Played fundamental role in the carving up of East Africa 1880s-1890s The Ottomans in the 19th C.
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