Tropical Africa and Asia, 1200-1500 Chapter 13 AP WORLD HISTORY

Focus Questions How did environmental differences shape cultural differences in tropical Africa and Asia? Under what circumstances did the first Islamic empires arise in Africa and India? How did cultural and ecological differences promote trade, and in turn how did trade and other contacts promote state growth and the spread of Islam? What social and cultural changes are reflected in the history of peoples living in tropical Africa and Asia during this period?

The Tropical Environment Because the angle of the Earth’s axis, the sun’s rays warm the tropics year round The equator is the center of the tropical zone with the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn marking its outer limits The Afro-Asian tropics have their own cycle of rainy and dry seasons caused by the chances in wind patterns In the Indian Ocean region, rainy and dry seasons reflect the influence of monsoons

Human Ecosystems In the tropics, some people raised domesticated plants and animals, but others, like the Pygmies, relied primarily on wild food that they obtained by hunting, fishing and gathering From 1200-1500, farming became the dominant way of life for most tropical peoples Depending on the climate, crops such as rice, grains and legumes were harvested The spread of farming did not always create permanent changes in the natural environment Shifting cultivation

Water Systems and Irrigation One of the great challenges of the tropical environment in parts of Asia is the uneven distribution of rainfall during the year To conserve monsoon rainfall during drier parts of the year communities constructed Village-based irrigation systems were less vulnerable than complex irrigation systems built by governments—if damaged, they bounced back easier Water-storage dams Irrigation canals Terraced hillsides

Mineral Resources Metalworking was another way to make use of natural resources Iron was the most abundant of the metals worked in the tropics In Africa, copper, copper alloys and gold were important exports Metalworking and food-producing were important to tropical peoples because Most people made a successful livelihood through exploitation of their environment Labors and skills of ordinary people made the rise of powerful states and profitable systems possible

Mali in the Western Sudan Mali was founded by an indigenous African dynasty that had adopted Islam In 1076, Muslim Berbers invaded Ghana, it collapsed and Mali arose in southern Sudan Mali, like Ghana, depended on agriculture and control of the trans-Saharan trade routes Mali was different from Ghana in two ways: It was much larger Ruled by Muslims who encouraged the spread of Islam Under the ruler Mansa Musa, Mali’s reputation for wealth increased Upon his pilgrimage to Mecca, he built new mosques and opened Muslim schools

The Delhi Sultanate in India The Delhi Sultanate of northern India was founded and ruled by invading Turkish and Afghan Muslims Between 1206 and 1236, Muslim invaders extended their rule over the princes and chiefs in northern India The Delhi Sultanate became and official Muslim state which caused Muslim invaders’ to transform from brutal conquerors to somewhat benign rulers Personal and religious rivalries within the Muslim elite and discontent with the Hindus inevitably caused the end of the Delhi Sultanate

Monsoon MAriners Trade increased because: The prosperity of Islamic and Mongol empires Demand for luxuries for the wealthy rose Larger ships made shipments of bulk cargoes possible Collapse of the Mongol Empire in the 14th century disrupted overland trade, increasing the Indian Ocean routes importance

Africa: The Swahili Coast and Zimbabwe Trade expanded steadily along the East African coast where the people shared a common culture and language African in grammar and vocabulary by mixed with Arabic and Persian terms and written in Arabic script Overtime, these people became known as “Swahili” meaning “shores of the blacks” Oral traditions associate the Swahili Coast’s commercial expansion with the arrival of Arab and Iranian merchants—attracted by gold The Swahili Coast supplied gold from inland areas to eastern Africa

Arabia: Aden and the Red Sea In Arabia, the city of Aden had two advantages which increased trade Monsoon winds brought enough rainfall to supply drinking water and helped grow grain for export Convenient location Merchants sorted to goods from one place and would send them out on to another Common commercial interests generally promoted good relations among the different religions and cultures of this region

India: Gujarat and the Malabar Coast In India, the port of Gujarat prospered because of its rich agriculture and long coastline In 1298, Gujarat was forced into the Delhi Sultanate which had mixed results: the state suffered from the violence of the initial conquests in India, but prospered from increased trade with Delhi’s wealthy ruling class The state derived much of its wealth from its export of cotton textiles and indigo to the Middle East and Europe and cotton cloth, carnelian beads, and foodstuffs to the Swahili coast Gujarat was also important for its commerce

Southeast Asia The main passage into the South China Sea was through the Strait of Malacca As trade increased, this point became the object of political rivalry The city of Malacca’s port dominated the strait and it grew from a small fishing village into an important port as a result of alliances Merchants liked Malacca’s security and low taxes and the city served as the meeting point for traders from India and China and an emporium for Southeast Asian trade

Architecture, Learning, and Religion Muslims promoted literacy, primarily among their sons, so they could read the religion’s classic texts Advanced Muslim scholars also studied Islamic law, theology, and administration as well as classical Greek works of mathematics, medicine and science Changes in architecture and education were results of the spread of Islam as a religion Islam spread through: Long-distance trade and markets Marriage Upheavals in different areas

Social and Gender Distinctions In Africa, the growth of powerful states led to an increase in domestic slavery, as well as export trade in slaves Wives were expected to observe stricter rules of fidelity and chastity than their husbands Hindu Women vs. Muslim Women A woman’s status was largely determined by the status of her male master—father, husband or owner Throughout tropical Africa and Asia, women did much of the farm work