The Coming of Portuguese

Contacts with Europe (The Portuguese

The Social and Economic Motives of Contact between Africa and Portugal

Explain the social and economic motives of the contacts between Africa and the Portuguese

The Portuguese 

The contact between Africans and Portuguese dates back as far as 15^thCentury:

·         The Portuguese led by Vasco da Gama reached the East coast in 1498.They were the first Western Europeans to enter the Coast from the South.

·         The Portuguese managed to reach this region in their attempt to explore a sea route to India around the continent of Africa.

·         Their search for a sea route was supported by Prince Henry the navigator, the son of King John of Portugal.

The Commodities which were Exchanged during the Contact

Identify the commodities which were exchanged during the contacts

Commodities which were exchanged during the contact

·         The important commodities involved during the contact included, copper, gold, silver, spices and ivory from Africa and invaluable goods from Europe such as wines alcohol, mirrors, glassware etc.

The Social and Economic Impact of the Portuguese in Africa

Explain the social and economic impact of the Portuguese to Africa

Economic Motives

·         Need to exploit valuable resources believed to exist in Africa such as gold, silver and ivory.

·         To create a Portuguese empire in the African coasts.

·         To secure the sources of gold that existed in Africa. Several regions of Africa such as Akan in West were the main sources of gold.

·         To find a sea route to India and Far East (famous for Spices) and this was in response the closure of the land routes to Asia by the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

·         Need to monopolise Indian Ocean trade which for a long period was dominated by Arabs, Chinese, Indonesians and Indians merchants. The trade was profitable.

·         Need to control strategic points: East Africa provided bases for military troops in the mission of the Portuguese of controlling the East.

Social Motives

·         Religious: Portuguese wanted to spread Christianity in Africa and prevent further spread of Islam in Africa.

·         Personal initiative of the King of Portugal Prince Henry the Navigator who sponsored and encouraged the Pioneer Voyages.

·         Exploration: At the end of 13^th Century Western Europe had experienced the period of learning new knowledge and discoveries.This made people start to explore unknown land and sailing unmapped areas.

The Reasons for the Fall of the Portuguese Rule in East Africa and its Impact

Explain the reasons for the fall of the Portuguese rule in East Africa and its impact

The reasons for the fall of the Portuguese rule in East Africa

·         Resistances: The mounting resistance from the coast by feudal lords and traders who wanted to protect their political and economic interests.

·         Attacks from the interior tribes such as the Zimba and the Segeju from the Zambezi Regions.

·         The rivalries from the Dutch and the English merchants who had interests in Eastern trade.This brought about competition.These rivalries reduced Portugal's power in the East African Coast.

·         Portuguese weakness: Portugal was a small country without enough qualified and competent personnel to administer overseas business.

·         Tropical disease: The Portuguese suffered from tropical diseases and harsh climatic conditions.This made the area become unfavorable for the Portuguese settlements.

·         The Portuguese rule over East Africa ended in 1698 when Portuguese witnessed the fall of Fort Jesus in Mombasa which was their headquarters and one of the strongest Portuguese garrisons.

Impact of the Portuguese in Africa

Social Impact

·         The introduction of new crops in Africa such as maize and cassava which became staple food for many people in Africa.

·         Introduction of Portuguese words in Kiswahili language, such as meza, leso, gereza, mvinyo etc.

·         Decline of Coastal City states example Mombasa, Kilwa, Gedi which were once very rich and prominent.

·         Insecurity and loss of properties, due to the frequent conquest resistances and wars.

·         Spread of Christianity into parts of Africa.

Economic Impact

·         The decline of Indian Ocean trade because of diversion of major trade routes through the Atlantic Ocean.

·         The exposure of Africa to international trade. Africa became known to Europe and America due to explorations made by the Portuguese.

·         The decline of gold production in Mwenemutapa (Zimbabwe) after development of the conflict between Africa miners and the Portuguese.

·         Building of forts such as Fort Jesus in Mombasa attracts tourists in Kenya and generates income for the country.      
   
   Update:

THE CONTACT BETWEEN AFRICA AND EUROPE

The Portuguese  invasion.

Trading between Africa and Asia was disturbed by Portuguese invasion along the East Africa coast in the 16th C.

The Portuguese attempted to capture and control Indian Ocean trade, this lead to war between the Portuguese on one hand and the indigenous of East African coast. During this contact the most important countries in western were Spain and Portugal. These countries were included in trade through trading routes to India which passed off through Italy and the Muslims lands of the Middle East. The occurrence of wars in Muslims empire made the trade difficult and more expensive.

The Portuguese by finding routes of the sea wanted to establish trading empire in the East by controlling all trades in Europe. This was made possible by the invention of ships.

Prince Henry the navigator son of King John of Portuguese supported the voyages. They searched routes as resulted into voyages by Bartholomew Diaz in 1487 and Vasco da Gama in 1498.

Vasco da Gama was the first Portuguese to reach East Africa.

In summary;

Vasco da Gama reached Africa in 1498 (A.D).

Bartholomew Diaz reached Africa in 1487.

ECONOMIC MOTIVES/AIMS OF THE CONTACT BETWEEN AFRICA AND THE PORTUGUESE.

1. The need to defeat the Asian trades and rules in their monopoly of the India trade; as usually European countries admired the commodities founded in Africa, so in order to get them they had to contact with African people.

The commodities needed by them were Ivory, tortoise’s shells, cotton, gold and palms.

2. Controlling and Exploitation of Gold.

3. Need of creating Portuguese Empire in Africa so as to make Africa to be a producer.

4. To exploit different resources of Africa. Example gold, diamond.

5. They wanted to exploit African resources by selling small things to Africans for high price more than they had sold it to them.

SOCIAL MOTIVES/AIMS

1. To spread Christianity.

2. To exploit Africa especially East African coastal cities and states e.g. Kilwa, Mombasa, Bagamoyo and Mogadishu.

3. They desired to establish anti-Muslims alliances.

4. They search for Pastor John in Ethiopia.

THE PORTUGUESE EXPLOITATION RESULTED INTO DISCOVERIES OF POTENTIAL AREAS.

The Portuguese established trade with societies found in the coastal areas. They also created central point where ships could stop on the way to India. After establishing trade the Portuguese obtained items such as ivory, gold, copper and silver; they exchange them with cloth, guns, gunpowder etc.

By 15th C Portuguese succeeded to establish their rule in East Africa. After that the Portuguese built the Fort Jesus in Mombasa which could strengthen their military power thus establishing the effective control over the East Africa coastal areas.

1592 was the built of Fort Jesus.

1698 was the broke down of Fort Jesus.

1499 was the year when Vasco da Gama returned back to Portugal.

RESISTANCES AGAINST PORTUGUESE.

There were source of resistance;

1) The displaced people joined the resistance, for example Zimba of Zambezi valley and Segeju of Somalia in the Northern Eastern Africa. The constant attack and resistance against Portuguese rule lead to its decline and capture of Fort Jesus of Mombasa in 1698.

2) The reaction from the feudal lords and traders who counted to protect their social and economic interests.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF PORTUGUESE.

 a) Introduction of crops especially cash crops in Africa e.g. Sugarcane, yellow maize, cassava, rice, pineapples, potatoes etc.

b) Decline of trade; the trade between East Africa, Far East and Middle East was interrupted by the Portuguese.

c) Change of major trade routes.

d) Exposed Africa to the external world.

e) They built several forts, example; Fort Jesus.

f) They acted as the introducers of new arts to the indigenous of Africa continent.

The forts built by Portuguese were like;

Fort Jesus in 1592 in Mombasa.

Fort at Kilwa.

Sofala and eliminated caste present day Ghana built in 1482.

SOCIAL IMPACTS OF PORTUGUESE

1. Decline of cities and states.

2) Growth of Swahili language.

3) Insecurity and loss of manpower.

Also Swahili adapted some new Portuguese words i.e. Mvinyo from word Vincho, Meza Etc.

THE REASONS FOR THE COLLAPSE OF PORTUGUESE

1) They suffered from tropical disease like malaria.

2) The climate conditions of East African coast were in healthy for the Portuguese.

3) Social, culture and religion differences i.e. Muslim against Christians.

4) Loss of trade due to Portuguese taxes and restrictions.

5) Harsh treatments and punishment practiced by Portuguese in their leadership.

6) Role played by Oman to the coastal city people. Hence that capture of fort Jesus marked the end of Portuguese in East Africa around 1700.