Compare how the Swahili coast of East Africa and the Kingdom of Kongo were impacted by their role global trade during the seventeenth century. (1 point)

Question

• The Kingdom of Kongo moved north, while the Swahili coast disbanded.
O The Kingdom of Kongo and the Swahili coast were both destroyed.
The Kingdom of Kongo lost control of the slave trade, while the Swahili coast lost its power to extract resources.
Both the Kingdom of Kongo and the Swahili coast rose to greater prominence due to Portuguese involvement.

Answer 1

The Kingdom of Kongo and the Swahili coast were impacted differently by their role in global trade during the seventeenth century. While both regions experienced significant changes, the outcomes were distinct.

1. The Kingdom of Kongo lost control of the slave trade: In the seventeenth century, the Kingdom of Kongo was heavily involved in the transatlantic slave trade. Initially, they engaged in the trade by selling prisoners of war, criminals, and individuals convicted of witchcraft. However, with the arrival of the Portuguese in the fifteenth century, the Kingdom of Kongo became a major supplier of slaves. By the seventeenth century, European demand for slaves had increased, and this led to the collapse of Kongo's social and political structures. The kingdom was devastated by internal conflicts, depopulation, and the disintegration of its centralized authority.

2. The Swahili coast lost its power to extract resources: The Swahili coast, stretching from modern-day Somalia to Mozambique, had long been a hub of Indian Ocean trade. The arrival of the Portuguese in the late fifteenth century disrupted the existing trade networks dominated by the Swahili city-states. While the ports and cities along the Swahili coast initially tried to maintain control over their trade routes, they eventually lost their position of dominance. The Portuguese established their own trading posts and controlled key trading routes, diminishing the Swahili coast's power to extract resources and engage in international trade. As a result, the Swahili city-states disbanded, and their influence in global trade significantly declined.

3. Both the Kingdom of Kongo and the Swahili coast were impacted by Portuguese involvement: Portuguese involvement in the East African and Central African regions was a key factor in the changes experienced by both the Kingdom of Kongo and the Swahili coast. The Portuguese sought to establish trade networks, secure resources, and expand their influence. In their interactions with both regions, they brought new technologies, goods, and ideas, which had a profound impact on the local societies. While the Portuguese involvement led to the downfall of the Kingdom of Kongo and the dispersal of the Swahili city-states, it also resulted in increased integration into the global economy for a brief period of time.

In summary, the Kingdom of Kongo lost control of the slave trade and experienced internal conflicts and political disintegration, while the Swahili coast lost its power to extract resources and disbanded as a result of Portuguese interference. Despite these negative consequences, both regions initially rose to greater prominence due to Portuguese involvement before facing significant challenges.