History of Modern Africa from 19th Century to Present
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revolutions_colonialconquestofmiddleafrica1840-1900.pptRevolutions & Colonial Conquest of Middle Africa 1840-1900
Introduction
- Increasingly in the 19th Century middle Africa was linked to global economy.
- 1st slavery gave way to demands for commodities such as palm oil, ivory, rubber, wax
- Chokwe, Ovimbundu, Nyamwezi, & Swahili trading empires
- Shipping & commerce increased
- More firearms brought in - making war bloodier
Sayyid Said & Zanzibar Commerce
- Trading communities had remained on same spot for years. Mostly mixed African & Arab blood who settled in places such as Kilwa, Mombasa, Zanzibar, intermarried - made homes there - Swahili
- 19th Century: Indian traders became more established in the area. Many were agents from firms with money to invest.
- Arabs from the Persian Gulf also came to trade.
- This new influx was presided by Sayyid Said, Sultan of Oman in Arabia
- After 1820, Said sought to enlarge his empire in East Africa.
- Visited Zanzibar several times and in 1840 established his capital there. Controlled most of the area between Mombasa and Cape Delgado
- Cemented relations with Indian businessmen to exploit the inferior.
- Clove plantations owned by Arabs but backed by Indian capitalists
- Trade Flourished
Nyamwezi & Arab traders
- Though trade in the coast flourished & expanded, those who provided guides and carried goods to the interior were mostly Nyamwezi in the western Tanzania.
- Nyamwezi had developed many of the trade routes linking the east and the Kingdoms of the west.
- 1839. Sayyid Said signed a commercial treaty with the Nyamwezi stating that Nyamwezi agreed to allow Caravans to pass through their territory.
- But the Caravan later grew larger, resulting in conflict.
