The Shape of Tanzania

The country of Tanzania has a very interesting history thanks to the Portuguese, Germans, British, and Arabs that have come to have influence over the country at certain points in its history. The cultural borders of the country were really never defined before the influence of the Arabs in the middle ages, as the tribal people living in the region were nomadic/hunter gatherers.

                                          Portuguese Flag retrieved from Geography.com


Portuguese

The Portuguese arrived on the eastern coast of what would be Tanzania in 1498. They quickly conquered the island of Zanzibar and began consolidating control of the region. The insertion of the Portuguese into the culture of the people in the region had significant changes on their society. The Catholic faith would be introduced from this incursion, and today is a major part of the Tanzanian way of life. Education and trade while not exactly new to the region was expanded to incorporate distant parts of the Great Lakes Region. The Portuguese established control of the region for almost 200 years before being forced out by the Ottomans.


Ottomans 

The Ottoman Empire had a large influence on the development of Tanzania. The Ottomans were able to drive the Portuguese out of Tanzania and establish a permanent presence on Zanzibar, bringing with them the Slave trade. The Ottomans were mainly focused on trade, but the spread of Islam grew within the country along its routes. Naturally most of the population of Zanzibar today is Islamic in its faith. The Islamic faithful are still today located on Zanzibar and along the eastern coast where the Ottoman influence was at its peak.

                                                        Retrieved from Britannica.com
                                                             
Germans

The German influence on the country can still be felt today. Starting in 1885, the Germans established a charter that would establish a protectorate in East Africa. The exact borders at the time of the founding were not established until a treaty in 1890 between Britain and Germany. Once established borders were finalized, these borders would stay the same for quite sometime. There was significant resistance to the German colonization of the region from tribal chiefs and there were atrocities committed on both sides during open rebellion. The Germans were not open to tribal African faiths had at one point were eliminating all signs of this. This would cause much hate and discontent among the people which would lead to the Maji-Maji Rebellion.

British

The British inherited German East Africa from Germany as a result of the Treaty of Versailles. The British renamed the country Tanganyika, and began to improve the infrastructure of the country. The use of the railroad was introduced during the late 1920s, and new roads were paved increasing travel times throughout the country. The British also encouraged participation from the people in governance, establishing local councils of tribal chiefs that could help shape policy in the region. After WWII, Tanganyika was given its independence from Britain, and in 1964 Zanzibar rebelled from the Sultan, eventually uniting with Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania.

Impacts

The people of Tanzania have only been independent for about 50 years. They are still establishing their own sense of identity. Tribal and religious customs have helped shaped the cultural aspects of the country, but politically and ideologically, they are still taking shape. The stability of the country has for the most part remained stable. Party changes have caused some discontent in the region, but the union remains strong. The establishment of hospitals and emulating a government based upon the British has had lasting affects on the people as a whole.

Overall the influences of the powers involved in Tanzania have helped the country evolve itself into what it is today, and it is continuing to evolve into a better and stronger nation.


Bibliography

 "German East Africa." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Accessed May 05, 2016. http://www.britannica.com/place/German-East-Africa. 

 "Portugal's Planet-Wide Empire." About.com Education. Accessed May 05, 2016. http://geography.about.com/od/historyofgeography/a/The-Portuguese-Empire.htm. 

 Chiteji, Frank Matthew. "Tanzania." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Accessed May 05, 2016. http://www.britannica.com/place/Tanzania. 

Mission Work in Tanzania

                                                               St Joesph Cathedral

Christian Missionary Work

The Christian faith in Tanzania goes back to when the Portuguese occupied the country in the early 16th century. Roman Catholic Franciscans established a mission in the coastal city of Kilwa during this time frame paving the way for Christian exposure. By the mid 19th century several missions would be opened in the country ranging from Protestant, Anglican, Lutheran, and Moravian. These particular faiths show the influence that colonization has had on the country from the Germans, British, and Portuguese. 

The influence of the church has had gradual effects on the Tanzanian way of life. Their culture for example has been altered, as the naming of children will sometimes incorporate a second Christian name as well as their native name. The hospital and aid work provided by the church helps those affected by HIV/AIDS, which is a major problem in the country, almost 6% of the nation living with the disease. The shelters for abandoned children and other orphanages help provide care and comfort for those children that are affected by the loss of their parents from HIV and other causes. 

Until 1934, the mission work for Tanzania was mainly an individual work, that was sometimes aided by other missions to help reach the people. The Christian Council of Tanzania was formed to help foster unity among the Christian faith within Tanzania. The council helps with HIV treatment, spreading of Christian values, raise awareness for gender and human rights, and help with dialogue with other religions. This unity among the Christian faith has helped provide peace in and unity in a turbulent climate with the presence of other religions within the country. 

                                                   Tanzania House with Persian influence
Islam

The Islamic influence on Tanzania goes back to the Medieval period, when Arabian traders established a foothold in Zanzibar. The Arabs were mainly focused on the slave trade and didn't establish missions such as the Christians did. The faith spread on its own throughout the country, but mainly is focused around the coastal areas. The Arabs brought with them a sophisticated economic system and helped bring trade to the interior of the country. Naming rights such as those brought with them by Christians also influenced the people of the country.

The Islamic faithful are guided by two organizations, the National Muslim Council of Tanzania, and the Supreme Muslim Council. Both of these organizations provide educational assistance, HIV and medical assistance, spreading of spiritual awareness and human rights (Against Gender based Mutilation), and political activeness. These organizations also provide guidance in this time of instability, as the tensions between the other faiths present has increased, sometimes leading to violence.

Overall the mission work/religious impact by the faiths on Tanzania has been positive and bring charitable assistance to a country greatly in need.

Resources

 "Christian Council of Tanzania, The Ecuminal Organization in Tanzania." Christian Council of Tanzania. Accessed April 28, 2016. http://cct-tz.org/. 

 "Christian Aid Mission: Tanzania." Accessed April 28, 2016. http://www.christianaid.org/Interactive_World/countryPages/Tanzania.aspx. 

Ofcansky, Thomas P. & Rodger Yeager (eds,) 1997.Historical Dictionary of Tanzania Second Edition, Scarecrow Press, Inc.: London

First Contact

European Contact

The history of Tanzania dealing and trading with outsiders dates back to Roman Empire. The location of the country brought it into contact with several civilizations over the years. The most important of those powers was that of Portugal, in 1498, when Vasco da Gama was the first to European to visit. He was quite interested in the natural resources, the location of the country itself as a via trade hub for East Asia, but more importantly for the slave trade. Vasco da Gama would end up staying for over a month before pressing on making detailed notes of the region. In 1505, the Portuguese returned and captured the island of Zanzibar. The Portuguese would remain influential in Tanzania until the 18th century when the Sultan of Oman would eventually take control of Zanzibar. 

The Persians and Ottomans would dominate the area of eastern Africa for almost 60 years. Several European powers began exploring the interior of Africa starting around 1850, and would eventually start to establish principal interests in the region. In 1885, German East Africa (Now present day Tanzania) was established after meeting with local tribal chiefs and a council of European powers. During this time frame there was a strong crusade against slavery across the world. The Sultan who still controlled Zanzibar was a proponent of slavery, which led to tension with the European powers. Germany was no exception to this and established their territory outside of Zanzibar. The Germans were not completely against slavery, but strongly curbed its usage in the region. 

There was strong resistance to German colonization of the region. Several tribal chiefs pledged loyalty to the Germans, but there were a few who didn't such as the Hehe tribe. Resistance lasted for a couple of years but was eventually put down. A major outbreak of violence broke out in 1905 with the Maji Maji Rebellion. Plagued by droughts, famine, and heavy taxes, the local people rebelled against German rule. The loss of life and the tactics used by Germans was ruthless, but eventually the rebellion was crushed in 1907. 

The Germans would continue to control German East Africa until the end of WWI. The treaty of Versailles would strip Germany of control would initially offer it to Norway, but they refused, however Britain would take over control and form the area in Tanganyika in 1919. The British would control the region for roughly 40 years before helping implement a local government that would eventually become the United Republic of Tanzania. 


Arab Contact

The influence the Arabs had on the people of Tanzania is still felt today. Located off the eastern coast of Africa, the people of Tanzania were ideal trading partners for the people of the Persian Gulf region. The trade winds of the Indian Ocean would bring seasonal traders to the lucrative coasts of Tanzania for several years. Thanks to the location and trading with these people, Islam started being practiced throughout the region starting in the 9th century. The influence and control of the trading routes helped form an extension of the silk road that would last until the Portuguese muscled their way into the region in 1498. The area was still influenced by Persian and Ottoman people, but it wasn't until the early 1800s that Arab control was reestablished. The lucrative market of gold and slaves, made the coastal region, particularly of Zanzibar, a high interest area of commerce. The sultan was a strong advocate of the slave trade and would eventually the Ottomans would become a target for advocates against slavery. This would lead to tensions with the European powers that were trying to expand their influence into the continent of Africa. 

Impacts

The influence that was placed upon Tanzania were felt when these external powers were in control of the region. The Portuguese helped establish trade routes with inland Africa extending to the Congo and the rest of Europe with their superior sailing technology. The Arabs brought religion and commerce to the region, and helped establish a trading hub in Zanzibar that is still present today. The British helped modernize inland Tanzania with the development of transportation, and helped establish the present day government of the country. Each power had its own reasons for establishing a power base in Tanzania. The Portuguese were trying to expand their influence without the usual means of conquest from the European powers. The Germans were trying to keep pace with the rest of Europe in the Age of Imperialism. The Arabs were trying to economically control the region. Each had their own reasons for getting involved in Tanzania, and in the long run would help change the country for the better. 


Resources

 Iliffe, John. A Modern History of Tanganyika. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1979. 

 Kimambo, Isaria N., and A. J. Temu. A History of Tanzania. Nairobi: Published for the Historical Association of Tanzania East African Pub. House, 1969.

 Mbogoni, Lawrence E.Y. Aspects of Colonial Tanzania History. Dar-es-Salaam: Mkuki Na Nyota Publishers, 2013. 

 

Encyclopædia Britannica Online, s. v. "Tanzania", accessed April 21, 2016,http://www.britannica.com/place/Tanzania.

Natural Resources of Tanzania

Tanzania has a very diverse makeup of natural resources. Tanzania's natural resources consists of precious metals such Tin, Diamonds, Gold, Gem Stones, Nickel, Uranium, and Natural Gas. The country also sports a vast wealth of other resources such as a large timber industry, fish, and Oil. The discovery and utilization of these resources have developed over time. Lake Victoria has an abundance of fishing that helps Tanzania trade with its neighbors such as Rwanda, Burundi, and Kenya. Initially the fishing of Lake Victoria was just used for the people's own consumption, but gradually the export of fish and the lake's resources was soon to be a valuable tool in trade with other nations.

The precious minerals that Tanzania possesses is of significant trade value to the outside world. Mining accounts for 5% of Tanzania's GDP and 33% of their exports. These exports have increased drastically in the last decade due to increased yields and technological improvements. Gold for example is a major export of the nation, it is the 3 largest exporter of gold in all of Africa. The abundance of gold is what helped draw the Europeans and the Arabs to Africa. The utilization of this particular resource has evolved over time, originally for artistic use and trading of trinkets, to be exploited by Arabs and Europeans, to being a lifeline for trade in Tanzania.

Trading partners for Tanzania include India, Japan, Germany, and China. The growth of economic sector stemming from these natural resources has helped the GDP grow at an average of 6-7% over the last ten years. The last quarter of 2015 shows a high of 943 million earned from Tanzanian exports. These exports have influenced trade routes over the region, typically with their trading partners list above, and that of regional trade partners geographically. Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and Kenya are the natural border trading partners with Tanzania and these resources help bring economic good tidings to the region. The value of Lake Victoria can not be underscored as it essentially links 4 countries together economically and geographically.


Resources

"Tanzania Exports 2006-2016". Accessed April 12, 2016. http://www.tradingeconomics.com/tanzania/exports

 "Tanzania." Natural Resource Governance Institute. 2015. Accessed April 12, 2016. http://www.resourcegovernance.org/our-work/country/tanzania.

"The World Factbook: Tanzania." Central Intelligence Agency. 2016. Accessed April 12, 2016. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tz.html. 

Religions of Tanzania

The religious makeup Tanzania is very diverse. Going back to the 1960s shows that roughly 33% of the country is Christian, 33% is Islam, and the remaining percentage practices indigenous religions such as Animism, but some also practice Hinduism and Buddhism. The relationship that Tanzanians have with religion is very sacred and questions about religion are normally kept very guarded to one's self. The importance of religion on the country of Tanzania has affected the growth of the country over its evolution and each of the major religions have had a long lasting effect on the country.

ISLAM

Islam first appeared during the late period of the middle ages when Arabic traders established a trading center in Zanzibar. The traders during this time were slave traders and didn't really establish missions or try to spread the religion of Islam. The religion spread on its own and mainly the populations that practice Islam reside on the eastern portion of the country. The major sect is Sunni that is practiced. There is a board that helps provide guidance to Tanzanians that practice Islam called the BAKWATA (The National Muslim Council of Tanzania) and they help provide medical assistance to their followers when needed.

Christianity

Christianity was introduced to Tanzania during the early 1500s by Roman Catholics during the Portuguese occupation. Missions began to spread up and down the coast and the religion has continued to spread throughout the country ever since. The presence of Christianity took a large role starting in 1934 when the Christian Council of Tanzania was founded. The council provides a positive impact on the Christian community providing farming assistance, emphasizing gender equality, and reducing the spread of HIV within the country.

Native Religions

While Christianity and Islam are the major religions is Tanzania, other tribal religions are still practiced, mainly in the Western areas of the country that are sparsely populated. Each of the major tribes such as Maasai, Hadzabe, Sukuma, Chagga, and Iraqw have their own traditions, religious beliefs. Witchcraft accusations and religious mutilations of the people have been seen out in the Western areas where the Sukuma reside. While other religious people in the area have condemned mutilation determined by faith, others have condoned it.

Myths

The Maasai are well known cattle herders and their belief in having a close relationship with cattle goes back a long time. Naiteru-Kop was one of the predominant gods of the Maasai and he provided a lone Maasai cattle to herd. The man was given enough cattle to herd and ever since then they have been dedicated herdsman. It is often believed that if a non Maasai owns cattle that the cattle must have either been stolen or lost and the Maasai try to recover them.

Religious Effects on Tanzania

While religion for the most part has been good, there have been a lot of tension between the Islamic and Christian communities over the years. With roughly 2/3 of the country practicing between Islam and Christianity there is bound to be some sort of tension and animosity between the two. Ethnic and Religious violence has occurred and is still occurring within Tanzania. While violence can hope to be contained, it is still a major problem that continues to plague the country.

The organizations that provide assistance whether they are Christian, Islamic, or one of the other affiliations continue to help Tanzanians in their day to day affairs. This influence will continue to grow and provide a positive feel for the people.

Resources

Ofcansky, Thomas P. & Rodger Yeager (eds,) 1997.Historical Dictionary of Tanzania Second Edition, Scarecrow Press, Inc.: London

Pauwels, Randall. 1987. Horn and Crescent: Cultural Change and Traditional Islam on the African Coast, 800-1910. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Rasmussen, Lissi. 1993. Christian and Muslim Relations: The Cases of Northern Nigeria and Tanzania. London. I.B. Tauris.

 Belcher, Stephen Paterson. African Myths of Origin. London: Penguin, 2005. 

Geography of Tanzania

The History of Tanzania
HIWD 320D01



Geography of Tanzania


The United Republic of Tanzania has a rich and diverse history featuring unique geographical sites. The rich sites include features such as Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Nyasa, and Mount Kilimanjaro.The republic also contains offshore islands such as Pemba, Mafia, and Unguja. The topography of Tanzania varies greatly with large forested areas, high mountainous areas, a vast central plateau, islands and a vast archipelago to the east, and several lakes that help contribute to rich diversity of the country.

The climate of Tanzania varies greatly upon location within in the country. The mountainous areas of the north are typically cooler compared to the rest of country, often dropping by 3.5 degrees F for each 1000ft climbed in altitude. Naturally the hottest and most humid part of the country is located around the coast of the Indian Ocean. The average temperature for the country ranges from the mid 80s to lower 50s, with humidity varying upon location in proximity to water such as the lakes and the coast. The lower and more central part of the country generally is dryer compared to the rest of the country. Due to its proximity to the equator, there is no real season of winter for Tanzania, however there are two seasons which define Tanzania, a dry and wet season. The dry season typically ranges from June through October with temperatures varying between the upper 60s to the lower 80s. The wet season ranges from November-May with temperatures being hotter and more humid due to large amounts of rainfall.

The capital of Tanzania is the city of Dodoma (6° 10′ 23″ S, 35° 44′ 31″ E), a large city located within the central region of Tanzania featuring a population of over 400,000 people. The largest city within Tanzania is the coast city of Dar es Salaam (6° 48′ 0″ S, 39° 17′ 0″ E). It is the financial center for the country and is one of the fastest growing cities on the continent of Africa. Mwanza (2° 31′ 0″ S, 32° 54′ 0″ E) located to the north is a port city located off Lake Victoria and is one of the major shipping cities for the growing nation.

Disease is a major problem within the growing nation of Tanzania. The CDC has rated Tanzania as a major risk for infectious diseases including air, water, and animal contact. The rapidly growing population within the country has to struggle with poor healthcare and medical attention but is working to correct the issue.

The country of Tanzania has a rich and diverse amount of natural resources, featuring robust foresting, agriculture, natural gas, gold, diamonds,fish, uranium, and wildlife. The location off the Indian Ocean and with access to large lakes and rivers helps bring a large amount of trade and commerce to country. The access to large amounts of fishing helps provide food for the growing nation. Tourism is a major part of the economy and is helping the country recover from their recent recession in 2009. Only time will tell if the utilization of their natural resources, tourism, and trade will help country of Tanzania grow in a blossoming nation.

Resources

 "Tanzania." Weather & Climate ( Climate Chart). https://www.safaribookings.com/tanzania/climate Accessed March 23, 2016. 

 "Tanzania." Encyclopedia Britannica. http://www.britannica.com/place/Tanzania. Accessed March 23, 2016.

 "Tanzania Major Infectious Diseases." - Demographics. Accessed March 23, 2016. http://www.indexmundi.com/tanzania/major_infectious_diseases.html. 

 "Tanzania Natural Resources." Natural Resource Governance Institute. http://www.resourcegovernance.org/our-work/country/tanzania. Accessed March 23, 2016.