GLOBALIZATION IN THE AGE OF AFRICAN EMPIRES
Rooted in the economic sense of the word, modern-day globalization referred to free trade and the free movement of goods and services across national boundaries sans the imposing burden of duties and taxes that inhibit the free exchange of goods and services in markets the world over. In its broadest economic sense, modern globalization was viewed to be the outcome of trade (especially import) liberalization, deregulation and privatization. Competitiveness of local products was supposed to be strengthened by protectionist economic policies, which proved detrimental to the interests of people because of complacency on the part of local industry to be competitive. Globalization, through the removal of trade barriers especially tariff imposition as espoused by regionalized trade zones and the World Trade Organization, was argued to enhance competitiveness which would be achieved by opening up local markets to foreign business. The impact of globalization in all aspects of culture (goods and services, music, entertainment, workforce) is immense and has actually drawn the world closer in ways not imagined before, thanks in no small part to advances in technology. Globalization today is a term widely used to describe a phenomenon beyond the economic world order to characterize the free movement of people, goods, ideas and culture in general. While local is meant to refer to indigenous, global is meant to be embracing cross-cultural influences as local cultures take on an international even multi-national character.
In the context of ancient African history that saw the emergence of the widespread reach and influence of mighty African empires such as the Mali Empire and the Ghana Empire, it may be noteworthy to consider the early form of globalization during this much overlooked aspect of world history, focused as the education standards are on the rise and thriving of Western civilization and all its glory and influence (Davis).
Trade, or the territorial expansion of trade, is an apparent important aspect of globalization. Globalization, according to German historical economist Anre Gunder Frank, is traced back to the growth of trade and market integration between the Sumer and Indus civilisations of the third millennium BCE (The Economist). Empires pushed their boundaries and influence to secure their power and wealth through cross-national, or even cross-territorial trade. This was certainly true in the 16th centuries and later (rise and fall of the Iberian empires and the advancement of the mercantilist doctrine by the East India Companies of the later European powers). It is safe to hazard that for the most part of world history, the Age of Empires secured trade routes and empire after empire battled and conquered others over the lucrative business of world trade and political domination.
Africa as the acknowledged birthplace of civiliation proves no exception to the rule. History attests to the earliest known movement of people and commodities as coming from Africa to the different parts of the world in the continual evolution of the human species (Davis). The Bantu migration that took place in Central Africa, so-called because it involved the movement of people whose indigenous language belonged to the same language family – the Kongo-Niger language group, was a massive migration of peoples that began 2,000 years ago in Central Africa. It is significant because Bantu migrants eventually assimilated with the local population in which they migrated in other parts of Africa and brought with them new skills that changed the economic, social and political practices of their time, especia;;y in East and Southern Africa. This included the growing of crops and domestication of animals, mining and metal smelting skills and forging of tools and weapons from copper, bronze and iron. Christianity and Islam found a home in Africa within a few centuries from the founding of these religions. These religious forces introduced new ways of social, political and economic organization.
The focus of this paper is the globalization phenomenon attributable to the great empires that emerged following the years that many parts of Africa embraced Islam in particular. It would be interesting to note the extent of intercommunication in the ancient African pre-colonial kingdoms in West Africa. These empires include the Ghana Empire (9th to 13th centuries), Mali Empire (13th to 15th centuries), and Songhay Kingdom (1350-1600). Mali Empire and Ghana Empire for instance were practitioners of globalization policies. While it is not clear whether those trade routes were free trade zones, trading did bring a confluence of influences which was carried on to the communities of contact, a prelude to the massive movement we know now as globalization.
Successes in securing lucrative trading posts and control over gold production (traded for salt across the Sahara) were crucial in the expansion of the Ghana Empire and later of the Mali Empire. The Mail Empire rulers would expand their trade stronghold to include the salt trade in the north and many caravan trade routes. It also traded extensively with Egypt and copper mine areas to the east. There is healthy expectation that the pushing of the boundaries of the Mali Empire for instance, said to be the next largest empire after the Mongolian Empire during its time, involved serious attempts to globalize trade (within Saharan trade routes, across the Mediterranean with Southern Europe and later on across the trans-Atlantic trade route), politics and culture in the sense that it promoted the free movement of goods, services and people in ways anticipating the globalization phenomenon of modern civilzation (Davis). Clearly, trade and the Arabization of Africa made possible the exchange of cultural practices and perhaps some cultural transformation across the Mediterranean Sea. After all, Arabs in those days were widely known to be traders, relying heavily on camels for trade. For instance, much of what is known about the first Mali Empire ruler Sundiata Keita is gleaned from the writings of the Arab political philosopher Ibn Khaldun. The most celebrated king of Mali, Mansa Musa, greatly extended Mali's territory and power during his reign. He made a name for himself in distant regions throughout the Muslim world through his pilgrimage to Mecca in present-day Saudi Arabia. Sixty thousand people and eighty camels carrying 300 lbs. of gold each accompanied him to Mecca. This is to illustrate the extent of the power and influence of the West African Empires (African Studies Center).
The advent of Western colonization in Africa and the many years of slave trading that the European colonizers practiced ushered in new influences in the African region, but it also allowed great cultural influence and transformation even further from Africa into much of Western society, especially in Europe. In that aspect, Africa has truly globalized the world as its influence reaches all parts of the world.
WORKS CITED
African Studies Center. Exploring Africa: Studying Africa Through Social Studies. Matrix at Michigan State University, n.d. Web. 28 February 2014. <http://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/students/curriculum/m6/activity5.php >.
Boon, Emmanuel Kwesi and Eyong, Charles Takoyoh. History and Civilizations: Impacts on Sustainable Development in Africa. Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems, nd. Web. 1 March 2014. < http://www.eolss.net/sample-chapters/c16/e1-48-49.pdf >.
Davis, R. Hunt Jr. Teaching about the African Past in the Context of World History. World History Connected. University of Illinois, 2004. Web. 1 March 2014. <http://worldhistoryconnected.press.illinois.edu/2.1/davis.html >.
The Economist Online. Economic History: When Did Globalisation Start. 23 September 2013. Web. 28 February 2014. <http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2013/09/economic-history-1?zid=293&ah=e50f636873b42369614615ba3c16df4a >.
