Indian Ocean Societies Postclassical Era

Mali

Delhi

Tropical Africa and Asia – Effects of Environment Diverse ecosystems forced people to both adapt to and modify their environment Some groups adapted by relying on wild food, others raised domesticated plants and animals Conditions vary - rainfall accumulation, temperate zone Pastoral peoples thrived in arid areas unsuited to agriculture Farmers concentrated on agriculture in places where disease prohibited the raising of livestock

Ibn Battuta’s Travels Ibn Battuta - a “gadi” or an Islamic scholar Wrote vivid accounts of the Muslim world He describes the Delhi Sultanate and the Malian Kingdom - leadership, governing styles, women, and the practice of Islam Rather than describing trade (as most travelers), we get a different perspective of the Islamic world through his accounts

Roles and Status of Tropical Women Women in the tropics played an important role in community life through child rearing, food preparation, farm work, making clothing and clay pots, spinning, weaving, and making crafts –however, the status of women was determined by the status of her father, husband, or owner –Women of higher status obviously experienced the world differently than women of lower orders of society. In Muslim communities, the custom of veiling and seclusion was applied in a variety of ways. –In Africa, women did not veil or seclude themselves as in the Middle East but adapted the custom to their own culture –Ibn Battuta makes note of the differing habits of African women in this regard

Indian Ocean Trade The Indian Ocean region was the world’s richest maritime trading network and area of rapid Muslim expansion. Reason - rising prosperity of Asian, European, and African states Result - demand for luxury goods, such as jewelry, precious metals, and fine textiles. Another reason - Mongol conquests had disrupted overland trade Improvements in seafaring technology – allowed for larger shipments The long-distance trade helped spread Islam, uniting diverse peoples throughout the region through commercial cooperation, not political authority. The trade also connected peoples from eastern Asia to Europe.

Metalworking Metalworking was important for the manufacture of tools, weapons, and decorative objects, and that it permitted greater adaptation to the tropical environment Iron, copper, and gold were three minerals having the most significant role in Asian and African tropical culture and economy –Gold and artworks fashioned from various metals were important in long-distance trade networks, which supplied commodities not available in a tropical environment –Iron implements for agriculture and hunting allowed tropical peoples to flourish in an unforgiving climate –Copper was of special importance to Africa because it was used as currency as well as for artistic expression

Social and Cultural Changes Three primary influences - state growth, commercial expansion, and the spread of Islam The growth of many states in the region were interrelated such as the states and empires of the Asian states of Delhi, Gujarat, Malacca, and Malabar, as well as the African states of Kilwa, Mali, Aden, and Great Zimbabwe. The importance of trade on the growth of these states created networks which further stimulated the ongoing growth. –The sub-Saharan and Indian Ocean trade networks and the impact these routes had on the growth of these states and their prosperity resulted in widening class differences among tropical peoples, as well as dramatic changes in architecture and education –There were changes in women’s roles and the expansion of slavery as major social developments. –The spread of Islam to the tropical regions of Asia and Africa also had important social, cultural, economic, and intellectual results. –Islam impacted architecture, math, science, literacy, and social habits

Comparing Mali and Delhi Both used Islamic administrative and military systems, but they also differed in many ways. Islam in Mali grew gradually and peacefully, whereas Delhi was created by the conquest of Turkish and Afghan Muslims. Long-distance trade was important to Mali’s government, but not to Delhi’s. Conversion to Islam increased the expansion of commercial contacts for Mali, whose links to the Sahara were important in its development; private Muslim traders were also important in the Delhi Sultanate. The prosperity of African and Asian tropical kingdoms led them both to participation in the slave trade. –Millions of slaves were traded in this time frame, some even arriving in China. –The high supply of free labor led to the training of slaves for special purposes. –Some were in the military while others mined or did hard menial work. –Wealthy households used slaves as servants, entertainers, and concubines