I. Tropical Lands.
Between Tropic of Cancer (North) and Tropic of Capricorn (South)
Afro-Asian Tropics – cycle of rainy and dry seasons Monsoons
Coastal West Africa, West-Central Africa, Southern India – abundant rainfall Northern Africa (Sahara), Northwest India, Southwest Asia – arid climate (dry)
High mountain ranges – cool weather, short growing seasons, major rivers formed
Human Ecosystems: Central Africa, Upper Himalayas, Some coasts – wild food and fish were in abundance --No reason to develop agriculture or herding economies
Arid tropics: relied on herding, grains, vegetables (through trade) with settled agriculturalists
Farmers – grew rice, wheat, sorghum millet -Agriculture: dominant way of life in tropics
Soil, climate, amount of water = all variables for crops
Water Systems: Parts of South and Southeast Asia = ample water -Intensive agriculture – supported high population
Most of Sub-Sahara Africa and parts of Southeast Asia – farmers abandoned fields every few years – cleared areas by cutting and burning natural vegetation
Tropics – uneven rainfall during year Result: dams, canals, reservoirs
India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka – governments built irrigation and water projects = high production Natural disasters and political conflicts – left projects vulnerable Village-based projects – easier to construct and maintain
Minerals: Tropical People: Iron – agriculture, weapons and needles Africa: Copper = wire and decorations, high gold production
Metal working and food producing = large labor force (ordinary people) = surpluses = powerful states and commercialism
India needed to import gold since it mined all of the known deposits (1200-1500)
People in Africa and southern Asia linked together via Islam, trade, environment, legal codes
New Islamic Empires:
Ghana (500s-1076) Founding people = Soninke. Economy = trade gold for salt. Capital = Kumbi Saleh (15,000 people lived there). Government had a tax on every item. Military had iron-tipped spears (huge advantage). Decline = Berbers attacked in the 11th Century. ↓ (Almoravids)
Mali (1200s-1400s) Founding people = Mandingos.
Powerful conversion in Sub-Sahara Africa via trade Sundiata established Kingdom of Mali (1240) Agriculture, Regional and Trans-Saharan Trade routes Gold mines – Niger
Ruler: Mansa Musa (1312-1337) Adopted Islam Koran (law) -Pilgrimage to Mecca -Established new mosques and Moslem schools World-wide relations -Wealthy a. After Mansa Musa, rulers were less skillful. b. Cities would eventually break-away from Mali.
Mali declines in mid-late 1400s. Reason: Rebellions within empire, invaders attacked. After Mansa Musa, rulers were less skillful. Cities would eventually break-away from Mali.
Intellectual life moved to other areas of Africa (Hausa states and Kanem-Bornu)
Songhai (1400s-1519) Major cities = Gao and Timbuktu. Major leaders = Sunni Ali (1464-1492) → Expansionist. Askia Muhammad (1493-1528)→ Became the center of trade. Islam entered Songhai around 1000AD. Decline. Moroccan forces attacked in 1591. wanted wealth.
Benin (1400s-1897) founders = Edo people. Located in Niger River Delta Region. Controlled trade. Major ruler = Ewuare. set-up a central government. Major city = Benin City Avenues, streets. Craftsmen (brass, wood, ivory). European Imperialism.
Zimbabwe (1300s-1500s) “Great stone house” Stone wall city. Control of gold mines. Farmers/herders.
Delhi Sultanate: India
(1206-1226): Northwest India’s divided states was defeated by Turkish conqueror Sultan Iltutmish Became Moslem state Violent takeover; then led peaceful state. Hindus never forgave or forgot Iltutmish’s Daughter (Raziya) took over and talented, but men in empire never listened to her authority because she was female
Alaud-din (1296-1316) and Muhammad ibn-Tughluq (1325-1351) – aggressive territorial expansion. Tughluq: religious toleration but reversed when his reign was over
Delhi’s Sultanate – ruled by terror 1450s- internal and extensive pressure led to downfall High taxes and pillages to support the elite Timur defeated Delhi (1398) – end of Sultanate