Empire of the South: Early Trade

Overview of Early Trade

The Bantu people of Southern Africa entered the region from the North in successive migratory waves. The first of the immigrants crossed the Zambezi at the beginning of the Christian era. Pottery belonging to the earliest Iron Age traditions was found north of the Zambezi, dating from 330 AD by radiocarbon tests.

The earliest Iron age tradition at Bosutswe is the Taukome, in north-western Botswana around the Okavango delta and in eastern Botswana. Dates from these sites vary from AD 700 to 900. The Toutswe Tradition (AD 800 to 1500) the history is marked with evidence of an livestock-based economy. Once metalworking was introduced, it appears that wealth began to grow. The Mapungubwe Tradition dates from 970 to 1200AD. Mapungubwe was also the centre of a socio-political hierarchy, where trade in ivory and other goods was an important aspect of the economy. 

Bosutswe is located quite close to its more well-known influences trade partners, Mapungubwe and Great Zimbabwe. There is evidence supporting the idea that the metalworking involved copper and bronze, while iron was done further away from the settlement. These items were used to trade. Copper was hard to find so obtaining it was only something those in the elite class could do. These metals were also used to make jewellery to adorn the inhabitants, specifically in a helix design. The presence of metal probably increased the power of Bosutswe compared to its neighbours. It became the heart of their society and determined who held the power. It was seen as a primary stop before heading farther into Africa on either side. Access to the Limpopo River also meant access to the coast thus allowing for the inhabitants of Bosutswe to expand their trade network. Evidence to support Bosutswe's role in the Indian Ocean trade is glass beads. The glass beads were often found among the elite, which would visually confirm their status.

There are different materials used to make the beads showing evidence of evolution within the Indian Ocean trade system itself. It is possible that the people who lived here traded for tin, required as part of their metalworking. Tin is one of the two main materials used to make bronze so access to it was essential. Other products from animals such as skins were also used to trade.  Ivory was another one of the commodities traded. Evidence is also found in the reverse. Distinctly African pieces are found in places like India.

The Indian Ocean was once part of the route for a slave trade known as the ‘Oriental’ or eastern slave trade. From the 7th century enslaved Africans were taken to the Middle East, North Africa and India. This eastern slave trade was different to the slave trade across the Atlantic Ocean (the transatlantic slave trade) from Africa to the Americas and the Caribbean. In the transatlantic slave trade the demand was for labourers to work on plantations and in mines, and mostly men were captured to supply the demand. In the eastern trade, the demand was for domestic servants, and mostly women were captured to supply the trade. 

Slaves taken to the Middle East and North Africa were not just from Africa. Until the 1500, slaves were also bought from northern Europe, but as this supply route dried up as the slaves bought from Africa increased. In the eastern slave trade enslaved Africans were taken from the east coast of Africa (the modern countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa and the island of Madagascar).

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*Video: Empire of the South: Mutapa.

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