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Linda Logan

INT-490AF
Prof. W. Alexander, Instructor
February 27, 2015
Spring 2015 Mid-Term Exam
Questions #3 & #4

Question #3: What were the major geographical directions of Africans movements before
the 16th century, especially Asia and Europe?
Africans were traversing across their own continent many years before the Europeans,
Arabs, Indians and Chinese had begun traveling, migrating, trading and settling in Africa. Even
though there were no established roads, Africans navigated trails, pathways and interconnected
waterways to travel to neighboring villages, across the continent to the east coast, and then on to
other continents and countries bordering the Indian Ocean.
Relationships with these Indian Ocean countries had long been established though a
history of trade and commerce and as a result, established sea lanes had been created between
Asia, India and Saudi Arabia for thousands of years. Merchants, traders, sailors, missionaries,
diplomats, soldiers and settlers traveled within a multidirectional network between these
countries and coastal islands situated in the India Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Devote
Muslims walked across the continent to the East coast then sailed across the Red Sea to make the
pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lives.
Manning in chapter two called this interconnectedness of trail and waterways, The
African Web, which was responsible for distribution of material goods (like cloth and food,
musical instruments, wood working and agricultural tools) and information. The Mediterranean
Sea which borders the North Eastern coast of Africa at Morocco was the link that separated

Africa from southern European countries and also served as a link to them as well. During this
time Morocco had become a trade center and had entered into agreement with England to supply
sugar. They also traded in slave labor needed to grow and process the cane being grown on
Africas Northwestern coastal islands which had been set up by the Portuguese as sugar
plantations.
Africans mainly traveled to Europe as slaves, sailors, missionaries and diplomats as
depicted in European art forms and where often shown in an independent, non-racial context.
In contrast to the brisk travel across the Indian Ocean, Red and Mediterranean Sea, Africans
did not travel across the continent to the Western coast of Africa at this time because the Atlantic
Ocean did not host neighboring countries or continents in close proximity to Africa resulting in a
less developed Atlantic Ocean system of trade and commerce.
Atlantic coastal activity was limited to fishing and salt collection that is until the
Portuguese began learning how to navigate the trade winds of the Atlantic Ocean and sailing
larger ships down the west coast of Africa eventually reaching the trading lanes in the Indian
Ocean. Once the Portuguese entered into the trading markets in the Indian Ocean, they began to
trade in slave labor to help sustain large amounts of sugar production on their plantations.

Question # 4: Discuss the distinguishing characteristics of the black presence in the Indian
Ocean.
Africa and Africans enjoyed a reciprocal relationship within the Indian Ocean trading
system. As Arabs, Asians Indians traveled to Africa and brought with them their customs, food,
languages, religions and healing practices. Africans conversely traveled to these lands bring with
them the richness and beauty of their homeland with along with them as well.

You know, I have read some literature on the experience of the middle passage and how
it was to have detrimentally affected Africans memories of customs, stories, families, and
familiar places in their homelands. Some social scientist and anthropologists go as far as to say
that none of the African culture survived the voyages across the oceans to these New host
lands. Well, as we can plainly see in 2015, that African and African American Culture are the
dominant culture in todays global society; African influence in music, art, dance, dress,
literature, food can be found in every corner of the world, and would appear to be the most far
reaching and lasting culture on earth. However, I digress.
The distinguishing characteristics of the black presence in the Indian Ocean are that it had
integrated and assimilated within the essence or fabric of host lands culture itself.
Because there is not much known or has been written about the Indian Ocean diaspora, in
contrast to the Atlantic diaspora, both diaspora reflect the same experience with the exception of
racial hatred and racial practices exhibited under colonialism in the United States and in Africa.
Within the Indian Ocean diaspora, African culture and customs were highly regarded and
embraced by the host culture especially in the practice of music, singing, dancing and in healing
and religious rituals. Decades later after the initial diaspora, familiar languages, songs, stories,
dances, religious ceremonies and other common African folklore were still being recognized and
remembered, some even until this day. Also, the quiet and unassuming way that African culture
has absorbed within the host country, its purity and authenticity cannot be questioned.

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