ISLAMIC AFRICAN EMPIRES
One of the worst misconceptions about Africa is that its people lived in some jungle with no real civilization at all. When in fact in the midst of the middle ages where Europe suffered hundreds of years of decline Africa was one of the most wealthy, scholarly and worldly continents on the planet. From the great empires of Ghana and Mali to the vast Swahili trading cities, where Africans ran tradeing networks all the way to India and China. Below is a great video highlighting just a bit of the greatness of the African continent.
Below I will get more in depth with the topics in the above video namely the Swahili trading cities and the kingdom of Ghana.
THE WEST AFRICAN KINGDOM OF GHANA
Between the 9th and 11th centuries C.E., the kingdom of Ghana was so rich that its dogs wore golden collars, and its horses, which were adorned with silken rope halters, slept on plush carpets. Based on animal luxuries alone, it is no wonder that foreigners touted Ghana's kings as the richest men in the world. Certainly they were living the high life ... but how did they do it?
Located within the present-day borders of Mauritania, Mali, and Senegal, medieval Ghana literally sat on a gold mine. The land's abundance of resources allowed Ghana's rulers to engage in years of prosperous trading. Strategic governing coupled with great location led to the rapid emergence of a very wealthy empire. Most of what we know about ancient Ghana — which is more accurately called Wagadugu — is based on writings of Arab travelers who came in contact with the nation's peoples. "Ghana" was actually the title given to Wagadugu kings and was used by the Islamic "reporters" to describe the rich and mysterious place they observed.
Evidence of Ghana's occupation dates back to the 4th century, but it was several hundred years later that it became established as a nation by a tribe known as the Soninke, whose leaders have been credited with the early strengthening of the Wagadugu state and the expansion of its territories. By 1000 B.C.E., the nation had undergone strategic expansion and taken control of a large pocket of land between the upper Niger and Senegal Rivers. The region was rich in gold, and its acquisition meant that Ghana would become a leading force in the trans-Saharan trade network.
The leader of all leaders was the king, who was also known as the ghana, or war chief. His word was law. He served as the commander in chief of a highly organized army, the controller of all trade activities, and the head administrator of justice. Mayors, civil servants, counselors, and ministers were appointed by the king to assist with administrative duties — but at all times, the king was in charge.
When the king was not busy enforcing his power among the people, he was spreading it internationally through trade. At its peak, Ghana was chiefly bartering gold, ivory, and slaves for salt from Arabs for horses, cloth, swords, and books from North Africans and Europeans.
As salt was worth its weight in gold, and gold was so abundant in the kingdom, Ghana achieved much of its wealth through trade with the Arabs. Islamic merchants traveled over two months through the desert to reach Ghana and "do business." They were taxed for both what they brought in and what they took out. The capital of Ghāna consisted of two towns situated on a plain as related by Arab historian Al-bakiri "One of these towns, which was inhabited by Muslims, is large and possesses twelve mosques, in one of which they assemble for Friday prayer. ... In the environs are wells with sweet water, from which they drink and with which they grow vegetables. The king's town is six miles distant from this one and bears the name of Al-Ghāba. Between these two towns are continuous habitations. The houses of the inhabitants are of stone and acacia wood. The king has a palace and a number of domed dwellings all surrounded with an enclosure like a city wall. In the king's town, and not far from his courts of justice, is a mosque where Muslims who arrive in his court pray. Around the king's town are domed buildings and groves and thickets where the sorcerers of these people, men in charge of the religious cult, live".
With this system, it is no wonder that Ghana got rich quickly. The wealth that the kingdom acquired did not, however, serve in its favor forever. Competition from other states in the gold trade eventually took its toll.
Jealousy, fear, and anger of Ghana's power prompted its neighbors to stand up against the kingdom. Their efforts were at first weak and insignificant, but eventually, in the mid-11th century, a Muslim group known as the Almoravids launched an invasion on the capital city of Koumbi Saleh. The Almoravids increased in power by marrying among the nation's nobility ,though territories were seized, and a tribute tax was enforced, and some tribal groups and chieftaincies assimilated into the Almoravids. Ghana recovered and forced the invaders to withdraw.
A little less than 200 years later, however, Ghana was not so lucky. Weakened by subsequent attacks, and cut-off from international trade, the kingdom was vulnerable and unable to prevent defeat. In 1240 C.E., Ghana was absorbed into the growing nation of Mali, which would soon become the next great empire.
Source
Located within the present-day borders of Mauritania, Mali, and Senegal, medieval Ghana literally sat on a gold mine. The land's abundance of resources allowed Ghana's rulers to engage in years of prosperous trading. Strategic governing coupled with great location led to the rapid emergence of a very wealthy empire. Most of what we know about ancient Ghana — which is more accurately called Wagadugu — is based on writings of Arab travelers who came in contact with the nation's peoples. "Ghana" was actually the title given to Wagadugu kings and was used by the Islamic "reporters" to describe the rich and mysterious place they observed.
Evidence of Ghana's occupation dates back to the 4th century, but it was several hundred years later that it became established as a nation by a tribe known as the Soninke, whose leaders have been credited with the early strengthening of the Wagadugu state and the expansion of its territories. By 1000 B.C.E., the nation had undergone strategic expansion and taken control of a large pocket of land between the upper Niger and Senegal Rivers. The region was rich in gold, and its acquisition meant that Ghana would become a leading force in the trans-Saharan trade network.
The leader of all leaders was the king, who was also known as the ghana, or war chief. His word was law. He served as the commander in chief of a highly organized army, the controller of all trade activities, and the head administrator of justice. Mayors, civil servants, counselors, and ministers were appointed by the king to assist with administrative duties — but at all times, the king was in charge.
When the king was not busy enforcing his power among the people, he was spreading it internationally through trade. At its peak, Ghana was chiefly bartering gold, ivory, and slaves for salt from Arabs for horses, cloth, swords, and books from North Africans and Europeans.
As salt was worth its weight in gold, and gold was so abundant in the kingdom, Ghana achieved much of its wealth through trade with the Arabs. Islamic merchants traveled over two months through the desert to reach Ghana and "do business." They were taxed for both what they brought in and what they took out. The capital of Ghāna consisted of two towns situated on a plain as related by Arab historian Al-bakiri "One of these towns, which was inhabited by Muslims, is large and possesses twelve mosques, in one of which they assemble for Friday prayer. ... In the environs are wells with sweet water, from which they drink and with which they grow vegetables. The king's town is six miles distant from this one and bears the name of Al-Ghāba. Between these two towns are continuous habitations. The houses of the inhabitants are of stone and acacia wood. The king has a palace and a number of domed dwellings all surrounded with an enclosure like a city wall. In the king's town, and not far from his courts of justice, is a mosque where Muslims who arrive in his court pray. Around the king's town are domed buildings and groves and thickets where the sorcerers of these people, men in charge of the religious cult, live".
With this system, it is no wonder that Ghana got rich quickly. The wealth that the kingdom acquired did not, however, serve in its favor forever. Competition from other states in the gold trade eventually took its toll.
Jealousy, fear, and anger of Ghana's power prompted its neighbors to stand up against the kingdom. Their efforts were at first weak and insignificant, but eventually, in the mid-11th century, a Muslim group known as the Almoravids launched an invasion on the capital city of Koumbi Saleh. The Almoravids increased in power by marrying among the nation's nobility ,though territories were seized, and a tribute tax was enforced, and some tribal groups and chieftaincies assimilated into the Almoravids. Ghana recovered and forced the invaders to withdraw.
A little less than 200 years later, however, Ghana was not so lucky. Weakened by subsequent attacks, and cut-off from international trade, the kingdom was vulnerable and unable to prevent defeat. In 1240 C.E., Ghana was absorbed into the growing nation of Mali, which would soon become the next great empire.
Source
SWAHILI SAILORS : MOORISH TRADERS OF THE EASTERN SEAS
ln 1331 a very famous scholar and world traveler from the City of Fez, Morocco traveled down the east coast of Africa. This traveler’s name was Ibn Battuta. Ibn Battuta left in his memoir descriptions of all the foreign cities he visited all over the world.
When he went to East Africa he visited the famous city of Kilwa. Ibn Battuta described Kilwa as “one of the most beautiful and well constructed towns in the world.” In the city of Kilwa government officials, teachers and accomplished business men greeted Ibn Battuta.
The people of Kilwa are generally called “Swahili”. Today, as in the past, the Swahili people mainly reside in East Africa. The name “Swahili” comes from the Arabic term “Sahel” or “Swahil”. These words mean “shore” or “coastline”. Since they resided along the coastal areas these east African peoples called themselves “Swahili” meaning “people of the coastline”.
The period when the Swahili people initially occupied East Africa goes back more than 2000 years. Initially small groups coming from other parts of Africa began to settle in the area. These groups established small villages along this east coast area. Because of its close proximity, these peoples took to the ocean. Due to their frequent contact with the Indian Ocean their ocean navigational capabilities and ship sailing skills evolved to a high level. Soon the Swahili people were able to voyage for long distances and for extended periods across the Indian Ocean.
The Swahili eventually made contact with other countries along the Indian Ocean. Swahili sailors were able to reach Arabia, India, Indonesia and even China. Strong trade links were established between East Africa and these other nations. The Swahili became very wealthy due to these trade links. Between the 10th to the 15th century more than 30 trading-cities or trading~empires developed along the east coast of Africa. These cities existed in the areas which today are called Kenya, Tanzania and the island of Zanzibar.
During the peak period of this commerce, on any given day, Swahili sailors could be seen loading their large ships with gold, iron, ivory and coconuts, and unloading from them textiles and jewelry from India and exquisite porcelain from China. The Swahili also saw ships from China and other nations pulling into their harbors. These ships were making frequent stops at Lamu, Malindi, Mombosa and other trading city-states along the east African coast. These cities had developed into affluent thriving cosmopolitan cultures due to this trade. East African ivory was in high demand during this period and this ivory found its way into India, the Persian Gulf and China. South African gold was also in high demand.
Three major items used in East African trade. Ivory, gold and salt. African elephant tusks were the source of most of Asia’s ivory. Gold coins were much sought after in North Africa and cylinders of salt were in demand in South Africa.
In the 1400's the Portuguese sailed to East Africa for the first time. This expedition was under the command of Pedro Alvares Cabral. One sailor on the ship wrote:
“ln this land there are rich merchants and there is much gold and sliver and amber and pearls. "Those of the land wear clothes of fine cotton and of silk and many fine things, and they are blackmen". The liveliest and most prosperous city in all of East Africa during this period was the island of Kilwa. The island essentialy functioned like that of a market middleman. The Kilwa rulers controlled the exchange of goods between inner Africa and other nations along the Indian Ocean. This middleman role made the Kilwa rulers some of the wealthiest individuals on the entire continent. In 196l Nevill Chitic unearthed the mosque and palace of the last Kilwa ruler. This structure is called the “Husuni Kubwa”. It was the largest domestic residence in all of East Africa. The palace had well over 100 rooms, with galleries, patios, and separate sections for residential and commercial purposes.”
The citizens of Kilwa possessed very lavish, modern looking homes on the island. Some of their homes were actually two to three stories high. Many of them contained rugs from Persia, jewelry from India, spices from Southeast Asia and bowls from China. The Swahili made their homes out of the most available materials: namely, mangrove poles and coral. The main building material was a coarse vesicular coral broken into irregular blocks. When this coral is initially taken from the reef it is very soft and easily cut. As it is exposed to weather and rain, though, it starts to harden and become more durable. This need for the coral to weather meant buildings were often erected in stages over several years. The houses often had very impressive entrances. They usually had large arched doorways which led to private courtyards. A wide raised bank usually ran around three sides of the courtyard and provided space to sit. In this space visitors could be received and business transactions could be conducted. Usually a large narrow reception room, with wide doors and long windows, faced onto the court. Private rooms, often beautifully decorated, led off the reception rooms. When we look at the documents and sources on Swahili or East African trade we find early Arab writings mentioning a few details here and there about the Swahili traders. We find them mentioned in such sources as the Muruj al-Dhahab, an Arab historical encyclopedia. We also have the archaeological evidence from various Asian countries, information from the Swahili oral and religious traditions and modern research now being conducted in this field.
When researching about East Africa the source most often cited is the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. This is the earliest detailed account about Swahili trade. This book was written around the first century by a Greek ship captain living in Egypt. It discusses Swahili imports and exports, their habits and hospitality and many things about their skills and interest.
One of the biggest misconceptions people have about Africa is the belief that in the past Africans never ventured outside their homeland. This belief has proven to be a myth because in ancient times it was a generally held view amongst the Swahili that all male children were born sailors. When we look at the Swahili religious practices we find that early in their history the Swahili accepted Islam. This faith became their dominant religion. Islam also helped develop them as a mercantile sea-faring people because the pursuit of trade, commerce and traveling to distant lands are highly encouraged in the Islamic faith. “Go in quest of knowledge, even unto China.” was a popular saying of Mohammed, the founding prophet of Islam. Other sayings of his include “Travel for vigor and profit”, and “The timid merchant gains nothing but disappointment while the bold one makes a living.”
Source
When he went to East Africa he visited the famous city of Kilwa. Ibn Battuta described Kilwa as “one of the most beautiful and well constructed towns in the world.” In the city of Kilwa government officials, teachers and accomplished business men greeted Ibn Battuta.
The people of Kilwa are generally called “Swahili”. Today, as in the past, the Swahili people mainly reside in East Africa. The name “Swahili” comes from the Arabic term “Sahel” or “Swahil”. These words mean “shore” or “coastline”. Since they resided along the coastal areas these east African peoples called themselves “Swahili” meaning “people of the coastline”.
The period when the Swahili people initially occupied East Africa goes back more than 2000 years. Initially small groups coming from other parts of Africa began to settle in the area. These groups established small villages along this east coast area. Because of its close proximity, these peoples took to the ocean. Due to their frequent contact with the Indian Ocean their ocean navigational capabilities and ship sailing skills evolved to a high level. Soon the Swahili people were able to voyage for long distances and for extended periods across the Indian Ocean.
The Swahili eventually made contact with other countries along the Indian Ocean. Swahili sailors were able to reach Arabia, India, Indonesia and even China. Strong trade links were established between East Africa and these other nations. The Swahili became very wealthy due to these trade links. Between the 10th to the 15th century more than 30 trading-cities or trading~empires developed along the east coast of Africa. These cities existed in the areas which today are called Kenya, Tanzania and the island of Zanzibar.
During the peak period of this commerce, on any given day, Swahili sailors could be seen loading their large ships with gold, iron, ivory and coconuts, and unloading from them textiles and jewelry from India and exquisite porcelain from China. The Swahili also saw ships from China and other nations pulling into their harbors. These ships were making frequent stops at Lamu, Malindi, Mombosa and other trading city-states along the east African coast. These cities had developed into affluent thriving cosmopolitan cultures due to this trade. East African ivory was in high demand during this period and this ivory found its way into India, the Persian Gulf and China. South African gold was also in high demand.
Three major items used in East African trade. Ivory, gold and salt. African elephant tusks were the source of most of Asia’s ivory. Gold coins were much sought after in North Africa and cylinders of salt were in demand in South Africa.
In the 1400's the Portuguese sailed to East Africa for the first time. This expedition was under the command of Pedro Alvares Cabral. One sailor on the ship wrote:
“ln this land there are rich merchants and there is much gold and sliver and amber and pearls. "Those of the land wear clothes of fine cotton and of silk and many fine things, and they are blackmen". The liveliest and most prosperous city in all of East Africa during this period was the island of Kilwa. The island essentialy functioned like that of a market middleman. The Kilwa rulers controlled the exchange of goods between inner Africa and other nations along the Indian Ocean. This middleman role made the Kilwa rulers some of the wealthiest individuals on the entire continent. In 196l Nevill Chitic unearthed the mosque and palace of the last Kilwa ruler. This structure is called the “Husuni Kubwa”. It was the largest domestic residence in all of East Africa. The palace had well over 100 rooms, with galleries, patios, and separate sections for residential and commercial purposes.”
The citizens of Kilwa possessed very lavish, modern looking homes on the island. Some of their homes were actually two to three stories high. Many of them contained rugs from Persia, jewelry from India, spices from Southeast Asia and bowls from China. The Swahili made their homes out of the most available materials: namely, mangrove poles and coral. The main building material was a coarse vesicular coral broken into irregular blocks. When this coral is initially taken from the reef it is very soft and easily cut. As it is exposed to weather and rain, though, it starts to harden and become more durable. This need for the coral to weather meant buildings were often erected in stages over several years. The houses often had very impressive entrances. They usually had large arched doorways which led to private courtyards. A wide raised bank usually ran around three sides of the courtyard and provided space to sit. In this space visitors could be received and business transactions could be conducted. Usually a large narrow reception room, with wide doors and long windows, faced onto the court. Private rooms, often beautifully decorated, led off the reception rooms. When we look at the documents and sources on Swahili or East African trade we find early Arab writings mentioning a few details here and there about the Swahili traders. We find them mentioned in such sources as the Muruj al-Dhahab, an Arab historical encyclopedia. We also have the archaeological evidence from various Asian countries, information from the Swahili oral and religious traditions and modern research now being conducted in this field.
When researching about East Africa the source most often cited is the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. This is the earliest detailed account about Swahili trade. This book was written around the first century by a Greek ship captain living in Egypt. It discusses Swahili imports and exports, their habits and hospitality and many things about their skills and interest.
One of the biggest misconceptions people have about Africa is the belief that in the past Africans never ventured outside their homeland. This belief has proven to be a myth because in ancient times it was a generally held view amongst the Swahili that all male children were born sailors. When we look at the Swahili religious practices we find that early in their history the Swahili accepted Islam. This faith became their dominant religion. Islam also helped develop them as a mercantile sea-faring people because the pursuit of trade, commerce and traveling to distant lands are highly encouraged in the Islamic faith. “Go in quest of knowledge, even unto China.” was a popular saying of Mohammed, the founding prophet of Islam. Other sayings of his include “Travel for vigor and profit”, and “The timid merchant gains nothing but disappointment while the bold one makes a living.”
Source
SOMALIA : LAND OF THE BERBERS
When getting into research about moors one of the most controversial area's you'll run into is the race of the berbers, it's a hugely general term being berbers span the whole of Africa and are both indigenous black African ,middle eastern and populations with heavy amounts of admixture. As evidence that the term does not soley belong to fair skinned peoples of North Africa one must only look to Somalia in east Africa which was referred to in medieval times as Bilad-ul-Barbar (بلاد البربر), meaning "Land of the Berbers. The name "Berber" derives from variants of the root "barbar," which exist in most Indo-European sub-languages and Arabic. The Greek word "Βαρβαρος" (or the English transliteration, "barbaros") was initially used to refer to non-native speakers (also as non-citizens) in a manner quite similar to the definition of the Sanskrit word "barbara," which also means stammering. Greek writers, Isocrates (436 - 338 BC) and Xenophon (430 - 354 BC) frequently used "barbaros" when referring to Persians (and other Asians), and the ancient Romans used the word "barbarus" (feminine: barbara) to refer to foreigners, such as Huns, Gauls, and Africans. The Romans expanded its definition to a more negative connotation (e.g. savage and uncivilized), and from the Roman use of the word, we get our present use of "barbarian" in modern English, as well as variants in other European languages.However, neither ancient Greek nor Roman writers used the term to specifically refer to northwest Africa (Greeks commonly called this area "Libya" and to Romans, it was Mauretania). The term "Berber," as it relates to Africans, was first used by medieval Arabic-speaking Muslim writers (from the Arabic word, "al-barbar") in a similar manner to the original meaning of barbar--to refer to speakers of foreign languages. Arabic-speaking Muslim writers did not use it to refer to any particular African region, culture, or ethnicity. Instead, the term referred to non-Arabic speaking Muslims who were also indigenous Africans. It was not until much later in history that Europeans began calling the northwest African coast, "Barbary," and even later before they began referring to certain northwest Africans as Berbers. Medieval Muslim writers originally used "Al-Barbar" (variants of English transliterations include: Berber, Berberi, Berbera, Barbara, Barbari, etc.), when referring to the non-Arabic speaking Muslims in Africa--not only in Northwest Africa, but in West,East and Central Africa as well. For example, Ibn Battuta (1304-1368 AD), frequently used variations of the term during his travels in East and Central Africa. Upon visiting the Somalian city of Zaila or Zeila, which lies just east of a city aptly named Berbera, Battuta said:"I travelled from Adan by sea for four days and arrived at the city of Zaila, the city of the Barbara, who are a people of the blacks...the inhabitants of Zaila are black in colour, a majority of them Rafidi [Rafidi refers to Shiites or rejectors of the first caliphs]." In antiquity, Somalia was an important centre for commerce with the rest of the ancient world. Ancient Somalis domesticated the camel somewhere between the third millennium and second millennium BC from where it spread to Ancient Egypt and North Africa. In the classical period, the city states of Mosylon, Opone, Malao, Sarapion, Mundus, Essina and Tabae in Somalia developed a lucrative trade network connecting with merchants from Phoenicia, Ptolemic Egypt, Greece, Parthian Persia, Sheba, Nabataea and the Roman Empire. They used the ancient Somali maritime vessel known as the beden to transport their cargo. In medieval times the Somali city of Mogadishu, stood as the pre-eminent city in the Bilad-ul-Barbar (بلاد البربر), meaning "Land of the Berbers," which was the medieval Arabic term for the Horn of Africa. By the time of the Morrocan traveller Ibn Battuta's appearance on the Somali coast in 1331, the city was at the zenith of its prosperity. He described Mogadishu as "an exceedingly large city" with many rich merchants, which was famous for the high quality fabric that it exported to destinations including Egypt. He added that the city was ruled by a Somali Sultan, Abu Bakr ibn Sayx 'Umar, who was originally from Berbera in northern Somalia and spoke both Somali (referred to by Battuta as Mogadishan, the Benadir dialect of Somali) and Arabic with equal fluency. The Sultan also had a retinue of wazirs (ministers), legal experts, commanders, royal eunuchs, and other officials at his service. The Portugese would subsequently attempt to occupy the city, but never managed to take it. In his journal of an expedition to the region in 1497-1499, the explorer João de Sá, who accompanied Vasco da Gama on the voyage, wrote that Magadoxo (Mogadishu) was controlled by Moors. A big town surrounded by four towers, it had houses several storeys high and large palaces in its center. De Sá and his men bombarded the city before continuing southwards along the seaboard. Source:Source
Swahili Moors and Chinese trade
When we turn our attention to some of the more ancient Chinese writings we find evidence that Swahili sailors arrived on Chinese shores. An interesting passage can be found in the Ch'en-han-shu. This document discusses China's maritime trade links with other countries during the early Han Dynasty. It states:
* Going again by boat about four months, there is the country of Yi-li-mo. Going by land about ten days, there is the country of Fu-kan-tu-lu, two months beyond again, there was Huang-chih; and from Huang-chih Emperor P'ing received an envoy who brought a rhinoceros as a present.
Bear in mind rhinos are indigenous to Africa. In the past, a Swahili trading center existed on the island of Zanzibar. This is a small island located just off the coast of East Africa. "Zanj" or "Zaniji" was the term medieval Arabs used for east African peoples. Interestingly, the term "zanj" resurfaced in an Arab writing of 1154 AD. The passage speaks about India and China establishing trade links with one another. It stated India fell into a state of confusion and as a result the Chinese had to withdraw their trading post and establish them on the islands of a place it called "Zanedji".
Documents from China's Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD) have also provided some details. The Sung records of 1083 AD speak of another foreign envoy visiting the imperial court. The last three characters in this envoy's name translate as "the zanj". The document stated since the envoy traveled such a long distance, the emperor decided to do something special for him: "...besides giving him the same presents for which he formerly bestowed on him, added thereto two thousand ounces of silver."
Historian Basil Davidson has actually discovered Chinese testimonials of Swahili sailors visiting their country. He writes: "A Chinese commissioner of foreign trade in Fukien province of southern China recorded in 1226 that the East African cities imported 'white cotton cloth, porcelain, copper, and red cottons' by way of ships that came every year..."
The Chinese made small sculptures of the Swahili merchants visiting their country. In his book, Black Jade: The African Presence in the Ancient East, art historian James E. Brunson displays a miniature clay figure of a Swahili sailor. This clay figure in the likeness of a merchant from the east African island of Zanzibar was actually unearthed in China. The piece dates back to China's Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).
The most famed and well documented Swahili visits to China center around the trade links Chinese and African people established during the 1400s. On September 20, 1414 sailors from the east African city of Malindi had presented a very extraordinary present to the emperor of China. The ruler of Malindi ordered his ambassadors to tranship a giraffe to China. When the Malindi sailors unveiled this creature at the imperial court the court officials gathered closer "to gaze at it and their joy knew no end." The emperor was so impressed with the gift that he ordered a calligrapher named Shen Tu to paint the animal. The painting contains classical Chinese characters retelling the story of the giraffe being transported and presented to the court by African ambassadors. Shen Tu also composed a poem commemorating the animal...An interesting twist to the story about the Malindi giraffe is the fact that when ever Cheng He visited Africa he usually returned to China with African ambassadors. And the ambassadors habitually brought exotic African animals to present to the imperial court.
After his fourth voyage Cheng He returned to China with another group of ambassadors from Malindi. On September 16, 1416 these ambassadors presented another giraffe to the imperial court. Nearly two years after the giraffe painted by Shen Tu. At the palace gate in Nanjing the emperor also received from them zebras which the Chinese called "celestial horses" and "celestial stags" (probably oryx).
In his book, They Came Before Columbus, Dr. Ivan Van Sertima points out the Swahili were actually transporting elephants to the courts in China in the thirteenth century. This demonstrated the level of sophistication in their ship building and navigational capabilities. In East Africa's Fort Jesus Museum there is presently on display a model of a type of ship the Swahili used to sail across the Indian Ocean. It is also worth nothing Levathe's words on this matter:
"In 1498, when Vasco da Gama and his fleet of three battered caravels rounded the Cape of Good Hope and landed in East Africa on their way to India, they met natives who sported embroidered green silk caps with fine fringe. The Africans scoffed at the trinkets the Portuguese offered- beads, bells, strings of coral, washbasins-and seemed unimpressed with their small ships." etc. Source
* Going again by boat about four months, there is the country of Yi-li-mo. Going by land about ten days, there is the country of Fu-kan-tu-lu, two months beyond again, there was Huang-chih; and from Huang-chih Emperor P'ing received an envoy who brought a rhinoceros as a present.
Bear in mind rhinos are indigenous to Africa. In the past, a Swahili trading center existed on the island of Zanzibar. This is a small island located just off the coast of East Africa. "Zanj" or "Zaniji" was the term medieval Arabs used for east African peoples. Interestingly, the term "zanj" resurfaced in an Arab writing of 1154 AD. The passage speaks about India and China establishing trade links with one another. It stated India fell into a state of confusion and as a result the Chinese had to withdraw their trading post and establish them on the islands of a place it called "Zanedji".
Documents from China's Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD) have also provided some details. The Sung records of 1083 AD speak of another foreign envoy visiting the imperial court. The last three characters in this envoy's name translate as "the zanj". The document stated since the envoy traveled such a long distance, the emperor decided to do something special for him: "...besides giving him the same presents for which he formerly bestowed on him, added thereto two thousand ounces of silver."
Historian Basil Davidson has actually discovered Chinese testimonials of Swahili sailors visiting their country. He writes: "A Chinese commissioner of foreign trade in Fukien province of southern China recorded in 1226 that the East African cities imported 'white cotton cloth, porcelain, copper, and red cottons' by way of ships that came every year..."
The Chinese made small sculptures of the Swahili merchants visiting their country. In his book, Black Jade: The African Presence in the Ancient East, art historian James E. Brunson displays a miniature clay figure of a Swahili sailor. This clay figure in the likeness of a merchant from the east African island of Zanzibar was actually unearthed in China. The piece dates back to China's Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).
The most famed and well documented Swahili visits to China center around the trade links Chinese and African people established during the 1400s. On September 20, 1414 sailors from the east African city of Malindi had presented a very extraordinary present to the emperor of China. The ruler of Malindi ordered his ambassadors to tranship a giraffe to China. When the Malindi sailors unveiled this creature at the imperial court the court officials gathered closer "to gaze at it and their joy knew no end." The emperor was so impressed with the gift that he ordered a calligrapher named Shen Tu to paint the animal. The painting contains classical Chinese characters retelling the story of the giraffe being transported and presented to the court by African ambassadors. Shen Tu also composed a poem commemorating the animal...An interesting twist to the story about the Malindi giraffe is the fact that when ever Cheng He visited Africa he usually returned to China with African ambassadors. And the ambassadors habitually brought exotic African animals to present to the imperial court.
After his fourth voyage Cheng He returned to China with another group of ambassadors from Malindi. On September 16, 1416 these ambassadors presented another giraffe to the imperial court. Nearly two years after the giraffe painted by Shen Tu. At the palace gate in Nanjing the emperor also received from them zebras which the Chinese called "celestial horses" and "celestial stags" (probably oryx).
In his book, They Came Before Columbus, Dr. Ivan Van Sertima points out the Swahili were actually transporting elephants to the courts in China in the thirteenth century. This demonstrated the level of sophistication in their ship building and navigational capabilities. In East Africa's Fort Jesus Museum there is presently on display a model of a type of ship the Swahili used to sail across the Indian Ocean. It is also worth nothing Levathe's words on this matter:
"In 1498, when Vasco da Gama and his fleet of three battered caravels rounded the Cape of Good Hope and landed in East Africa on their way to India, they met natives who sported embroidered green silk caps with fine fringe. The Africans scoffed at the trinkets the Portuguese offered- beads, bells, strings of coral, washbasins-and seemed unimpressed with their small ships." etc. Source