History 9/2

lecture 6: Africa in the age of expansion

Africa in the roman era: Egypt as important part of mediterranean system as early as 3000 years ago. Trade with greeks, conquest by alexander the great, and trade in grain. Conquest of northern Africa began in 2nd cen BCE with punic Wars, ending with the conquest of Ptolemaic Egypt (Cleopatra) in 1st cen C. Africa was very wealthy and powerful Roman Province. Most wealth was derived from trade in animals, salt, and gold. Very early adopter of christianity especially after the religion was legalized

Eastern Africa, Swahili city states

Coastal city states that were as syncretic blend of Swahili Indonesian and Arab cultures

Ghana and Mali: Medieval kingdoms of gold: Ghana(100-1235CE): “The land of Gold” Controlled salt and gold trades Mali(1230-late1400s): Controlled lucrative gold trade including mines and was conduit

Mansa Musa: Peak of Mali as an empire, control of gold trade, Mansa Musa’s hajj in 1324 devalued gold in Egypt for almost a decade. Importation of islamic scholars to Timbuktu.

Kingdom of Songhai: Establishes by Sunni Ali in 1468, independent from Mali. Capital city of Gao, which was already an important center of trans-Saharan trade and Islamic scholarship. Major exports were Gold and Slaves. Invaded by Morocco in 1591 in competition with Portugal, leading to political and economic collapse.

Tomb of Muhammad Toure: Expanded Songhais borders to largest extent, controlled Timbuktu after Malis collapse, Also known as Askia the Great. Divided empire into administrative provinces rules by governors. Converted to islam, and was named “caliph of the Western Sudan” By Meccan Imams after his hajj in 1495

Swahili city states, Portugal and gunboat diplomacy ca. 1503-1529: Portuguese policy of gunboat diplomacy offered surrender and an annual tribute or face eradication. Swahili States were unable to effectively defend against Portuguese cannons.

Kingdom of Kongo 1400-1885: Portuguese contact in 1483, initially and diplomatic relationship. Portugal provided textiles, cultural/religious advisors, and weapons, Kongo provided copper, ivory and enslaved was captives.

King Alfonso I (r.1506-1542): Originally King Nzinga Mbemba, but took Portuguese name of Alfonso after conversion to catholicism. Sponsored church building and Portuguese missionaries. Conversions made easy by similarities between traditional Kongo spirits and Catholic saints.

King Garcia II of Kongo 1641-1661: After almost a century of losing population to Portuguese raids, King Garcia II adopted policy of resistance to European influence and attempted to ban further Portuguese trade colonies in Kongo. His successor , AntonioI, tried unsuccessfully to expel all Portuguese including missionaries.

Battle of Mbwila, 1665 (church mosaic) Antonio 1 was defeated by Portuguese due to superior weapons. Portuguese captured Antonio, beheaded him, and then withdrew from Kongo, which was economically devastated. Kongo as a semi-independent kingdom existed until formal European colonization in 1885.

Ndongo/Angola (mid-1500s-1663) Initially part of Kongo, but then independent with establishment of trade relationship with Portuguese. 1575: First Portuguese trading colony established. Used as basis of slave trade and attempts to take over kingdom.

Queen Nzinga of Ndongo (r.1623-1663) political and war leader. Allied with Dutch against Portuguese. Wanted to control slave trade internally, rather than allowing Europeans to do so. Founded new capital at Matamba, further away from the coast. reformed military into units that lived in Kilombo, renouncing traditional kinship ties and pledging loyalty to Nzinga

Queen Nzinga in European Imagination