Contacts with the Middle East and Far East began as early as 200BC. Early foreigners to visit the African coast were people from Asia including countries like Syria, Arabia, India, Burma, Thailand, China, Spice Islands and Egypt from North Africa. Availability of goods such as ivory, gold, animal skins and slaves was one of the motives which attracted the traders to visit the East African Coast.
Historically, contacts between East Africa and Middle and Far East go as far back as 200 BC. Evidence is shown through archeological excavations. These have revealed remains of pottery, porcelain, cons, beads and tombs along the East Africa Coast which are believed to originate from Middle and Far East. Another piece of evidence from the book “Periplus of the Ertythrean Sea” or a Guide Book to the Indian Ocean, written in the 1st CAD by early Greek Trades, contain details about life at the East African Coast.
Regular trading contacts began around 8th CAD. Most of the traders came from China, Indonesia, (East Indies) and India. Later in the 10th C, traders also came from Arabia, Persia (Iran), Syria and Egypt. Their commercial activities covered the whole of the Eastern Coast of Africa between Mogadishu and Sofala.
The Social and Economic Motives of Contact between Africa, Middle East and Far East
Explain the social and economic motives of the contacts between Africa, middle east and far east
Motive of the contact
- Availability of goods such as ivory, gold, animal skins and slaves which had attracted the traders.
- The discovery of the power of wind and its patterns i.e. the Monsoon which helped to drive their vessels across the Indian Ocean to East Africa (South West Monsoon, November, to April) and back to their home lands (North East Monsoon, May to October).
- Development of marine vessels technology.They could contract large dhows which enabled them to carry huge quality of goods.
- Acceptance by the local people along the coast.They expected to benefit in the trading relationship.
- Constant warfare in the Middle East especially Persia made Arabs flee to East Africa their survival depended on trade.
The Major Commodities which were Exchanged during the Contact between Africa, Middle East and Far East
Identify the major commodities which were exchanged during the contacts between Africa, middle east and far east
Commodities (export) from Eastern Africa
GOLD form Mwanamutapa Empire was brought to the coast at Sofala. The gold traders (foreigners) had to pay tax to the rulers of Kilwa.
- Ivory - Was brought to the coast at may points
- Slaves - Were brought to the coast at many points
- opper - Was brought to the coast from Katanga
- Cum Copal - Was found on the coastal area opposite
- Other Goods - Rhinoceros horns, tortoise shells, beeswax
Imports to East Africa
- From India-Cotton clothes, beads and iron implements
- From Maldives Islands-Cowries shells which were used as money and also as ornaments
- From China -Silk clothes, porcelain
- From Arab and Persia -Swords, daggers (weapons), glassware and Persian rugs.
- From East Indies (Malaysia or Spice Islands) - Spices
- From Burma and Thailand - Stone ware i.e. pots and jars
Means of transport
The foreigners travelled in dhows which were driven with the help of Monsoon winds. The North East Monsoons (Winter Monsoons) blew between the months of November and April and brought the traders to Eastern Africa, South East Monsoons (Sumer Monsoons) which blew between the month of May and October took them back to their homes.
Update:
AFRICA AND EXTERNAL WORLD.
The Africa contact with Middle East and Far East dated back early in 200BC. The early contacts were initially at the coast but later some of the foreigners moved further into interior of the East Africa. Those early foreigners visited Africa were people from Asia including; Lebanese, Syrians, Indonesians, Persians, Arabs and China. Later people from Europe began to visit Africa, these included; Portuguese, British, Dutch and French. The trade contact between the pre-colonial African societies, Middle East and Far East began around 8th century AD. These early contacts were determined by nature of African and Asian societies.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL MOTIVES/AIMS OF THE CONTACTS BETWEEN AFRICA, MIDDLE AND FAR EAST.
Trade activities. Traders wanted to trade and control commercial activities along the African coast as Africa coastal environment attracted and favored trade activities of India Ocean in 7th and 8th centuries, there were regular trading between Africa, China, Indonesia, Persia, and Arabs states.
The South west monsoon winds would blow the ships to the African coast between November and April; whereas the north East monsoon winds between May and October would take them back to their countries
GOODS EXCHANGED BETWEEN AFRICA, MIDDLE AND FAR EAST.
Origin of visitors Goods brought to Africa Goods taken from Africa
Arabia Beakers, iron, pains, swords, daggers, beads, ornaments and rice
Ivory
Gold
Slaves
Tortoise shells
Rhinoceros horns
Animal skins
Copper
Iron
Ostrich feather. etc.
China Porcelain, bowls, Plates and Shuck clothes.
Persia Ports, glass bowls, beakers, swords and ornaments
India Cotton cloth, metal, ornaments, beads and spears. Spice island spices
Syrian Iron pans, bowls swords and beakers
1. Exploration of African coast.
The visitors from Middle East and Far East were interested to know the accessibility of the coast and the availability of market in the coastal areas. They were also interested to assess the volume of commodities which were in great demands such as gold, slave and animal skins.
The exploration done in Africa was recorded in the early records about the coast; it was recorded by one of the Greek sailor book called Periplus of Eritrean Sea and Ptolemy’s Geography.
2. The need to search new trading settlements.
Early visitors come to Africa with the aim of establishing trading settlements along the East African Coast and the horn of Africa. During the 10 th and 11 th centuries several Muslims merchants of Arabs in Origin; began to penetrate the Awash valley towards the high land of Ethiopia.
3. The need to spread Islamic religion
Some visitors come to spread Islamic religion. The Islamic religion started to spread in western Asia from 7 th century mainly through holy wars known as JIHADS which aimed at spreading the Islamic religion. Therefore Muslims Arabs from middle and Far East visited African coast with the aim of spreading Islamic religion to the African people
EFFECTS OF EARLY TRADING CONTACT
A. ECONOMIC EFFECTS
1. Emergence of rich class.
Since African people engaged in trade activities and acquired enough profit; a class of rich merchants emerged among them. In East Africa the class of rich people included chief Kivoi of Kamba and Nganyo of Giriama in Kenya, Mirambo and Nyungu ya mawe of Nyamwezi in Tanzania.
2. Exposed Africa towards economies.
Africa was integrated in the world economy through supplying commodities which were in great demands by the outside world.
3. Exploitation of Africa resources.
The contact involved the exploitation of human resources by taking Africans away as slaves and some commodities such as Ivory, Gold and animals skins were taken away.
4. Decline of local industries.
The consumers' behaviour changed from buying local mode commodities to buy foreign commodities such as cotton clothes and food utensils.
5. Loss of manpower.
Example; slave trade in Africa decreased the manpower because traders captured the able bodied people who were essential for production; the aged, weak and children were left behind while they could not manage to produce at large quantity.
6. Introduction of new crops.
These crops were very useful to African because they provided food stuffs as well as cash crops such as coconut, palms, rice, millet, wheat, cloves, sugarcane etc.
7. Introduction of money economy.
In East Africa coastal cities coins were minted and used as the medium of exchange therefore the use of currency replaced barter trade system.
8. Introduction of new arts and crafts.
By 15th century various items were produced in Africa and village communities were transforming from simple to complex societies. Many towns developed due to arts and crafts; the art of writing navigation and money handling was also introduced.
B. SOCIAL EFFECTS
1. Emergence of Swahili language and culture.
2. Rise and growth of Islamic culture.
3. Spread of Islamic religion (Qur’an and Islamic laws).
4. Growth of towns and cities such as Mombasa, Kilwa, Pemba, Sofala and Mogadishu.
5. Emergence of mullatos due to intermarriage.
6. Rise of warfare and depopulation due to capturing of slaves.
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