At the end of our unit regarding Africa and the Indian Ocean I got to thinking that although we have looked at Muslim and other African descriptions of Africa, we have not looked at Africa from a European point of view. It would be wise, therefore, to look at how Africa was viewed by a Europe in the middle of regrouping. Though the Romans had known quite a bit about Africa, even south of the northern rim which they controlled, postclassical Europe had far more limited contacts. In the 15th century, however, expanding trade brought more Europeans to Africa beyond the Mediterranean coast. Their comments, like those of other travelers, help us to learn more about postclassical Africa and of course about the attitudes of Europeans themselves in this period.Antonius Malfante wrote from Tuat (Tawat) in the central Sahara in 1447, to a colleague in Genoa. Tawat was an important oasis on a trade route from the city-states of northern Nigeria. Malfante obviously traveled fairly widely in the region, and offered interesting comments on the diverse peoples of the area and on the kinds of trading activities they conducted. His observations also cover religious and political issues. We know nothing about Malfante himself. Genoa was increasingly active in Mediterranean trade, so we can surmise that he was involved in these endeavors, as he himself implies.
His account raises the usual questions about traveler's observations, as to which seem particularly accurate, and which are shaded by bias, exaggeration, or unacknowledged ignorance. He was certainly sympathetic in many ways, and in the process may tell us quite a bit about the nature of African civilization in and around the Sahara. I would like you to read some excerpts from Antonius Malfante's writings by clicking on the following link (here) [you only have read pgs. 151-153].
When you are done reading, I would like you to think about and discuss the following: What was Malfante doing in Africa? How was he treated, and how would you explain the way Africans seem to have reacted to him? What aspects of Malfante's observations about Africa seem most surprising to you? Where does he seem to lapse into stereotype or exaggeration? Overall, do you find him a sympathetic observer? What were the main religious features of Saharan Africa and points south? What were the main political features? According to Malfante's account, what kinds of contacts did this African region have with other parts of the world? What was the range and position of African merchants? How does Malfante's account compare with the observations of other commentators on Africa, such as Ibn Battuta? Do his emphases differ? Is he more or less biased? Is this a valuable source for understanding post-classical Africa? What other kinds of sources would help flesh out our grasp of this civilization in this period? Your thoughts...
19 comments:
hello. i cant open the calender and i wanted to know if and what we needed to read....i left my binder at school.
no readings until wednesday night. 375-383 are the pages.
well, to start this guy seems like he feels a little bad for the Africans. He talks about how there were no dwellings at all, just sand, but he doesnt necessarily act superior to them. He is suprised at the fact that they do have so many languages and religions, but you can still tell that the are less aware of the world around them. For example, he says that when they see a white man, they think he is a "phantom". That just shows how little they knew about the european culture! The had no contact with the european world, besides travelers like himself. They have many languages, and they also metion Christianity, a large amount of Musliums, and a few animistic religions. Thats what makes africa so unique and interesting to the Europeans and the reason they travel there to learn and trade!
to a degree, he seems a bit impressed with africa, especially when it comes to trading. he also noted that the people in africa were afraid of him at first, but later became nicer to him. that kinda shows that europe didn't seem to have as much contact with africa as the arabic countries did.
He tells about how he was treated very well, and everyone in the oasis was protected by the ogliarchy. At first people acted weird around him, but after a while he was able to walk around freely without being hassled at all. He late states that the blacks fled from whites, as they were phantoms.
I felt that the term the Land of the Blacks was a huge stereotype, making it sound like ther ewas no diversity at all largely reflcting Europe's view of Africa. The observation that the women have 5 babies ata a time is not possible, and this is where the document was exaggerated most.
I found this observation contradicting.
- The idea that the people were tolerant of other religions (letting Jews and Christians stay there) conflicts with the various oasises going to war over their beliefs
He also goes on that there were many Christian Indians there.
He seemed very sympathetic, calling them poor and "unlettered". There is also a sense that he feels them to be inferior.
Are there any documents about Africa by Africans in this time period, like in Mali, that you could put up?
He was in Africa because he had come looking to trade from across the sea and desert. He was treated as the others were, with common respect. No one said anything insulting regarding his religion. Although, they were a curious of him, because he was the 1st Christian they had seen.
I find it suprising that the younger remained naked until 15 yrs old. I guess that is just my culture speaking. I was expecting thin, white cloth as clothing. And they would get that from trade? Loincloths, etc. make sense, thought. Also, he says there are never epidemics. Yet, he also says they breed in large numbers. Does that mean the population never rises enough or trade is never great enough for there to be an outbreak? But wouldn't there be one of the population is rising?
I don't like that he uses the word "diabolical" to describe their magic and spirits. ! Do the Christians not see their own "marvels" and spirits?! geez!
I don't think he is a very sympathetic observer. He has his own view of them being rich or poor, but he never used them in dramatic contex.
They worshipped many different things, such as: the moon, sun, planets, fire, water, their reflections (as seeing Gods/spirits), nature, etc. Also, many were monotheistic(Judiasm, etc.). They had kings as rulers. They traded much with their Egyptian and Indian neighbors, I would expect, because they are an oasis in the desert and travelers are in need of a rest there.
I would assume him less sterotypical than Ibn Battuta. He does more fact giving and less personal views.
Another good source would be a document from one of the rich living in the oasis or from an Indian merchant traveling through.
i like this guy. he's very thourough and very little biased. if anything, he's kinda in awe of the africans and how they have developed so differently, yet get along well, as opposed to the european world he comes from. he shows plainly how welcome he is and feels WELL protected, even though he lost a bunch of profit, he never was biased to them and treated them well(as i assume) and got along well. i really like this guy!
first of all i must say i'm very proud of some of you in the sense that you're thinking like historians. mr. livaditis and miss gustufson both were thinking like historians because they called for the need for an additional type of document, in addition to what we've already seen. good deal! unfortunately mr. livaditis, documents written by africans are virtually impossible to get ahold of during the post-classical period (there's much more availability in season 3 and forward). in fact, this document written by a european is incredibly rare as most documents of the period are written by arabs. it certainly is a missing link in our studies, but that's why history is always evolving. one find can change our total understanding of everything. fortunately, what we do have from african civilizations in this time period is visual history (sculptures, statutes, etc). the exception would be the ethiopian royal chronicle- a government endorsed history from the 14th century. i'll see if i can put an excerpt or two up for you to take a look at. thanks for asking!
he does sound like he's a little sorry for them. their reaction to him is understandible; they obviously don't get many white visitors.
He is treated well by the Africans and they are excepting of him as a Christan although they at first see him as strange. They also accept Jews. He seems like he shows pity for the Africans because he says things like all they have is sand and water. Or if it rained here the people houses of reed would just be ruined.
The people of Africa were reluctant to accept him at first because he was a Christian. The area of Africa he was in was in the desert so it was isolated from the rest of Africa and the Mediterranean region. This group of africans had never seen a Christian before so were reluctant to accept him at first but later did when they got to know him. Another group in this area was mentioned and it was said that they feared white people and fled at their sight. This is likely due to the fact that this desert area in Africa was isolated and the culture there had not had any outside influence before
It seemed to me that he didn't really know alot about africa, and so described it as a first time seer would describe it. IT is really africa where the continents truly meet during this time, the author for example sees a european man and is bewldered. he also feels that africa is a poor place..
I think that even though they treated him extremely well he still thought of them as barbarians. He critized their clothing (or the fact that they didnt wear any), their shelter, and basically their entire way of living. He was just stupid because after all they did for him he still thought about them as uncivilized
Hey Mr. Prill...what is that orgainization or group that you are really passionate in AFrica or what ever ?.. you mentioned it class like once or twice. I just wanted to know becasue I'm reading a book partly about the child soldiers in Uganda for Language arts. Is that what you mentioned? I had never heard of the LRA rebels and such intil then. Like Somolia, I am lacking much information about modern day AFrica.
i think this guy was okay. he stated facts and i think he truely jsut simply analyzed everything he observed. he says in the beginning he got almost ignored a little, but then the people became very friendly with him. he also comments on the clotheing, the living condition, the goverment; he may seem like he's describing things with a condescending tone, but i think that was just comming from him not knowing that thats how they live.
It seems to me that for the most part he has respect for Africans. He didn't belittle them or say they were dumb like other Europeans have. In fact he seemed impressed with several aspects of their cultlre and trade.
the organization that you are refering to miss beck is not ringing a bell. i am passionate about many organizations. perhaps you'll be able to refresh my memory and help me narrow it down in class tomorrow.
It seemed like, at first, the africans seemed to be afraid of him, but later warmed up to him, and nevertheless still treated him quite well. He is surprised by their large number of languages, and their religious practices. He is also stunned by their developement due to their expansive amounts of trade.
As far as the mingling between different cultures goes, they're pretty respectful of each other. The guy mentions that people under the age of 15 wouldn't wear clothing. Apparently, he found that pretty odd, as do most of us, otherwise he would not have mentioned it. From trading and prosperity, one would think that the children would be wearing some sort of clothing. Along with the trading going on, how are there so few epidemics? When you trade, don't you trade goods, ideas, AND disease? Kind of interesting that there isn't a whole lot of disease with contact between themselves and other regions.
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