Friday, 14 November 2014

Explain the development and impacts of commercial contacts in Tanzanian communities in 2nd and 17th centuries.


Commercial contacts refer to the integration and interconnection of different people from different places where by goods or commodities are exchanged. Commercial contacts in Tanganyika and Zanzibar islands began in 6th
century, and societies, which involved in the commercial contacts from Tanganyika, were Nyamwezi from Tabora, Mwela from Lindi, Bagamoyo, Hehe from Iringa. The most commodities from Tanganyika to abroad were Ivory, Gold, Animal skins, iron and raw materials from farms as well as slaves. The imported goods were clothes, glass, beads, guns and gun powders as well as food staffs. The following were the factors for the commercial contacts in Tanzanian communities.
The existence of more efficiently organized states in East Africa that had an active interest in promoting trade. The states such as Nyamwezi, Hehe, Pale, and Kilwa were so eager in interaction with the foreigners such as Arabs and Portugues in developing and controlling trade, their existence was so consistent and influenced very much the introduction of commercial contacts in Tanzanian communities[1].
The caravan routes, the caravan trade of the nineteenth century opened up the interior, bringing many African peoples into the world economy as suppliers of ivory or slaves or producers of food or local products that provisioned caravans. The pioneers of all the major routes were African, Nyamwezi caravans from central Tanzania, reaching the coast about 1800, developed the more important route from their homeland to Bagamoyo on the mainland directly opposite Zanzibar. Kamba ivory traders from central Kenya opened a route that ended at Mombasa[2]. Apart from the factors for commercial contacts there are also impacts of these commercial contacts as follow;
Developments of towns and cities, town like Kilwa, Bagamoyo, Ujiji, were most developed due the practicing of trades[3]. These towns were the centers of trades that is why they were easily developed because people from different areas met in these towns for the aim of exchanging their commodities.
Emergence of intermarriages as well as growth of Swahili language[4]. Foreigner traders from different countries get into marriages with African traders as a result of commercial contacts, the consequences of this was the emergence of mulattoes and half cast people and development of Swahili language in the coast of East Africa. New words such as Sahil, meza, leso, were introduced in Swahili language.
Growth of technology, the operation of commercial contacts in Tanzanian communities led to the growth and development of technology, the technology was diffused from foreigner traders to Tanzanian traders. Africans began to make different things from iron such as hoes, knives, axes, arrows and pangas. As a result of this, there was the increase of productions due to the application of such technology.
Conclusively, the growth of some city states, emergence of strong leaders and traders, increase of productions, growth of population and the integration of African economy into the world economy were also the impacts of the trades such Long distance trade, Trans Saharan trade and Trans triangular trade. Those trades played a significant factor to the development of African continent in general.



[1] Sheriff Abdul (1989), slaves, spices and ivory in Zanzibar. Ohio university press.pg 56
[2]https:// www.exhibitions.nypl.org/africansindianocean/essay-east-africa.php
Edward A. Alpers (1969), The Coast and the Development of Caravan Trade. USA. University of California      Press.pg11
[4] Isaria N. Kimambo and Temu, A.J (1969). A history of Tanzania. Dar es Salaam. East African Publication.pg28

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