18th Century Research Paper

The African continent has contained, and continues to contain, an incredible diversity of cultures in a countless variety of historical circumstances. When reading for breadth across the African continent’s past prior to the 18th century, some common themes begin to reveal themselves within this vast history. One trend is that of rulers attempting to expand and strengthen societies through trade with foreign powers, which is often accompanied by conversion to (or earlier presence of) a more globalized religion. This can be seen in the cases of 14th century Mali under Mansa Musa, 16th century Kongo under King Afonso I, and 17th century Ethiopia under King Susenyos I. A comparison of these three examples reveals the interconnected nature of

This conversion, arguably more political than spiritual, resulted in prolonged cultural and economic contact with the Portuguese, and was accompanied by an increase in trade relations. A letter from King Afonso I to the king of Portugal reveals a certain level of familiarity between the two nations, and last letter in the set of three implies that Afonso was encouraged to ask for any favors he would like from the Portuguese; he asks for doctors, and appeals to their shared religion. The shared Christian heritage briefly facilitated more positive trade and cultural connections between the kingdom of Kongo and Portugal. Furthermore, the Kongolese people did not adopt Catholicism and Portuguese culture wholesale--they often adapted it to suit their needs. For example, schools established in Kongo began to teach writing in Latin, Portuguese, and Kikongo, allowing for international communication while still teaching and maintaining their own written language. This shows some of the positive and strengthening effects of the cross-cultural

In the Timbuktu Chronicles, Tarikh Fattash writes about this journey, emphasizing Mansa Musa’s “devout” religious moral quality, and his determination to make the pilgrimage from west Africa to Mecca. While there is less a narrative in this source about the strategic choice to convert to Islam for trading benefits, as the very founder of the Mali empire was said to have been Muslim, the influence of the religion on trade alliances and cross-cultural interaction resounds throughout the source. “As the wealth of Mali grew, so did the influence of Islam.” This quote demonstrates the synchronism of trade power and a more globalized religion. The account in the Timbuktu Chronicles shows Mansa Musa interacting with other Muslims throughout his journey, using his wealth in a display of devotion and asking for Islamic experts from the holy land to return to his kingdom with him. A cross-continental pilgrimage for the purpose of a religion that connects multiple ethnic groups, economically and culturally, shows the power of the shared faith, and how in this case it prompted greater international trade and economic