Eastern City States and Southern Empires

From 1000 to 1500, East African city-states and southern African empires gained wealth and power through trade. Zimbabwe and cities like Mogadishu and Mombasa have their roots in this time period.

East Coast Trade Cities Trade builds east coast cities Seaports built on coast trade with Arabia, Persia, and India Swahili As trade grew, new languages arise Blending of Arab and Bantu By 1300, more than 35 trading cities along coast grow wealthy

Africans Trade the Raw Materials to Asia Rhinoceros horns Ivory Tortoise shell Leopard Skins Ambergris (whale waste)

Asia Trades Manufactured Goods to Africa

Trade Goods Asia Africa Bring manufactured goods to Africa Examples Porcelain bowls from China, jewels, cotton cloth Africa Sell raw materials to Asia Examples Ivory (chess pcs, sword), tortoiseshells (combs), leopard skins (saddles), gold (coins, jewelry)

The City-State of Kilwa “…one of the most beautiful cities in the world.” -Ibn Battuta Muslim state Houses of stone & coral Wealthiest & powerful coastal city-state

Kilwa Grew rich b/c it was as far south on the coast as a ship could sail in one monsoon season 1200’s seized port of Sofala (gold trade) Gave control of gold trade from southern Africa

Portuguese Conquest Starting in 1488, Portuguese conquer Kilwa, Mombasa, and Sofala Used heavy ships’ guns Burned parts of Kilwa & built forts Portuguese remain a presence for the next 200 years

Islamic Influences Muslim merchants spread Islam as they trade on eastern coast Most cities governed by a Muslim sultan and officials Most people in the region follow traditional religions

Enslavement of Africans Enslaved Africans sold in Arabia, Persia, and India Employed as soldiers in India, worked on docks & ships, servants in China Trade in slaves fairly small, though steady 1300s some slaves shipped to Europe Increases drastically in the 1700s when Europeans sent slaves to colonial plantations

Southern Africa and Great Zimbabwe Gold and ivory helped the coastal city-states grow rich Came from interior of Africa City: Great Zimbabwe built on gold trade

Great Zimbabwe Shona farm and raise cattle between Zambezi and Limpopo rivers After 1000, Great Zimbabwe controls gold trade routes linking the inland gold fields to coastal trading city, Sofala Leaders gain wealth by taxing traders, chiefs Abandoned by 1450 for unknown reasons Overgrazing by cattle Farming worn out soil Used up salt and timber resources

Ruins of Great Zimbabwe Ruins of Great Zimbabwe discovered in 1871 “Zimbabwe” means “stone enclosure” The Great Enclosure is a massive curving wall up to 36’ high and 15’thick Walls not used for defense b/c no way for soldiers to climb to top Walls contain 900,000 stone blocks Blocks held together w/out mortar Cone-shaped tower Built to impress visitors

Mutapa Empire Mutota—a man (according to oral tradition) who leaves Great Zimbabwe to find a new source of salt and founds a new state Mutota’s army dominates northern Shona people, who pay him tribute

Mutapa Rulers The northern Shona call their rulers mwene mutapa or “conqueror” Mutapa—name for African empire that conquers Zimbabwe By 1480 Matope, Mutota’s son held large area inland and along coast Gained wealth by mining gold

Decline of Mutapa Empire In the 1500s, the Portuguese try to conquer empire When they failed, they tried to interfere in Mutapa politics by helping to overthrow one ruler and replace him with one they could control Beginning of European interference in Africa