1. AP WORLD HISTORY POD #6 – Gold, Salt & Ivory Trade In Africa Monsoons & Trade

2. Class Discussion Questions Bulliet et. al. – “Indian Ocean Trade”, pp. 379-384

3. Indian Ocean Trade  “When the collapse of the Mongol Empire in the fourteenth century disrupted overland routes across Central Asia, the Indian Ocean assumed greater strategic importance in tying together the peoples of Eurasia and Africa. Between 1200 and 1500, the volume of trade in the Indian Ocean increased. The Indian Ocean routes also facilitated the spread of Islam.” (Bulliet, p. 379)

4. Monsoon Mariners  As wealth and prosperity increased in Asia and Europe the demand for use of the Indian Ocean trade routes increased  Demand for precious metals, jewels, rare spices, fine textiles increased  Larger ships made bulk cargo shipments of cotton textiles, pepper, rice, wheat, barley, timber and horses a profitable business  The Indian Ocean Trade Network was divided into two legs: from the Middle East across the Arabian Sea to India and from India across the Bay of Bengal to Southeast Asia  December to March – northeast monsoon winds allowed for travel west from India to Arabia and Africa  April to August – southwest monsoon winds allowed for travel east from Arabia and Africa to India  Most travel stayed along the coasts and followed the paths of the stars, but the magnetic compass developed by the Chinese was begining to become more popular

5. The Ships  Dhows (Indian) – new cargo ship raised the capacity from 100 tons in 1200 to 400 tons in 1500  Junks – (Chinese) most advanced and seaworthy vessel of the time capable of carrying loads of 1,000 tons – spread Chinese culture and influence  Carvel (European) – employed a triangular sail to better sail into the wind capable of carrying from 50 to 60 tons although some could hold upwards of 160 tons

6. Kilwa  Swahili Coast supplied gold from inland areas of eastern Africa  Sawahil al-sudan – Arabic term for “shores of the blacks”  Kilwa will replace Mogadishu as the most important commercial center after 1331  Noted by Ibn Battuta in his travel writings to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world  Exported more than 1 ton of gold from the inland yearly

7. Great Zimbabwe  Peaked in power and status in 1400  Much of the gold shipped from Kilwas passed through this territory  Great stone structures were built in and around the town, as well a wall  Mixed farming and cattle herding provided the economic basis of the kingdom  Regional trade for copper, salt and other manufactured products in the upper Zambezi River  Historians speculate that the people of the Great Zimbabwe depleted nearby forests used for firewood, and cattle overgrazed the surrounding grasslands contributed to the decline of the kingdom

8. Aden  Located near the southwestern tip of the Arabian peninsula  Monsoon winds brought enough rainfall to supply drinking water to a large population and grow grain for export  Location was convenient as a stop over for trade with India, the Persian Gulf, East Africa and Egypt  Traded cotton cloth and beads from India, spices from Southeast Asia, horses from Arabia and Ethiopia, pearls from the Red Sea, manufactured luxuries from Cairo, slaves, gold, and ivory from Ethiopia, and grain, opium and dyes from Aden’s own outskirts

9. Gujart  Western India prospered from expanding trade of the Arabian Sea and the rise of the Delhi Sultanate  Rich agricultural land, long coastline  Attracted trade after the Mongol destruction of Baghdad in 1258 disrupted the northern overland trade routes  Exported cotton textiles and indigo to the Middle East and Europe in return for gold and silver  Exported cotton cloth, carnelian beads and foodstuffs to the Swahili coast in return for ebony, slaves, ivory and gold  15 th century trade expanded east towards the Strait of Malacca – helped spread Islam  Cambay & Calicut became the greatest and most prosperous urban centers representing the power of the Gujart

10. Malacca  The Strait of Malacca located between the Malay Peninsula and the island of Sumatra was the primary passage from the Indian Ocean into the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean  As trade increased in the 14 th & 15 th centuries this region became the site of political rivalry and conflict as the Kingdom of Siam and the Kingdom of Majapahit, as well as Chinese pirates, sought to control this vital trade chokepoint  Malacca secured an alliance with China allowing for control of this strategic waterway  Merchants enjoyed security and low taxes in the region  Regional conversion from Hinduism to Islam began to occur  Emporium for Southeast Asian products including – rubies, musk, tin, gold, cloves and nutmeg