HIST100H
How and why did gunpowder technology and religion enable the building of empires
in the Indian Ocean region during the early modern period? Portugal was the first European
Empire to explore other lands earnestly. One reason was its geographic local on the Atlantic
Ocean, with a long seacoast with good harbors. Another took the form of an underrated
ambitious noble, Prince Henry the Navigator. He wanted to increase Portugal's maritime
influence, profits, build feitorias and he also wanted to spread Christianity.1 With the Portuguese
superior weaponry, the natives of the Canary Island was lost to the point of annihilation and it
was the stepping stone to what’s to come in the exploration of the Indian Ocean.2
During the early 16th century, Portuguese were the first to settle and setup a trade
warehouse in the kingdom of Sofala, this was the beginning of their monopoly in Indian Ocean
trade. With the conquest of the kingdom of Sofala, the death of Pedro de Añaya, served as a
symbol for Christian conquistador in Portugal & Spain, believing that they can overcome the
Muslim infidels enemies of the Christian faith and bring glory to oneself and the crown of
Portugal.3
Beginning 1500, the Mughal Empire emerged as the most dominant, prosperous, and
heavily populated empire in South Asia. The Mughal collected vast wealthy from plunder and
1
Bonnie G. Smith, Marc Van De Mieroop, Richard Von Glahn, Kris Lane, Crossroads and Cultures: A History of
the World’s Peoples (Volume II: Since 1300) (Boston; New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012), [554].
2
Smith et al., Crossroads and Cultures, [554-555]
3
Martín Fernández de Figueroa, “A Spaniard in the Portuguese Indies” (1505), in Sources of Crossroads and
Cultures: A History of the World’s Peoples (Volume II: Since 1300), ed. Bonnie G. Smith, Marc Van De Mieroop,
Richard Von Glahn, Kris Lane (Boston; New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012), [91-92].
pg. 1
tributes from the conquered lands. They used western gunpowder weaponry and have perfected
the use of cannons that helped defeat Afghans warlords in Afghanistan.4 In the diary of Emperior
Babur, he talks about the Bajuar people were rebels and infidels of Islam. He says, “Since the
people of Bajaur were rebels, and infidel customs had spread among them, and the religion of
Islam had been lost, they were put to massacre and their women and children were taken
captive.5 In my opinion, he used religion to manipulate and to his advantage on his people to
make them believe, that these rebels are needed to be cleansed and reestablish the purity of Islam
religion in Afghanistan.
Babur’s forces was overwhelming powerful using their superior guns and cannons
they were able to take the fortress from the Bajaur within days. Their weapons was so dominant
in battle that each distinguish warriors gloated on the amount of Bajuar rebels they have killed.6
By the 1527 Battle of Arga, Babur’s armies have perfected the use of cannons and killed
thousands of enemies’ soldiers using mortars. He celebrated by pillaging the city of Arga and
after his conquest, he move southward to battle the Hindu Rajput alliance. Even though he was
outnumber, Emperor Babur and his armies won the battle easily against Hindu Rajput Alliance.7
Looking at Emperor Babur triumph in battles, shows that gunpowder weaponry continued to
prove decisive in his skirmishes to expand his lands and wealth.
4
Bonnie G. Smith, Marc Van De Mieroop, Richard Von Glahn, Kris Lane, Crossroads and Cultures: A History of
the World’s Peoples (Volume II: Since 1300) (Boston; New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012), [625].
5
Emperor Babur, The Baburnama (1499–1519) in Sources of Crossroads and Cultures: A History of the World’s
Peoples (Volume II: Since 1300), ed. Bonnie G. Smith, Marc Van De Mieroop, Richard Von Glahn, Kris Lane
(Boston; New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012), [98].
6
Emperor Babur, The Baburnama (1499–1519). [97]
Bonnie G. Smith, Marc Van De Mieroop, Richard Von Glahn, Kris Lane, Crossroads and Cultures: A History of
the World’s Peoples (Volume II: Since 1300) (Boston; New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012), [625].
7
pg. 2
In the Talloq Chronicle, Karaeng Matoaya was an influential ruler that transform
Indonesian Island into a gunpowder empire during the 17th century. He is known to have many
titles and have accomplish many achievements. He was the first to Islamize his empire and
continued to spread Islam.8 I believe he converted the people into Islam because he wanted to
unified the people and make them feel that they are a part of something greater then themselves.
When he conquered the Bugis of the Tallambocco, he didn’t take any tributes but instead, gave
800lbs of his own gold and distribute to the people that he conquered. I believed, he wanted to
show empathy and show mercy to the people of Tallambocco. He was the first to equip his
soldiers with small firearms, build cannons and have his people make gunpowder.9 With his
introduction to gunpowder, he was able to rapidly expand his empire and spread Islam to the
conquered people, he was also tolerate towards the people that didn’t want to convert Islam. He
was loved and fear ruler among the people of his empire. With everything he has accomplish,
Karaeng Matoaya made the kingdom of Talloq into a powerful and gunpowder empire.
As stated above, there were many factors that contribute to the expansion of empires in
the Indian Ocean. Two things that they had in common was religion and superior weaponry, each
one believed that they were conquering in the name of god. With them believing god is on their
side, they felt invincible and righteous.
Talloq Chronicle (c. 1660), in Sources of Crossroads and Cultures: A History of the World’s Peoples (Volume II:
Since 1300), ed. Bonnie G. Smith, Marc Van De Mieroop, Richard Von Glahn, Kris Lane (Boston; New York:
Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012), [103]
9
Talloq Chronicle [103]
8
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