HISTORY- Form 1 Topic 3
Topic 3: DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AND THEIR IMPACT
This chapter will focus on the different economic levels of development
achieved by man from the period of pre-history specifically enlightening
on the three-litchis of the continent of Africa up to 19th century.
Also to examine the factors that influenced the existed economic
activities as well as the impact of such activities on the respective
society
The economic activities in pre-colonial Africa
The environment as an entity does influence economic activities and
there is a strong relationship between the environment and economic
activities. Several economic activities developed amongst the different
people of Africa ranging from:
- Agriculture which involved the growing of crops and rearing of animals.
- Handcrafts industries which depended on skilss or hand to make and produce goods.
- Mining concerning with the process of extracting underground minerals for man‟s use.
- Trading involving the buying and exchanging of goods and services.
- Fishing, lumbering, Hunting and gathering all these differed from area to area. Basing on the environment and the skills that the people living in a given community were gifted with.
Agriculture
It is believed that in Africa, agriculture started about 6000 years ago.
The use of discovered tools and weapons led to the development of crop
cultivation and domestication of animals. True plant domestication
probably began when the weakest plant were rejected and only seeds from
the strongest plants were set aside for re-sowing mainly yielding
grasses (cereals) and the same applied to animal domestication.
The Relationship between Agriculture, the Environment and Technological Development
Show the relationship between agriculture, the environment and technological development
Contributions of technological development to development of agriculture;
After a through look into different agricultural practices that existed
in Africa, it is equally paramount to know the contributions of
technology to the development of agriculture in Africa.
The increased use of iron tools amongst the different societies of Africa, led
to the increase of land for cultivation, which resulted into increased
agricultural productivity. The food storage skills insured an insurance
against loss of future crops through natural disasters such as drought
or flood thus food supply throughout the year. Some communities whose
soils easily exhausted developed the use of manure which renewed the
land and thus increased production. The development and use of
irrigation opened up the once un-cultivatable to be productive for
agriculture once again.
Not only did the technological improvement contribute to the development
of agriculture but also the environment had the great bearing on the
development of agriculture in Africa.
The reliable rainfall supplemented with the fertile soils in given areas resulted in the development of permanent crop agriculture or cultivation accompanied with increased agricultural production
Pest free and disease free areas were suitable for both crop and animal husbandry, as
they would attract settlement. Also in place is the availability of
iron technology in given societies making it possible for the making of
iron tools which advanced on the methods of production and thus
increased productivity.
It ensured man with reliable food supplies, The
impacts of agricultural development are immeasurable as it ensured man
with reliable food supplies, permanent settlement, labour specialization
and surplus production and thus increase in population.
Farming was not suitable in every environment, the
disadvantage of settled farming may also have been apparent through
farming could support a larger population; it left the people more
exposed to the dangers of famine caused by natural disasters such as
drought and floods.
The Types of Agricultural Practices in Africa
Explain the types of agricultural practices in Africa
Different types of agriculture developed in the different African societies these included:
- Permanent crop cultivation
- Mixed farming
- Pastoralism
- Shifting cultivation
Successful agriculture depended on the ecology or natural fertility of
the soil, adequate rainfall, technical skills of the famers and the
ability to find most suitable and successful crops. However, this was
not a simple task as it required patience and the ability to learn more
from experience. It was the trial and error system.
Permanent crop cultivation
This involved the growing of perennial crops as potatoes, bananas, yam,
beans and maize on a permanent basis. This was majorly employed in areas
where there was extra land. Not every society could practice this form
of agriculture but the environment dictated the terms.
Areas that received heavy and reliable rainfall were free from pests and
diseases, having fertile soil did serve best for permanent crop
cultivation. With the development of iron technology societies which
practiced this moved from communalism to feudalism. In East Africa it
was majorly practiced in the interlacustrine regions such as Buganda,
Kagera Kenyan highlands, Ankole around Mount Kilimanjaro, parts of
Kigoma and rungwe. In West Africa in the Fante, Yoruba, Ashanti, Ife and
Akwam.
With the development of permanent crop cultivation people begn to live
in larger, more permanent settlement, the permanence of settlement
quickened the development of instrument production, there were increase
in population as a result of improved diet, food supply became more
regular and abundant, brought important social as well as technical
changes many developed into centralised states for example Fante, Benin,
Oyo and Meroe.
Lastly was the development of handcrafts industries such as iron smelting and social differentiation.
Mixed farming
This is an agricultural system which involves growing of crops and
rearing of animals on the same piece of land. It evolved in areas which
supported both pastoralism and crop cultivation. Crops grown in this
agricultural practice included cereals such as millet, sorghum, cassava
and maize animals kept included cattle, goats, sheep, cows and donkey.
The mixed farmers existed because the areas they lived had unreliable
rainfall and their soils could easily be exhausted so one thing had to
supplement the other. Mixed farmers in East Africa included the Gogo,
Sangu, Sukuma, Kurya and Fipa in Tanzania, Luyia in Southwest Kenya, the
Basoga and Gisu of Eastern Uganda. The relation of production was
mainly communal with low production, division of labour based on age and
sex
The mixed farmers in East Africa demonstrated achievement in their
practices as they developed centralised political organisations for
example the Busoga in Uganda under Omuloki, specialised in different
activities. Specialisation in these societies resulted into development
of trade, at first it was among the mixed farmers and later it resulted
in the formation of long distance trade.
Shifting cultivation
This involves spending a given period of time working on land and moving
from one area that is exhausted to a new fresh piece of land. It was
mainly practiced by the people who lived in grassland plateaus for
example Miombo wood land savanna in central Tanzania were the rainfall
was little and unreliable and the soil could be easily exhausted
These soils could support the growth of cassava, sorghum, maize, millet,
cowpeas, pumpkins plus many more other crops.the rearing of livestock
was made difficult due to the fact that these areas were infected with
tsetse flies and other livestock diseases. The soils that easily became
exhausted necessitated people to move from one place to another in
search of the fertile piece of land. However people in some communities
were living a settled life even if they were practicing this type of
agriculture.
Pastoralism
This involves the keeping of livestock. The herding of domestic animals
(cattle, sheep or goats), which were real and potential source of food
particularly; milk, meat, animal skins and the herds were also exchanged
with the different neighboring societies.
Areas with semi arid and arid conditions like scanty rainfall, (rainfall
that is just enough to support the growth of pasture), poor soils which
could only support pastoralism as the major economic activity within
the area. In East Africa the dry areas include the lift valley areas of
Tanzania and Kenya comprising of societies like the Maasai, Nyaturu,
Barbaig and the karamanjong in Uganda.
Where the people were largely pastoralists their settlement tended to be
less permanent as they moved in search of varying season pastures and
water.
These people had no centralised political system they used the age set
system in their production and they also kept large herds because of
their use value and prestige.
How Agriculture Changed Man's Life
Explain how agriculture changed man's life
The development of agriculture changed man's life in various ways, for instance;
- with the development of permanent crop cultivation people began to live in permanent settlement,
- there was increase of population,
- development of instruments of productions,
- development of centralized states,
- development of trade, and
- the division of labour.
Handicrafts,Industries and Mining in Pre-Colonial Africa
Handcrafts can be defined as the art of using your skills and hand to
designs and fashion things, or it's an activity done with on's hands
requiring artistic skills. Such goods may include tools, baskets, and
cloth to mention but a few. In pre-colonial Africa different hand crafts
industries emerged as man specialized on to other activities apart from
agriculture. These included iron making industries, basketry, spinning
and weaving cloth making, carving, canoe making and many more.
The Meaning of Handcrafts, Industries, and Mining
Explain the meaning of handcrafts, industries, and mining
Mining industries:
Are industries which involve the process of extracting underground
minerals such as copper, gold, tin and salt mining industries.
An industry is a place where transformation of raw materials into
finished goods is carried out. The natural resources that existed in a
given society determined the nature of industries to be found in a given
area.
The Types of Industries and Their Advantages in Pre-Africa
Differentiate the types of industries and their advantages in pre-Africa
Types of industries
- Iron industries
- Salt making
- Copper industry
- Handcrafts industries
Iron industries.
The discovery of iron resulted in drastic socio-political and economic
changes. The people who were dealing in iron were called blacksmiths a
person whose job is to make and repair things made with iron, learns how
to identify rocks containing iron ore.
In the way of trying to maintain monopoly over the knowledge of iron
making it was kept as a secret and in many societies it was even
ritualised (made a religious thing). Different society had different
beliefs as many believed that the women were not allowed to furnace as
it was presumed that the iron would be spoilt.
Methods of obtaining and processing iron:
Blacksmiths identified the rocks that were bore iron ore collecting them
and smelting the iron found in the trenches or clay furnaces. They had
to use charcoal fuel and maintained the high temperatures in the
furnaces by fanning the live charcoal with bellows. The smelted iron was
then shaped into different forms and tools like spear heads, knives,
axes, panga and wire. The places where the iron industries were found
included the Venda people of Northern Transvaal, the Mashona people of
Zimbabwe, the Iteso of Eastern Uganda, along Kilambo falls, Futa Djalon,
Meroe and many others.
Salt making industries
Salt is not only a food ingredient but was also used to preserve food.
The increased use of salt resulted into the development of trade and
agriculture as salt led to more food production, the use of salt was
found in almost all communities as it was important in different
communities.
Methods of obtaining and processing salt:
There are four methods of obtaining and processing salt in different communities, these included:
Traditional method
Under the tradition method salt was obtained from the reeds growing in
marshy areas, gathered, dried and burnt to ashes. The ashes were then
collected, filtered and the liquid was boiled to evaporate, the residue
was used as salt. The Manganja people settled along Lake Nyasa commonly
used this method.
Mining of salt bearing rocks
Rocks contained salt was dug out and the crystals were used. In here the
rocks that contain salt are identified and are dug out, it is probably
the most commonly used method of obtaining and processing salt. Place
were it is used include Kasese, Bilma, Taghaza, Katwe and many others.
Boiling and evaporation
Under this method as the spring waters boil underneath the earth's
surface, they do evaporate and spill over the land surface where they
cool to form salt crystals which crystals are used as salt. This was
commonly practiced in Uvinza, Shinyanga and also among the Venda people.
Developed among the coastal regions
Along the coastal regions salty waters were trapped into pans and left
to evaporate the heat of the sun. The crystals that did remain behind
after the evaporation of salty waters were then used as salt.
Gold industries
Gold is one of the most precious minerals and it was not found in every
area as other minerals which makes it precious and valuable. The
communities that mined gold showed drastic social, political and
economic developments.
Methods of obtaining and processing gold
Panning method
This method was commonly carried out along the river beds where alluvial
gold was extracted. It was somehow tiresome as people had to try
several times in order to obtain the mineral. This method was common
among the Sabi people living along river Zambezi
Shaft method
This method was commonly used in the areas with gold veins. Here the
gold was dug out by using wooden, stone and iron hammers, then collected
in wooden baskets and taken to furnaces were it was turned into
different ornaments such as bangles, earrings plus many more.
Copper industries
The copper industry is believed to be the oldest industry that existed
in almost all pre colonial African societies. Different societies did
participate to the industries due to the fact that the copper existed in
their communities.
Methods used in obtaining and processing copper
Identification of a copper belt
The copper was dug out and then taken to the furnaces where it was
smelted. The smelted copper was turned into different tools which were
relatively important to the society for example wire traps, knives axes
etc. the areas that carried out this included places where the copper
belt were found for example the Katanga copper belt and Kasese.
Handcrafts industries
Cloth making industries (weaving and spinning):
These industries were concerned with making clothes and developed in
areas where cloth making materials were available. Spinning and wearing,
making of bark –cloth developed in areas with cotton and appropriate
tree barks.
Famous spinning and weaving societies in Africa include Yoruba people of
West Africa, Sumbawanga in Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique as well as the
people found in Lake Rukwa valley in Tanzania as for bark cloth areas
North of Lake Victoria, interlacustrine societies for example in Buganda
they used the Mvule tree to make (Olubugo) bark cloth which was very
expensive and it was only the rich and the nobles who could afford it
Basketry and carpentry
Closely associated with agrarian societies whose style of life was more
complex and sophisticated and in places that were privileged with palm
and special reeds holding vessels specialised in the making of baskets
and mats plus special leather work was needed for making leather
clothes, sandals, bags, and beddings from animal skins and hides. It‟s
associated with pastoralists such as Tuareg, Beja, Ajar, and Somali who
made tents.
Canoe making
The art of making canoes developed in areas bordering lakes, rivers and
oceans. Different societies who carried this had their major economic
activity as fishing which in many cases supplemented agriculture.
This therefore means that nature of resources available in a given
society determined the nature of handcrafts industry present in that
society.
Trade in pre colonial Africa
Trade refers to the exchange of goods or services with money or other goods or is the buying and selling of goods
The development of agriculture brought important economic changes as
people were now able to produce surplus food which is more than needed
to feed their own immediate family thus the surplus could be traded
between neighboring settlement in exchange for raw materials luxuries
and other items not produced within the community
It is clear that societies are not fully self sufficient. Therefore,
interactions say between pastoralists with cultivators and
agriculturalists with craftsmen in order to exchange goods are required.
The major means of distributions from one hand to another were through
gifts, tributes and taxation.
The exchanges carried out were not aimed at getting profit but it was
after the use value of commodities and also strengthening relations. For
example a person who exchanged his cattle with millet was not in search
of profit.
Before the emergence of groups of people who specialised in trade the
exchange system was barter this involved the exchange of goods for
goods.
As societies developed trade development was also inevitable basing on
the fact that some societies were not having specific resources which
could only be obtained through the exchange. Increase in surplus
production supplemented with the development of industries, the presence
of safe routes and the regional specialisation not forgetting the love
for adventure cemented the development and expansion of trading
activities in pre colonial Africa.
The expansion of trading activities resulted into two major types of trade emerging in pre colonial Africa.
- The local trade (internal exchange relations). This developed within given community.
- Regional trade (long distance trade). Where there emerged groups of people who specialized and could buy goods from producers in order to sell them later at a profit.
The Uses of Different Types of Minerals in Pre-Colonial Africa
Explain the uses of different types of minerals in pre-colonial Africa
All in all the handcrafts and mining industries had far reaching effects
to the communities and societies of pre colonial Africa. Increased food
production was evident as tool of production was improved up on through
the technological development, trade was also increased as the volume
of food traded and the demand increased this in turn acted as a source
of income to many societies which later rose socially, politically and
economically more settled populations and communities new political
system and organizations, the blacksmith became recognized, influential
and famous people in the society, the iron tools could dig and cut
faster and deeper than the stone tools and many others.
Trade in Pre-Colonial Africa
The Basis of Trade in Pre-Colonial Africa
Explain the basis of trade in pre-colonial Africa
Local trade
This was conducted from the village among the homogenous community, it
did not require specific places to act as a markets, there was no need
of middle men as goods passed freely from the hands of producers to
consumers.
Many pre colonial African societies at first developed this trade as it
availed them with the commodities they needed with much ease. People
living within a given community exchanged commodities amongst themselves
in order to fill the missing link; for example, cultivators could
exchange their food with the livestock from the pastoralists, other
commodities exchanged included iron tools, ornaments, animal skins and
agricultural produce.
Generally speaking, the exchange which started with the intention to
cement the existing social bonds amongst the different societies
resulted in the growth of several industries, simulation of production
for goods required in the exchange. It also led to the increase in
incomes of the people who actively participated in the trade, the
emergence and development of relationships among people of different
localities for example the Sukuma trading with the Maasai and also the
availability of all goods in the community brought about by increased
production and the expansion in the exchanges.
The Types of Trade, Types of Commodities and the Societies Involved
Identify the types of trade, types of commodities and the societies involved
Regional trade
Trade between East and Central Africa started from the 1st millennium AD
as they traded in raffia cloth, ivory and hides, copper from Katanga
exchanged with salt from Uvinza.
This was concerned with the exchange of goods with people from different
regions. This called for specialisation and dealt with the commodities
which were relatively scarce and geographical un evenly distributed
among the people of different ethnic groups. Regional trade involved
different regions in the trading process. In East and Central Africa it
came to be known as long distance trade while in West Africa it was
called trans Saharan trade.
Long Distance Trade
It is called long distance trade simply because it was carried out long
distance as people/traders had to move for long distance going on
exchanging goods with other societies and the major aim was to get
profit for example a salt traders was exchanged salt foe hoes not
because he wanted to use hoes but he wanted re sell them at a profit
later.
Professional traders (trade being their major occupation) came from Yao,
Chewa and Bissa of Central Africa. Imbangala and vimbundu from Angola,
Dyula merchants and the Marabouts of West Africa. In East Africa the
Nyamwezi, Yao and Kamba were famous long distance traders, through
trading and supplying ivory, slaves and copper to the exterior of East
Africa Indian ocean coast. This organisation required fixed places to
act as markets and the use of middlemen as the entrepreneurs.
In East Africa it was mainly carried out during the dry season and
during the rainy season they settled down for agricultural activities.
By the10th century AD the Yao and Chewa were exporting ivory and iron to
the coast. The Shona of Zimbabwe exported ivory and gold to the coast
which were then exported to the Far East and then return they imported
glass wear, cowrie's shells, beads, cotton cloth and porcelain from the
far and Middle East. They used organised caravans for security reasons
and distance standard currency such as bars of iron or copper and slabs
of salt.
The long distance trade was a blessing for many societies in East and
Central Africa as it gave rise to the notorious and professional long
distance traders like Tip Tippu, Mzilikazi, and Mlosi etc
In addition to that prominent rulers such as Muteesa of Bugnanda,
Mirambo of Unyamwezi, Kimweri of Usambara and Mkwawa of the Uhehe were
able to conquer and rule weaker and neighboring societies. All this was
facilitated by the acquisition of fire arms and ammunition which were
important commodities from the East coast.
Expansion and consolidation of various kingdoms for example Buganda,
Bunyoro, Yao and Nyamwezi led many of the participants to became very
rich and famous from the huge profits that were enjoyed from the trade.
The trade acted as a stepping stone for the spread of Islam in the
interior of East Africa. Many of the traders preaching Islam at the same
time carrying their trading activities. Slave trade paved its way to
the interior as the interior was exposed to traders.
The Trans Saharan Trade
Trans Saharan trade is also sometimes referred to as caravan trade. It
was carried out across the Sahara desert. The trade involved different
zones ranging from forest i.e. involving the forest states such as
Benin, Oyo, Kanem Bornu and many more, the savannah belt which involved
the Western Sudanic states such as Ghana, Mali and Songhai, the Sahara
desert and the North Africa, the Mediterranean world and Europe.
Factors for the rise of the Trans Saharan Trade (causes)
The introduction and use of the camels,
which were introduced in Africa during 100A.D. CamelS replaced horses
and donkeys as they were more resistant to desert conditions and could
also move faster to the desert. This therefore facilitated the
development of the trade as a more efficient means of transport had been
introduced
Political development that during the 7th and 16th century. This includesthe
Western Sudanic states whose rulers promoted the expansion of the
trade. They ensured this by giving a leading hand, security, freedom of
movement and also encouraging people to prepare the goods that were
necessary in the trade a thing that did not existed before.
The conquest of North Africa by the Arabs, between
641 and 708 the Arabs conquered North Africa, astraders naturally they
introduced their trading system and on top of that they increased the
use of camels in North Africa and in the Sahara desert.
Development of production, in
various regions of the Sudanic zone the production increased it meant
that the supplies of commodity to be used in the trade were available.
As no single community is self-sufficient this meant that the different
communities had to depend on each other for various raw materials and
goods.
Organization of the trade:
commodities used; different
regions had different commodities that they concentrated on, from
Europe and Muslim North Africa included manufactured goods, textile,
copper, silver, woolen garments, brass, tin and horses
From the Sahara were salt mined at Bilma, Taghaza, Taoden, Idjil and Awlil, copper mined at Takkeda, tobacco and dates inclusive.
The savannah region had millet, sorghum, wheat, gum and ostrich feathers
and livestock as well as gold that were mined from Wangara.
The forest zone was well known for gold mines at Akan and Lobi, kola nuts, ivory and the slaves.
The first medium of exchange was the barter system where goods were
exchanged for goods but as the people became professional traders the
medium of exchange also changed the traders started using cowries and at
a later stage they started using the French franc and then the Spanish
and Australian dollars.
As caravans were organised they had to follow specific trade routes that
gave them a sense of direction on their way through the trade. The
major trade route that was used included;
- From Ghat and Tripoli to Ehyot.
- From Ghana to Morocco via Audaghast.
- From Timbuktu to Tunis via Taghaza.
- From Borno to Tripoli.
- From Kano to Tunis and Tripoli via Agades.
- From Timbuktu to Tunis via Wangala, Ghademes and Ghat.
The Impact of the Following Types of Trade: Local Trade, Regional Trade
Appraise the impact of the following types of trade: local trade, regional trade
Impacts of the Trans Saharan Trade
Contributed to the formation of West African states and kingdoms, the
profits that were raised from trade helped in the development of
different states, these were got through the taking over charge or
control over the trade routes and every one using that route had to pay
tax or tributes.
For example Ghana Empire conquered Audaghast in 990 A.D. in view of
controlling the salt mines in that area, Mali and Songhai extended their
control as far as Taghaza and Takedda for economic reasons. It is
therefore true to say that trade facilitated the rise and consolidation
of the different states.
The spread of Islam was greatly accelerated by the Trans Saharan Trade
in West and North Africa. The traders were serving two masters at a go
as they were traders and also acted as teachers of Islam (evangelists) a
thing that improved on the literacy rates in the region.
Growth of towns and cities, due
to the trade many areas which were once villages turned into towns in
what is known as urbanisation. Small villages turned into large towns
and cities such as Kumbi Saleh, Gao, Kano, Jenne, Timbuktu plus many
others.
Improvement of political administrations, the
caravan trade also improved political administration of the different
kingdoms through the use and employment of well educated Muslim traders
who had been attracted by the trade. Many of the states were also
applying the Islamic ways of administration in their different areas or
jurisdiction
Exploitation of natural resources,
as the influx of the Whites increased, this marked the beginning of the
exploitation of natural resources that were endowed in Africa. It is
also believed that this was the time of unequal exchange between Africa
and Europe began.
Provision of constant and regular source of income, The
attractive profits from trade provided constant and regular source of
income for the different states. This was mainly raised from the custom
duties that imposed on the imports and over goods of great political
importance such as horse and the different metals that were imported
into the state.
Trade also provided the sources for undertaking wars of conquest and
expansion through the supply of effective means of war fare, such as
horses and metals that could be used in the making and designing arms as
spears, arrows head and axes.
The Trans Saharan Trade
This was the trading relation between the people of Western Sudan
(Sudanic/Savannah region) and the people of North Africa passing across
the Sahara desert. Camels were used as the means of transport during
this trade. Societies that participated in the Trans Saharan Trade
included;
- The Berbers of North Africa and brought them to West Africa via the Sahara desert.
- The Arabs and the European stationed in the Mediterranean costs of North Africa. These supplied goods to the Berbers and Tuaregs who in turn sold them to the people of West Africa. The said Arabs and purchased the items brought from West Africa.
- The West African tribes of both the Sudanic region and the forest regions to include the Mandika, Fulani, Hausa, Edo etc. these supplied items to the Berbers and Tuaregs who crossed the Sahara and purchased the items brought from North Africa.
Commodities involved
From North Africa the commodities were:
- Cotton and silk clothes
- Swords
- Guns and gunpowder
- Horses, etc.
from West Africa the commodities were:
- slaves
- ivory
- ostrich feathers
- kola nuts
- Gold
- Salt
- Food stuff
Trans Saharan trade was firstly carried out through barter system and
there after some media of exchange like cowries shells, silver, coins,
etc. replaced the barter system.
Trade routes
The Trans Saharan Trade was carried out via the routes namely:
- The western routes
- The Central route
- The Eastern route
The Western route emerged from Fez in Morocco via Siljilmasa, Taghaza,
Taoden, Walata, and Audaghost up to Timbuktu. This route was famous
because of salt mines at Taghaza and gold mines Wangara.
The central route emerged at Tunis in Tunisia via Tuat, Taotek, Tadmekket, Timbuktu, Gao, and Kano up to Katsina.
The Eastern route to the other hand emerged from Triplin in Libya,
Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt to Bilma via Murzuk, Ghat and Agades. This
route was significant because of salt mines in Bilma.
Factors for growth of Trans Saharan Trade
Several factors contributed to the growth and development of Trans Saharan trade. These include:-
- Political stability in both North Africa and West Africa, hence a conducive ground forthe trade activities to flourish.
- The desire by European traders of such items as ivory, gold and slaves which were tobe obtained only from Western Sudan.
- The desire of European commodities by the people of Western Sudan.
- Production of surplus commodities such as kola nuts, salt, fish and other food stuffsin Western Sudan. These had to be exported to other regions including NorthAmerica.
- The introduction and use of camels as animals of transportation, these were able tocarry huge quantities than horses and human porters. They were also tolerable indesert conditions.
Factors for the fall of Trans Saharan Trade
By the second half of the 19th century, the trans Saharan trade was
almost collapse of this trade was a result of the following factors:
- Introduction of trans Atlantic trade which altered the trade route of Trans Saharan Trade.
- The emergence of other sources of salt and gold needed by European traders due toopening up of mines in the Americas.
- Scarcity of water in the desert discouraged the voyages via the desert.
- Eruption of wars (jihad) in the Maghreb region particularly Morocco. This disrupted the trade.
- Colonisation of West African states by European powers in the last quarter of 19thcentury deteriorated the trading relations with North Africa
Effects of the Trans Saharan Trade
The Trans Saharan Trade had to a lot of effects as follows:-
- It led to development and growth of towns and cities in both North Africa and theWestern Sudan, example being Walata, Kano, and Timbuktu etc.
- It led to emergence of rich merchants classes in Western Sudan as these merchants accumulated a lot of wealth from the trade.
- It led to the spread of Islam, Arabic culture and language in Western Sudan.
- It led to intermarriages between the people of Western Sudan, the Arabs and AfroArabs from North Africa.
- It led to the growth and consolidation of Sudanic states namely Ghana, Mali, Songhaiand Kanem Bornu.vi. It stimulated the state of warfare between Western Sudanic states and forest states dueto the desire for slaves.
Mining and hand craft industries
Mining
This is the extraction of minerals from the underground parent rocks. By
the period before and around the 19th century, minerals that were being
mined in Africa include the following:-
- Copper
- Gold
- Iron
- Bronze
- Silver
- Salt.
Most of the minerals were to be taken to handcraft industries where they
were then processed into different items. Some other minerals such as
salt were to be consumed directly while some other minerals were to be
used as media of exchange in trading activities.
Prominent areas in Africa where mining activities were being practiced include the following:-
- Katanga in Zaire where there were copper mines.
- Tshikapa in Zaire, Machili, Lusu, Klambo falls and Ingombe ilede.
- Gokomere, Mabven, Malapiti and Chivi in the Limpompo valley of Zimbabwe iron wasmined.
- Mashona and Matebele lands in Zimbabwe as well as Ashanti in Ghana where gold wasbeing mined.
- Uvinza in Western Tanzania and Taghaza in Mauritania where there were extraction ofsalts.
Hand crafts industries
These were factories that manufactured different items through the use
of machines operated manually (by hand). Such industries include those
that dealt with metal works namely:
- Iron processing industries
- Copper processing industries
- Salt making industries
The said metal working industries were mainly located near their
respective mining areas. Prominent societies that were experts in metal
works include:
- The people of Chipembe, and Kalomo in Zambia, the people of Mwavarambo,Phopo and Nkope Bay in Malawi as well as the Yoruba and the Edo of Nigeriawho were experts in iron smelting industries.
- The Shona and Ndebele of Zimbabwe, the Akan and the Asante of Ghana whowere famous in gold coast smithing industries.
- The Manganja of Malawi and the people of Taghaza were experts in salt making industries.
Other industries apart from metal work industries dealt with cotton and
raffia cloth making among the Fulbe, the Felleme and Trakrur of Senegal
and among the societies Guinea and Zimbabwe.
Other industries were those dealing with Basketry, Pottery and wood
carving. Wood carving industries were common among the Makonde of
Tanzania and the Yoruba of Nigeria.
Items made from the said handcraft industries were to be sold in
exchange with other products like agricultural products, animal products
etc.
THE MAP OF TRANS SAHARAN TRADE ROUTES
BASIC ASSIGNMENT/ACTIVITIES TO DO
- Define the following terms Technology Agriculture Trade Environment Development
- List the four agricultural processes that were carried out among the different societies in East Africa.
- Mention any four advantages and effects of agriculture to the different African societies.
- Mention the different handcrafts that existed in pre colonial African societies.
- Outline the different types of trade that where present in the pre colonial African societies.
- What factors contributed to the development of trans Saharan trade?
- Mention the different regions that participated in the Trans Saharan trade.
- Mention four notorious and professional long distance traders.
- List the different methods in the obtaining and processing of salt in the pre colonial African societies.
- What factors gave rise to the Trans Saharan trade?
- List four principles of trade routes that were used in trans Saharan slave trade.
- What were the impacts or effects of trans Saharan trade?
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