Past Paper Questions

Which of the following was more important for the initial rise of the kingdom of kongo: the geographical location or role of kanda system [10]

Evidence for geography:

capital Mbanza Kongo was positioned on a mountain ensuring natural defence, access to Malabo pool which enabled slave trade and European connections, city became a stone city with the rising Portuguese population especially after 1568, was closer to central Africa so out of the direct power struggles in Western Africa

BUT

limited cultivable land due to the mountain range, seperated from Western African power struggles but surrounded by other violent kingdoms e.g. teke raiders, jaga group, nsundi, ndongo

Evidence for Kanda:

created a system of interlinked community, promoted self-sufficiency, separated the mwissikongo as a separate kanda family, encouraged vata system

BUT

the structure of the mwissikongo kanda specifically caused problems during succession period e.g. afonso being challenged after the death of Joao, created a power struggle, more distance kandas e.g. Soyo became seperated from ruling system of Mbanza kono

Which of the following was more important in explaining the manikongo’s adoption of Christianity in Kongo? I. Religious reasons II. Political reasons [10]

Religious reasons:

less important overall

religion became significant to the manikongos e.g. Joao changing his name from Kikongo to Portgueuse, widespread adoption throughout Kongo, 800-1000 people baptised a day by Montechristo, syncratic with African beliefs e.g. retention of Isimbi spirits, familiarity of the cross symbol

BUT

largely superficial e.g. most people were baptised because they wanted to add ‘dom’ to their names, underlying political motives, religious relationship was limited e.g. Afonso’s tensions over monogamy

Political reasons:

more important motive

centralised the King’s authority, Afonso claimed St James had helped him in the succession battle, King also became a royal authority, ‘ngolo’ (power) stemmed from a christian word, enabled the adoption of portuguese hierarchy systems

BUT

did cause issues with political power e.g. some manikongos were challenged by priests, tensions between Diogo I and Jesuits, they tried to expel him from the throne

The adoption of Catholicism was the cornerstone of the Manikongo’s power. How far do you agree?

“Kongo’s interactions with European powers were largely unsuccessful” How far do you agree?

Factors: political, economic, religious

Most contingent on economic state of relationship, biggest issues emerged here

How far do you agree that the institution of slavery benefited Kongo?

Political:

Afonso’s slave wars gave a military impetus to his kingdom, consolidated the south borders — gained 410 from the Dembos region

royal monopoly over slave trade, only King could sell slaves, established by 1512 regimento

improved relationships with the Portuguese, reinforced social hierarchy, took on new titles

BUT

political instability as groups competed over slave trade, factions emerged

trade shifted to Sao Tome which was out of the Manikongo’s control, started selling with Ngola

relationship with Portugal deteriorated

Economic:

initially greatly benefited the wealth of Kongo

Malebo pool was the site of trade, Kongo had access

traded with nzimbu shells, local currency, inflated Kongo strength

BUT

began to trade with other areas e.g. Ngolo

Took control of Luanda, led to a complete loss of treasury (Nzimbu shells)

Yaka start to sell free born Kongolese people

Social:

initially only captives from war were traded, didn’t threaten social groups

allowed for greater independence, no longer needed to be self-sufficient e.g. Mwissikongo more independent

came with christianity as well, increased social bonds

BUT

later led to the fundamental deterioration of Kongo

1656 — half of Kongo enslaved, Duartes Lopes ‘every man was enslaving his brother, son, father’

virtual abandonment of some areas, civil war and factional break down

To what extent did the manikongos of the Kongo kingdom maintain political stability

Assess the reasons for the collapse of Kongo.

succession - opposition between matrilineal and patrilineal

Alfonso I was the most successful Manikongo. How far do you agree?

Economic:

grew domestic trade through the establishments of roads, connections and commerce, facilitating internal economic prosperity

expanded to the south and the east, internal economic strength

But

under Afonso Portuguese controlled most economic decisions

Military:

ruled in relative peace and prosperity

limited military engagement which allowed for a focus on economic prosperity

maybe more successful than other later manikongos e.g.

diogo I’s defeat in Ndongo 1556 (led to Kongo losing its position as the sole portuguese trade point)

Garcia I forced to flee Soyo

But

later manikongos also achieved more military prestige

Alvaro I’s successful campaigns against the Jaga 1568

aided by the Portuguese but also shows portuguese relations

Pedro II able to defeat the Portuguese in 1623

Pedro’s actions also initiated and facilitated a relationship with the Dutch during the Luanda campaigns

Relationships with Europe

first African king recognised in Europe, very successful 1512 regimento, allowed for an exchange of european goods and taxation

But

these actions also allowed for a portuguese encroachment into Kongolese society

expelled huge amounts of Europeans in ___

Pedro more successful in dealing with the failed relationship with the portuguese

regained 1,200 kongolese slaves from brazil

aid from dutch in 1641 luanda attack

more controlled european relationships