Overview:
The text provides a fascinating glimpse into the bustling trade routes and diverse cultures of the Indian Ocean during the early 16th century. Written by Duarte Barbosa, a Portuguese explorer and merchant, the document serves as a detailed itinerary or description of various kingdoms and ports, from the Cape of Good Hope to China. Barbosa details the economies, social structures, and religious practices of the people he encountered. He meticulously documents the goods traded, the methods of navigation, and the interactions between the Portuguese and local rulers.
The text also reveals the stark realities of the Portuguese expansion in the region. Barbosa’s account reveals how the Portuguese, motivated by greed and a desire for dominance, ravaged coastal cities and disrupted established trade networks. He presents a portrait of a region grappling with the impact of Portuguese influence, a clash between powerful empires and ambitious traders seeking to control the flow of precious goods and resources.
Key Findings:
- Portuguese Expansion: The text reveals the aggressive tactics used by the Portuguese to establish dominance in the Indian Ocean, including military conquests and disruptions of trade routes.
- Trade Routes: The text offers a detailed account of the intricate network of trade routes that connected various kingdoms and ports in the region, highlighting the flow of valuable goods like spices, gold, ivory, and cotton.
- Cultural Diversity: Barbosa’s detailed descriptions of the customs, religions, and social hierarchies of different communities in East Africa and Malabar showcase the rich cultural diversity of the region.
- Local Politics: The text illuminates the complexities of local politics and power dynamics in the region, including the rise of Shah Ismail in Persia and the ongoing conflicts between neighboring kingdoms.
Learning:
- Early Colonialism: The text provides valuable insights into the early stages of European colonialism in the Indian Ocean. It shows how Portuguese power was built on a combination of military force, economic manipulation, and cultural clashes.
- Global Trade Networks: The text highlights the importance of the Indian Ocean in global trade networks during this period. Barbosa’s descriptions of the diverse goods traded and the specific routes they traveled provide a detailed picture of this interconnected world.
- Cultural Encounters: The text offers a fascinating glimpse into the interactions between different cultures, particularly the Portuguese and local communities. It reveals the tensions, accommodations, and sometimes outright conflict that arose from these encounters.
- Historical Context: The text places the Portuguese expansion within the broader historical context of the time, highlighting the rivalry between Portugal and other European powers, particularly Spain, for control over trade routes and territories.
- Religious Diversity: The text details the religious diversity of the region, including the spread of Islam, the influence of Hinduism, and the presence of various Christian groups, particularly the Nestorians and St. Thomas Christians.
Historical Context:
The text was written in 1514, a period marked by significant political and economic changes in the Indian Ocean. The Portuguese had recently established a presence in the region, seeking to control the lucrative spice trade. They had already seized key ports like Goa, and their influence was steadily growing, leading to conflicts with local rulers and other European powers.
Facts:
- Amber: The text suggests that amber is a bird dropping, which is false. Amber is fossilized tree resin.
- Cinnamon: Ceylon is known for its cinnamon production, a fact confirmed by Barbosa.
- Coconuts: Barbosa details the various uses of coconuts, including as a source of food, water, oil, and fiber, which are still relevant today.
- Cotton Cultivation: The text mentions that the Moors had recently begun cultivating cotton in Sofala, suggesting a transition in agricultural practices.
- Elephants: The text notes the high value of elephants in the region for trade and warfare, particularly in kingdoms like Narsinga.
- Ginger: Barbosa describes various types of ginger and its uses, including as a food ingredient, spice, and for making preserves.
- Horses: The text highlights the importance of horses in warfare and trade, particularly in kingdoms like Cambay and Ormuz.
- Ivory: The text mentions the extensive ivory trade in the region, particularly around Sofala.
- Lac: Lac, a resinous substance from insects, was a valuable commodity in Pegu and Narsinga, as described by Barbosa.
- Musk: Barbosa notes the use of musk as a perfume and describes its adulteration using leech blood.
- Pepper: The text details the cultivation and trade of pepper, a significant source of wealth in Malabar, and its importance in the global spice trade.
- Rice: Barbosa describes different types of rice and its cultivation methods in various kingdoms, highlighting its importance as a staple food.
- Rubies: The text provides detailed information about the value, types, and locations of rubies, particularly those from Pegu and Ceylon, during the 16th century.
- Sandalwood: The text mentions the trade of sandalwood, particularly from Timor and its use as a perfume in Narsinga.
- Spices: Barbosa’s descriptions of the spices traded throughout the Indian Ocean, including pepper, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger, provide insight into their value and importance during this period.
- Sugar: The text notes the production of sugar from palm trees in various kingdoms, and its use as a food and trade item.
- Turquoises: The text describes the trade of turquoises from Persia and their value in Malabar.
- Suttee: The text describes the practice of suttee, the self-immolation of widows on their husbands’ funeral pyres, which was common in some parts of India.
- Trade Networks: The text provides a detailed picture of the interconnected network of trade routes that connected various kingdoms and ports in the Indian Ocean.
Statistics:
- Gold Trade: The Moors in Sofala reportedly gained 100 to 1 in gold by bartering Cambay cloths for gold with the local population.
- Elephant Prices: Good elephants could fetch 1,500 to 2,000 ducats each in the region.
- Horse Prices: Horses from Ormuz and Cambay were highly prized, with top quality horses reaching prices of 900 to 1,000 ducats.
- Narsinga Army: The king of Narsinga reportedly maintained 900 elephants and over 20,000 horses.
- Sugar Price: In Baticala, sugar was worth 240 maravedis per arroba.
- Revenue of Goa: The Portuguese annually collected 20,000 ducats in revenue from Goa.
- Revenue of Ormuz: The King of Ormuz was forced to pay 15,000 serafins in tribute to the Portuguese after Albuquerque’s conquest.
- Revenue of Calicut: The King of Calicut collected 12 fanoes per bahar in export duty on pepper.
- Spice Prices: The text includes specific prices for various spices in Calicut, reflecting the economic importance of these goods during this period.
Terms:
- Areca: A small, nut-like fruit often chewed with betel leaves.
- Bahar: A unit of weight in the Indian Ocean, roughly equivalent to 400 pounds.
- Banians: A Hindu merchant caste known for their strict adherence to non-violence and vegetarianism.
- Brahmans: The highest caste in Hinduism, considered to be priests and spiritual leaders.
- Fano: A unit of weight for precious stones and a coin in the Malabar region.
- Jagri: A crude form of sugar made from palm sap.
- Jungos: Large, multi-masted ships used by the Chinese and other Asian traders.
- Nairs: A military caste in Malabar known for their unique social customs, including the practice of matrilineal inheritance.
- Pardao: A gold coin used in Narsinga and other parts of India.
- Sambuks: Small, Arab-built ships used for coastal trade.
Examples:
- The Capture of Diu: The text details the Portuguese victory over the combined fleet of the Ottoman Empire and the Sultan of Egypt in the port of Diu, illustrating the Portuguese dominance in the region.
- The Conquest of Goa: The text describes the Portuguese capture of Goa from the King of Decan, highlighting the Portuguese strategy of taking control of key ports and establishing their own authority.
- The Rise of Shah Ismail: The text chronicles the rise of Shah Ismail, a Persian leader who challenged the existing power structures in the region, and his eventual defeat at the Battle of Chalderan against the Ottoman Empire.
- The Customs of the Nairs: Barbosa provides a detailed account of the unique social customs of the Nair caste in Malabar, including their matrilineal inheritance system and their relationships with Bramans.
- The Miracles of St. Thomas: The text describes the miracles attributed to St. Thomas in India, including his supposed involvement in building a church in Coulam and his subsequent martyrdom at Mylapore.
- The Practices of the Joghis: The text details the practices of the Joghis, Hindu ascetics who renounced worldly possessions and traveled as mendicants, highlighting their unique cultural and religious beliefs.
- The Adulteration of Musk: The text describes the methods used to adulterate musk, a valuable commodity, providing a glimpse into the practices of the trade.
- The Self-Immolation of the King of Quilacare: Barbosa describes the ritual self-immolation of the king of Quilacare, showcasing the extreme religious practices of some communities in the region.
Conclusion:
Duarte Barbosa’s text offers a valuable and insightful glimpse into the complex world of the Indian Ocean during the early 16th century. It vividly portrays the bustling trade networks, diverse cultures, and political landscape of the region. The text not only documents the cultural practices and economic activities of different communities but also highlights the impact of Portuguese expansion, the clash of empires, and the evolving power dynamics of the region. The text serves as a crucial historical document, illuminating the early stages of European colonialism in Asia and the consequences of these interactions for the indigenous populations.