Islam and European civilization Across the Indian Ocean
The rise of Islam in the seventeenth century had various important effects on the Indian Ocean. In various ways, these important effects led to the development of the regions on the Indian Ocean shores. This development has been researched and most of the research dwells on the activities of the Islamic rise between the seventh century and the 15th century. One of the most enviable effects is the establishment of an Islamic community across the Indian Ocean coasts. Two, trade routes and trade ties were established across the sea. Thirdly, settlements along coasts developed and an Islamic culture was manifested.
Islam began as a small faith in the seventh century in Arabia but over the centuries expanded into a great religion across Asia, Europe and Africa. The impact of Islam on the history of the Indian Ocean is a diverse context. Islam is credited with the establishment of the merchant states of East Africa. Such states include Zanzibar, Pemba and Pate. East Africa has a large share of the Indian Ocean shores. These shores were great trade outlets and they facilitated the spread of Arabic culture and Islamic faith (Pearsons).
The European incursion and civilization is credited with the weakening of major Islamic kingdoms in Europe. The collapse of Islamic kingdoms In Europe happened mainly in the 17th century when major kingdoms like the Muhals, and the Nadir Shah states faced revolt and collapsed and subsequently conquered by the British. The next two centuries saw Europeans take direct and indirect control of the Muslim states. However, the Indian Ocean basin continued to experience both Islamic and European social-economic infiltration.
Comparison between Islam and European effects on the history of Indian Ocean
Core effects of Islam on the Indian Ocean history are diverse. Islam stimulated trade across the Indian Ocean Diaspora. In comparison to the Europeans, the Muslims expanded market and urbanization. The emergence of states like the Zanzibar, towns and cities like Lamu, Mombasa and Dar-Le-Salam, which were core trade points and urbanization centers are indicative of this. Unfortunately, the Europeans sought autonomy and settlement across the Indian Ocean nations. In fact, most of the Indian Ocean nations became colonized by Europeans especially the British, Portuguese and the French. British colonized Kenya and India both which were strategic trade points.
Security and establishment of free Islamic heartlands is a diverse impact. Looking at the European approach, conquering and dominating the Indian Ocean were their core objective. Colonizing states and forcing out other traders in the trade routes was a principal objective. Unfortunately, their ambition was not long-term. Most of the colonies up rose against their colonizers and became independent. Islamic heartlands remain Muslim nations and continue with trade and conforming to Muslim religion and culture. Somalia, Arabian nations, East African States and Island on the Indian Ocean have Many Islamic followers with some countries like Somalia being Muslim.
Arabic culture and language was established and at the same time, establishment of legal frame works to regulate trade were prioritized by the Arabs. Europeans sought dominance and enactment of their laws. In contrast, Europeans were rather intrusive and focused on creating their own empires. This led to the establishment of their colonies on Indian Ocean. In 1757, The British consolidated British authority in India following the fall of the Mughal Empire. This actually, did not deter the rise and spread of Islam across the Indian Ocean. Between the 17th century and the 18th century, more Indian Ocean communities were colonized. In retaliation, indigenous communities perceived this as aggression (Pearsons). Various areas of Indian Ocean were conquered in the 18th century. The British got a foothold of South East Asia in 1786 following the lease of the Pinang as a free port. Oman and the Gulf states were claimed as British protectorates. In 1890, Zanzibar became a British protectorate. These incursions led to establishment of control over key entry points on the coasts. The British staffed garrisons with Baluchi mercenaries from Pakistani and Iran. They began resistances and nationalism movements to eject Europeans. In comparison to the Islamic spread across the IO, there was no resistance. In fact, many IO communities living along the coasts and shores of the Ocean converted to Islam.
Bad Arabic trade practices like slave trade led to British to intervention. Trade point included Mombasa, Kilwa, Bagamoyo and Mogadishu. In 1873, the British forced Seyyid Barghash to abolish the slave trade. Islamic and European impacts on the Indian Ocean history marked a period of vigorous trade. Islam spread widely across the Indian Ocean, throughout Asia and China in the wake of the vigorous trade. As a result, Indian religion became a powerful religious force in the region. Subsequently, it imparted Hinduism and Buddhism to communities surrounding it.
Islam and European impacted the IO with establishment of trade networks and trade. This led to the establishment of relationships between traders and the regional politics. Subsequently, trade initiated economic and cultural exchange in the Indian Ocean. Emergence of trade centers, littoral society and cosmopolitanism was experienced.
3 Major Indian Ocean Costal entre-pots during the rise of Islam to the 19th Century
Coastal East Africa and Eastern Indian Ocean regions were the most strategic trade points for traders. The period between 1750 and 1960 saw rapid development in the Indian Ocean (Pearsons). This development was as a result of imperialism like the English East India Company and the Oman Arabs. During this period, economic development was observed due to industrial development in Europe which was in need of goods from the Indian Ocean. This industrial need and development, led to large movement of people and establishment of trade points in Coastal East Africa and Eastern Indian Ocean. There were three geographical areas where trade was controlled, Straits of Malacca, Mouths of Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf. Ports in these areas were regarded as entry points.
Mumbai, India
Mumbai in India was one of the key entre pots to Asia. This port was furnished with products like dates, carmenia wool, coffee, pearls, drugs, gold honey and a lot more by merchants from the Persian Gulf ports like Ormus, Muscat and Bussorah. During the 18th century Mumbai became a hub of educational and economic development. Politically, Mumbai was a strategic, especially since many traders saw it as a gateway to India and Asia. Its population rapidly grew after it became part of the British Empire. Mumbai’s growth was speeded up during 1750. However, during the 18th century, Mumbai and its politicians and economists through the British joined other Islands to make Mumbai a hub of economic and industrial development.
Mombasa, Kenya
Mombasa was founded as an Arabic town by a ruler known as Shehe Mvita and Mwana Mkisi a female. Shehe Mvita superseded the Mwana Mkisi kingdom. He was a learned Muslim. The archipelago was strategic as a port hence a key entry point to East Africa where slaves were captured and shipped to Persia and other regions by Arabs. The Portuguese established themselves in Mombasa but were flushed out when the British declared a protectorate on the Island. The Mazrui family like the Omans Al Ab Said family was in control of the Island since 1746 to 1826. Traders on the Indian Ocean loved this port. Most of the traders settled and established themselves here subsequently becoming part of the population. Politically, Mombasa was the hub of the East African coastal affairs and economic activities as was Oman and Mumbai. In contrast, Mumbai was under British rule as was Mombasa. The Swahili language and people became dominant subsequently taking over the towns social-economic development agenda.
Muscat, Oman
Muscat has remained a key entry point to the gulf regions. This area was highly regarded for its role as a trading point between East Africa and Mumbai. Muscat was under control of Portuguese until an up rise by Nasir bin Murshid al-Yaribi in 1650 routed them out (Pearsons). However, the fall of this imam led to the establishment of a powerful Al Bu Said kingdom which has since then ruled Oman and controlled Muscat. Muscat resembles Mombasa politically. A family has controlled both trade and politics. The city is a port, which has played the role of an entry point. This is the same as Mumbai and Mombasa both entry points and major trading centers. In comparison to Mumbai, Muscat was the hub of educational and industrial development in Oman.
Similarities and differences in trade between Muscat and Mumbai
Mumbai’s history as an entry point to India’s and Asia has been looked into through historical approaches. The same applies on the Muscat Context. The trade nexus actually relied on each region to supply goods which could be sold at the bazaar. From Muscat, traders brought shiploads of coffee, porcelain, silk, wool, gold, glass, pearls, carmenia wool, dates, raw silk, drugs, dried fruits, rose water and other products from Persia. Ships would dock and merchants would trade at Mumbai.
However, Mumbai was merely a trading center. The products here were merely bought by merchants who sailed to sell them elsewhere. What traders brought to Mumbai was bought and shipped to other regions(Pearsons). Muscat merchants actually sailed to sell their goods at Mumbai. In contrast, Mumbai merchants like Virji Vorah hardly left Mumbai rather sent agents across the world to sell their goods.
Muscat merchants were reclusive in contrast. While Hindu traders from traveled far to sell their goods, Oman traders were more specific about their markets. Muscat was not regarded as a center rather as a source. However, Mumbai was a trade center that provided merchants with a market place to buy and sell and then sail to sell elsewhere.
The methods of shipping goods were mainly ships. However, the ships were different from each other(Pearsons). Turkish, British and Spanish ships were commonly used. Indians actually copies the design and made their ships while the Arabs were reclusive and remained focused on their traditional ships. Actually, the Arabs were conservative.
The population and the diversity of the community is very interesting owing to the fact that, Mumbai assimilated so many people into its diversity. In contrast, Muscat was the opposite. Actually, Islam was almost a compulsory virtue for those coming here. Mumbai was cosmopolitan taking in most everyone who wished to trade live and establish himself as a Mumbai businessperson. This diversity allowed Mumbai to experience growth and development. More people came in leading to a rise in population. This led to the inception of a diverse Mumbai community which was mainly focused on economic and academic development. Many merchants were assimilating to British principals and culture. The education system here assimilated the British system subsequently making Mumbai an English cultured trade center. On the contrary, Muscat did not assimilate to foreign culture. The society was Muslim and the culture Arabic. These people were reclusive and hardly related with other communities’ in terms of trends, education and culture. However, both ports were the centers of continental trade routes hence bringing in various traders to buy and sell goods. Regional integration was experienced in either port. Growth and development was observed. Establishment of settlements and expansion of these settlements led to the development of urban centers within these ports. Education and social-economic developments were to become core objectives after the 18th century. However, Mumbai turned into a heavy industrial hub with establishment of heavy steel industries, production and manufacturing companies. Muscat development was slow due to the reserved culture of the Islamic leaders.
The impact of trade on the Indian Ocean between 1750 and the 18th century
This paper intends to explore the impact of trade on the region of Indian Ocean with emphasis on how European incursions led to colonialism and industrial development. However, this is only through giving an insight about how trade led to the introduction of new trends, establishment of Diasporas, and settlements leading to urbanization and industrialization. This insight is through a highlight on key issues that promoted these situations.
- How Islam spread in Indian Ocean 1750-18th century
- Cultural alignments across Indian Ocean regions 1700 – 18th century
- Establishment of urban centers and trade points by Europeans like Portuguese
- Colonization of Indian Ocean 1700 – 1960’s
- How legal frame works to regulate trade were prioritized by the Arabs.
- How did Europeans seek dominance and enactment of their laws?
- How the British got a foothold of South East Asia in 1786 following the lease of the Pinang as a free port.
- Establishment of colonies on Indian Ocean, between the 17th century and the 18th century, Indian Ocean regions were colonized.
Bibliography
Pearson, Michael N. “The Indian Ocean.” Google Books. 2003. Routledge, Web.