a brief note on the African exploration of Asia
plus; the African presence in Japan (1543-1639)
=========================== #### Discover more from African History Extra All about African history; narrating the continent's neglected past Over 6,000 subscribers a brief note on the African exploration of Asia
=============================================== ### plus; the African presence in Japan (1543-1639) ( Oct 14, 2023 13 For much of Africa’s history, many of its travelers who ventured outside the continent often went to western and southern Asia. In antiquity, the North-East African kingdoms of Kush and Aksum which were closest to Asia, extended their control over parts of western Asia and Arabia. African rulers, soldiers, merchants, pilgrims and other settlers established communities across the region —from Nineveh in Iraq to (
— and engaged in cultural exchanges which linked societies on either shores of the red sea. Over the middle ages, envoys and merchants from Aksum travelled further into south Asia, ( and the south-western parts of India. Their exploratory initiative was later taken over by the Swahili who plied the routes between the Persian gulf and India, eventually travelling to the south-east Asian islands of Malaysia, and reaching the east-Asian state of China. What initially begun as sporadic contacts between China and the kingdoms of Aksum and Makuria, rapidly grew into regular diplomatic exchanges involving several African envoys from many different Swahili, Somali and Ethiopian states travelling to China during the Song dynasty. In the 10th-14th century period alone, (
. Chinese travelers reciprocated these visits, sending two major exploratory missions that reached eastern Africa in the early 14th and early 15th century, a few decades prior to the European irruption in the Indian ocean. The African exploration of Asia wasn't halted by the arrival of Portuguese interlopers, but was instead re-oriented to exploit the changes in the political and commercial landscape of the Indian ocean world. As political alliances shifted between different regional and global powers, African kingdoms alternated their external interests between western Asia and south Asia, depending on their relationship with the Portuguese. Africans converged in the Portuguese city of Goa in India, creating a diasporic community that included visiting royals and envoys, catholic priests, mercenaries, and servants. It was from this African community in south-Asia that the first Africans who travelled to Japan originated, arriving on the island nation in the 1540s.
### A Brief Note on the African Exploration of Asia

1. **Historical Context of African Exploration**:
   - For much of Africa's history, travelers from the continent primarily ventured into western and southern Asia.
   - The ancient kingdoms of Kush and Aksum, located in Northeast Africa, extended their influence into western Asia and Arabia.

2. **Cultural Exchange and Community Establishment**:
   - African rulers, soldiers, merchants, pilgrims, and settlers established communities across regions such as Nineveh (in present-day Iraq).
   - These communities facilitated cultural exchanges that linked societies across the Red Sea.

3. **Medieval Period Trade and Diplomacy**:
   - During the middle ages, envoys and merchants from Aksum expanded their travels into South Asia and southwestern India.
   - The Swahili people later took over trade routes connecting the Persian Gulf and India, eventually reaching Southeast Asian islands and China.

4. **Diplomatic Relations with China**:
   - Initial sporadic contacts between Chinese dynasties and African kingdoms like Aksum and Makuria evolved into regular diplomatic ties.
   - Numerous African envoys from Swahili, Somali, and Ethiopian states traveled to China during the Song dynasty.

5. **Reciprocal Visits from China**:
   - Between the 10th and 14th centuries, Chinese travelers reciprocated these engagements by sending exploratory missions to eastern Africa during the early 14th and early 15th centuries.

6. **Impact of European Arrival**:
   - The Portuguese arrival did not halt African exploration of Asia; instead, it shifted the focus to adapt to new political and commercial landscapes in the Indian Ocean.
   - African kingdoms adjusted their external interests between western and southern Asia based on evolving relationships with the Portuguese.

7. **African Diaspora in Goa**:
   - In Goa, India, a diasporic community formed, comprising visiting royals, envoys, Catholic priests, mercenaries, and servants, all of African descent.
   - This community was significant as it served as a launching point for further movement towards other regions, including Japan.

8. **Arrival of Africans in Japan (1543-1639)**:
   - The first Africans to travel to Japan arrived in the 1540s from the African community in South Asia, marking the beginning of the African presence on the Japanese islands.

Through this structured outline, the historical narrative of the African exploration of Asia and the presence in Japan is presented clearly and logically, maintaining factual accuracy throughout.