Ryan Martinez

October 21, 2016

DBQ
Certain ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptian, date back as 5000
years back in time. Others, including the Inca and Aztec empires, and Ghana
Kingdom appeared later but before the 16th century. In discussing two major
areas of focus, the Americas and African continent, many civilizations
managed to thrive and develop into complex societies before even coming
into contact with European influence. African empires, kingdoms, and cities
and Native-American empires made significant advancements in their way of
life and structure of society. For these empires and kingdoms, the
advancements included trade, technological innovations, and the creation of
wealth.
African and Native-American civilizations forged local relations to
establish trade deals and routes to obtain foreign goods. In document 1, the
diagram shows the flow of goods entering the Kingdom of Aksum by the
Indian Ocean trade routes which are directed to other cities such as Saba
and Alexandria, presumably trading partners. Ibn Battuta mentions in
document 2 that the leader of Magadishu was garbed in clothes and fabrics
from Egypt, Jerusalem, and possibly China. For the leader of Magadishu to
have access to these fabrics, the kingdom must have had trade routes
established coming from these three regions to allow merchants to import
these foreign products.
Leo Africanus, in document 3, describes that
manuscripts and books are brought to Timbuktu to be sold because it is a
profitable business. Timbuktu was an important center of book trade and
probably a city where scholars would obtain a copy of books and access to
manuscripts. Bernal Diaz del Castillo is impressed, as he accounts in
document 5, about wide variety of goods, including rich feathers, cocoa, bark
paper, slaves, gold, and silver, available in the Tlatelolco market located in
the Aztec empire. Local trade within the Aztec empire allowed for riches flow
in through Tlatelolco allowing for the rulers of empire to have access to the
wealth of the empire. Since Diaz del Castillo was with Cortez during the
Spanish expedition to Tlatelolco, his account of the market is reliable
because the Spaniards interest to conquer the Aztecs provides credibility to
the account of goods and riches available within the empire.
As these kingdoms and empires established trade, advancements in
technology and science that aided in their intellectual development and
growth emerged. Because Leo Africanus, in document 3, shows Timbuktu as
a center for book trade, the knowledge and history contained within the
manuscripts and books sold seem to have been deemed valuable to this city.
The knowledge, through these books, may have influenced scholars and
ruling elite around the area in their thoughts about government and
philosophy. Through the narrative provided by Pedro de Cieza de Leon in

document 4, it comes to attention the architecture the fortresses have within

the Peruvian territory. The Incan empire constructed their fortresses with the
intentions to defend themselves and withstand any attacks, including those
of nature, allowing the empire to elongate their existence. More intellectual
developments are seen in the inclusion of astrological diagrams in document
6. Chilam Balam, a Mayan, includes a diagram explaining the causes of
eclipses in his writings, depicting the focus the Mayan empire gave to
scientific research and wonder and the magnitude of comprehension the
Mayans had about their surroundings. The ability of the people of these
kingdoms and empires to expand their societys footprints may be explained
in the report of Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca in document 7. He reports that
the Native Americans across Texas farmed and engaged in agriculture for
means of food production. Since Native Americans were able to settle down
and rely on agriculture, a pre-European colonization development, rather
solely on scavenging and hunting for survival, this allowed them to pursue
other aspects in their society, such as societal structure and local trade.
Because Cabeza de Vaca had to report to Emperor Charles V of Spain, his
account of Native Americans in Texas is credible as any false portrayal of
reality may have led to a severe punishment on his person. Additionally, his
status of conquistador explains why Cabeza de Vaca pointed out the land
attractiveness and fertility of Texas.
Through intellectual and technological developments and local and
long distant trade, wealth was created, accumulated, and showed off by the
central powers of the kingdom. With document 2, Ibn Batutta gives detail of
the ruler of Mogadishu as having garments of colored silk, robes of Jerusalem
fabric, and fine robes of Egypt. It is seen that the ruler is wealthy as he is
able to afford expensive fabrics and has canopies decorated with symbols of
influence such as a golden bird. In Africanus description of Timbuktu in
document 2, the wealth of the king is noted by the number of educated men
at his service. For the king of that city to have doctors, judges, priests, and
other learned men . . . well maintained, he must have had amassed great
wealth from book trade and other sources. Diaz del Castillos narration in
document 5 of the Aztec citys vast market, availability of gold, silver, and
tribute, and military exercises gives the impression that the city contained
much wealth. For the military to be conducting colorful spectacles and be
strong, the Aztec city must have invested resources heavily. The riches
available in the Tlatelolco market represent how wealth can become
accumulated in a single place to the point for the city to be called a
metropolis. Al-Bakri in document 8 discusses the protection the king of
Ghana has and the respect he is given. Dogs of excellent pedigree with
collars of gold and silver exemplify the degree to which rulers of these
societies showed their wealth. To own the finest animals and even adorn

them with precious metals, exemplify the wealth that this small group of
individuals had through the achievements of their kingdoms and empires.
Although the documents show how much wealth the rulers of the kingdoms
and empires had, it would be beneficial to have additional documents
showing how common people gained some type of wealth to prove that
wealth obtainment was possible throughout these societies.
The kingdoms and empires of Africa and Native Americans achieved to
establish commerce through trade with the help of intellectual and
technological advancements before European arrival. In turn, these societies
were able to prosper and create and amass wealth more than they had
previously in each societys respective history. The vast accumulation of
wealth in these societies explains the attractiveness and interests of many
European nations to conquer and gain control of these lands. Although
Europeans later heavily influenced African and Native American societies, the
overall influence of these societies on Europeans is the continuance and
expansion of hunger and ambition for more wealth and power.