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Guinea (region)

January 01, 1970

For other uses, see Guinea (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, New Guinea, Western New Guinea, or Papua New Guinea.

Guinea is a traditional name for the region of the African coast of West Africa which lies along the Gulf of Guinea. It is a naturally moist tropical forest or savanna that stretches along the coast and borders the Sahel belt in the north.

"Negroland and Guinea with the European Settlements", Herman Moll, 1727

Etymology edit

 
Tabula Rogeriana world map by Al-Idrisi from 1154 showing "Bilad [Arabic for "country" or "town"] Gana min al-Sudan" near two cities labeled "Gana" on the Niger River (see upper right hand corner – south is upwards)

The etymology of "Guinea" is uncertain. The English term Guinea comes directly from the Spanish word Guinea, which in turn derives from the Portuguese word Guiné. The Portuguese term emerged in the mid-15th century to refer to the lands inhabited by the Guineus, a generic term used by the Portuguese to refer to the "black" African peoples living south of the Senegal River (in contrast to the "tawny" Sanhaja Berbers, north of it, whom they called Azenegues). The term "Guinea" is extensively used in the 1453 chronicle of Gomes Eanes de Zurara.[1] King John II of Portugal took up the title of Senhor da Guiné (Lord of Guinea) from 1481.[2][3][4]

It is believed the Portuguese borrowed Guineus from the Berber term Ghinawen (sometimes Arabized as غِنَاوَة Guinauha or Genewah) meaning "the burnt people" (analogous to the Classical Greek Aithiops, "of the burned face").[5] The Berber terms "aginaw" and "Akal n-Iguinawen"[6] mean "black" and "land of the blacks", respectively.

 
Portolan world map of Angelino Dulcert from 1339 showing the region "Ganuya" (see lower left hand corner)

A competing theory, first forwarded by Leo Africanus in 1526,[7] claims that "Guinea" is derived from Djenné (which he refers to as Gheneo, Genni and Ghinea),[8] the great interior commercial city on the Upper Niger River.[9] Djenné dominated the gold and salt trade across West Africa, from the 11th century (fall of Ghana) until the 13th century (when the Mali invasion disrupted its routes and redirected trade to Timbuktu, hitherto just a small Djenné outpost). It is during the period of Djenné dominance that the term Genewah really comes forward into usage in Arab sources (al-Sudan – Arabic for "blacks" – is used more commonly before).[10]

Other theories try to connect "Guinea" to "Ghana", but this is less certain. The Ghana Empire is named after the Medieval trading city of Ghanah mentioned already by 11th-century Arab geographers (e.g. al-Bakri), but it is used distinctly from Genewah by Arab sources (e.g. they would say "Ghanah in the country of Genewah").[10] Conversely, it remains possible that both Ghana and Djenné themselves owe their original city names to the Berber appellation for the blacks that lived there. A possible reconciliation of the theories is that the Berber Ghinawen (blacks) was the source of the Djenné (city), which in turn gave rise to the Arabic Genewah (land dominated by that city), which finally made it into the Portuguese Guiné.[11]

History edit

In 1478 (during the War of the Castilian Succession), a Castilian armada of thirty-five caravels and a Portuguese fleet fought the battle of Guinea in the waters off Elmina, for the hegemony of the Guinea trade (gold, ivory and black pepper). The war ended both with a Portuguese naval victory and the official recognition by the Catholic Monarchs of the Portuguese sovereignty over most of the African territories in dispute (Treaty of Alcáçovas, 1479).[12][13] This was the first of many colonial wars among European powers. After the Portuguese and Castilians came the Dutch, Danes, French, and British.

The extensive trade in ivory, gold, and slaves made the region wealthy, with a number of centralized kingdoms developing in the 18th and 19th centuries. These were much smaller than the large states of the wide-open Sahel, but they had far higher population densities and were more centralized politically. The cohesion of these kingdoms caused the region to show more resistance to European incursions than other areas of Africa. Such resistance, combined with a disease environment hostile to Europeans, meant that much of Guinea was not colonised by Europeans until the very end of the 19th century.

Subdivisions edit

Guinea is often subdivided into "Lower Guinea" and "Upper Guinea". Lower Guinea is one of the most densely populated regions of Africa, covering southern Nigeria, Benin, Togo and stretching into Ghana. It includes the coastal regions as well as the interior. Upper Guinea is far less densely populated and stretches from Côte d'Ivoire to Senegal.

Within the Republic of Guinea, Lower Guinea refers to the country's coastal plain, while Upper Guinea refers to the country's interior.

European traders in the region subdivided the region based on its main exports. The eastern portion around Benin and Nigeria was named the Slave Coast. What is now Ghana was called the (British) Gold Coast, a name later given to a British colony in the area which ultimately absorbed earlier European colonies. West of this was the Ivory Coast, still the name of the nation in that region. Farthest west, the area around modern Liberia and Sierra Leone was referred to as either the Pepper Coast or the Grain Coast.

Countries in the Guinea region edit

 
Jodocus Hondius II's map Guinea, 1621
 
Jakob van der Schley's map Verfolg van de Kust van Guinee, 1747

From north to south:

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Zurara titled his 1453 chronicle of the Henrican discoveries as the "conquest of Guinee", (e.g. p.1) and although Zurara starts off using the term "Guinea" loosely to include the Western Sahara coast, he eventually (p.153) corrects himself and notes that the term "Guinea" really applies only the lands of the Guineus, the black people south of the Senegal River.
  2. ^ Russell, Peter Edward (2001-01-01). Prince Henry 'the Navigator': A Life. Yale University Press. p. 318. ISBN 978-0-300-09130-4.
  3. ^ Stephens, H. Morse (1891). Portugal. p. 164.
  4. ^ Maryland State Colonization Society (1835). Maryland colonization journal. The Johns Hopkins University Sheridan Libraries. Baltimore, Maryland State Colonization Society. p. 280.
  5. ^ Rogado Quintino (1965) "O problema da origem dos termos «Guiné» e «Guinéus»", Boletim Cultural da Guiné portuguesa, vol. 20, no.78, p.117-45.
  6. ^ "World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Guinea: Overview". Minority Rights Group International. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  7. ^ The year Leo completed the manuscript of his book on African geography (Description of Africa) according to the date on the sole surviving manuscript (Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emmanuele, MS 953).
  8. ^ Leo Africanus uses the word "Ghinea" for both a village and a large kingdom.
  9. ^ Leo Africanus (written 1526, pub.1550) The History and Description of Africa: and of the notable things therein p.79)
  10. ^ a b W. D. Cooley (1841) The Negroland of the Arabs examined and explained. p.20.
  11. ^ Cooley (1841) endorses the theory (p.18n) that Djenné, rather than blacks, was the source of the Arabic term Genewah (and thus Portuguese Guiné), but at the same time (p.20n) recognizes that Djenné itself might originally come from the Berber Ghinawen (blacks).
  12. ^ Historian Malyn Newitt: “However, in 1478 the Portuguese surprised thirty-five Castilian ships returning from Mina [Guinea] and seized them and all their gold. Another...Castilian voyage to Mina, that of Eustache de la Fosse, was intercepted ... in 1480. (...) All things considered, it is not surprising that the Portuguese emerged victorious from this first maritime colonial war. They were far better organised than the Castilians, were able to raise money for the preparation and supply of their fleets, and had clear central direction from ... [Prince] John.” In A history of Portuguese overseas expansion, 1400-1668, Routledge, New York, 2005, p.39,40.
  13. ^ Bailey W. Diffie and George D. Winius “In a war in which the Castilians were victorious on land and the Portuguese at sea, …” in Foundations of the Portuguese empire 1415-1580, volume I, University of Minnesota Press, 1985, p.152.

References edit

Books

  • DIFFIE, Bailey W. and WINIUS, George D. - Foundations of the Portuguese Empire, 1415-1580, Volume 1, University of Minnesota Press, 1977.
  • NEWITT, Malyn- A history of Portuguese overseas expansion, 1400-1668, Routledge, New York, 2005.

January 01, 1970
guinea, region, other, uses, guinea, disambiguation, confused, with, guinea, guinea, bissau, equatorial, guinea, guinea, western, guinea, papua, guinea, guinea, traditional, name, region, african, coast, west, africa, which, lies, along, gulf, guinea, naturall. For other uses see Guinea disambiguation Not to be confused with Guinea Guinea Bissau Equatorial Guinea New Guinea Western New Guinea or Papua New Guinea Guinea is a traditional name for the region of the African coast of West Africa which lies along the Gulf of Guinea It is a naturally moist tropical forest or savanna that stretches along the coast and borders the Sahel belt in the north Negroland and Guinea with the European Settlements Herman Moll 1727 Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Subdivisions 4 Countries in the Guinea region 5 See also 6 Notes 7 ReferencesEtymology edit nbsp Tabula Rogeriana world map by Al Idrisi from 1154 showing Bilad Arabic for country or town Gana min al Sudan near two cities labeled Gana on the Niger River see upper right hand corner south is upwards The etymology of Guinea is uncertain The English term Guinea comes directly from the Spanish word Guinea which in turn derives from the Portuguese word Guine The Portuguese term emerged in the mid 15th century to refer to the lands inhabited by the Guineus a generic term used by the Portuguese to refer to the black African peoples living south of the Senegal River in contrast to the tawny Sanhaja Berbers north of it whom they called Azenegues The term Guinea is extensively used in the 1453 chronicle of Gomes Eanes de Zurara 1 King John II of Portugal took up the title of Senhor da Guine Lord of Guinea from 1481 2 3 4 It is believed the Portuguese borrowed Guineus from the Berber term Ghinawen sometimes Arabized as غ ن او ة Guinauha or Genewah meaning the burnt people analogous to the Classical Greek Aithiops of the burned face 5 The Berber terms aginaw and Akal n Iguinawen 6 mean black and land of the blacks respectively nbsp Portolan world map of Angelino Dulcert from 1339 showing the region Ganuya see lower left hand corner A competing theory first forwarded by Leo Africanus in 1526 7 claims that Guinea is derived from Djenne which he refers to as Gheneo Genni and Ghinea 8 the great interior commercial city on the Upper Niger River 9 Djenne dominated the gold and salt trade across West Africa from the 11th century fall of Ghana until the 13th century when the Mali invasion disrupted its routes and redirected trade to Timbuktu hitherto just a small Djenne outpost It is during the period of Djenne dominance that the term Genewah really comes forward into usage in Arab sources al Sudan Arabic for blacks is used more commonly before 10 Other theories try to connect Guinea to Ghana but this is less certain The Ghana Empire is named after the Medieval trading city of Ghanah mentioned already by 11th century Arab geographers e g al Bakri but it is used distinctly from Genewah by Arab sources e g they would say Ghanah in the country of Genewah 10 Conversely it remains possible that both Ghana and Djenne themselves owe their original city names to the Berber appellation for the blacks that lived there A possible reconciliation of the theories is that the Berber Ghinawen blacks was the source of the Djenne city which in turn gave rise to the Arabic Genewah land dominated by that city which finally made it into the Portuguese Guine 11 History editIn 1478 during the War of the Castilian Succession a Castilian armada of thirty five caravels and a Portuguese fleet fought the battle of Guinea in the waters off Elmina for the hegemony of the Guinea trade gold ivory and black pepper The war ended both with a Portuguese naval victory and the official recognition by the Catholic Monarchs of the Portuguese sovereignty over most of the African territories in dispute Treaty of Alcacovas 1479 12 13 This was the first of many colonial wars among European powers After the Portuguese and Castilians came the Dutch Danes French and British The extensive trade in ivory gold and slaves made the region wealthy with a number of centralized kingdoms developing in the 18th and 19th centuries These were much smaller than the large states of the wide open Sahel but they had far higher population densities and were more centralized politically The cohesion of these kingdoms caused the region to show more resistance to European incursions than other areas of Africa Such resistance combined with a disease environment hostile to Europeans meant that much of Guinea was not colonised by Europeans until the very end of the 19th century Subdivisions editGuinea is often subdivided into Lower Guinea and Upper Guinea Lower Guinea is one of the most densely populated regions of Africa covering southern Nigeria Benin Togo and stretching into Ghana It includes the coastal regions as well as the interior Upper Guinea is far less densely populated and stretches from Cote d Ivoire to Senegal Within the Republic of Guinea Lower Guinea refers to the country s coastal plain while Upper Guinea refers to the country s interior European traders in the region subdivided the region based on its main exports The eastern portion around Benin and Nigeria was named the Slave Coast What is now Ghana was called the British Gold Coast a name later given to a British colony in the area which ultimately absorbed earlier European colonies West of this was the Ivory Coast still the name of the nation in that region Farthest west the area around modern Liberia and Sierra Leone was referred to as either the Pepper Coast or the Grain Coast Countries in the Guinea region edit nbsp Jodocus Hondius II s map Guinea 1621 nbsp Jakob van der Schley s map Verfolg van de Kust van Guinee 1747 From north to south Senegal formerly French The Gambia formerly British Guinea Bissau formerly Portuguese Guinea Guinea formerly French Guinea Sierra Leone British part of the Pepper Coast originally Province of Freedom Liberia from U S settlements for ex slaves on the Pepper Coast Ivory Coast or Cote d Ivoire Ghana formerly the Gold Coast Danish Guinea Dutch Guinea Portuguese Gold Coast the first Prussian Gold Coast and Swedish Guinea all ended up absorbed by the British Gold Coast Togo formerly Togoland Benin Dahomey Southern NigeriaSee also editLower Guinean forests Upper Guinean forests West Africa New Guinea Guineaman a ship used to transport slaves from the region of GuineaNotes edit Zurara titled his 1453 chronicle of the Henrican discoveries as the conquest of Guinee e g p 1 and although Zurara starts off using the term Guinea loosely to include the Western Sahara coast he eventually p 153 corrects himself and notes that the term Guinea really applies only the lands of the Guineus the black people south of the Senegal River Russell Peter Edward 2001 01 01 Prince Henry the Navigator A Life Yale University Press p 318 ISBN 978 0 300 09130 4 Stephens H Morse 1891 Portugal p 164 Maryland State Colonization Society 1835 Maryland colonization journal The Johns Hopkins University Sheridan Libraries Baltimore Maryland State Colonization Society p 280 Rogado Quintino 1965 O problema da origem dos termos Guine e Guineus Boletim Cultural da Guine portuguesa vol 20 no 78 p 117 45 World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples Guinea Overview Minority Rights Group International Retrieved 24 May 2016 The year Leo completed the manuscript of his book on African geography Description of Africa according to the date on the sole surviving manuscript Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emmanuele MS 953 Leo Africanus uses the word Ghinea for both a village and a large kingdom Leo Africanus written 1526 pub 1550 The History and Description of Africa and of the notable things therein p 79 a b W D Cooley 1841 The Negroland of the Arabs examined and explained p 20 Cooley 1841 endorses the theory p 18n that Djenne rather than blacks was the source of the Arabic term Genewah and thus Portuguese Guine but at the same time p 20n recognizes that Djenne itself might originally come from the Berber Ghinawen blacks Historian Malyn Newitt However in 1478 the Portuguese surprised thirty five Castilian ships returning from Mina Guinea and seized them and all their gold Another Castilian voyage to Mina that of Eustache de la Fosse was intercepted in 1480 All things considered it is not surprising that the Portuguese emerged victorious from this first maritime colonial war They were far better organised than the Castilians were able to raise money for the preparation and supply of their fleets and had clear central direction from Prince John In A history of Portuguese overseas expansion 1400 1668 Routledge New York 2005 p 39 40 Bailey W Diffie and George D Winius In a war in which the Castilians were victorious on land and the Portuguese at sea in Foundations of the Portuguese empire 1415 1580 volume I University of Minnesota Press 1985 p 152 References editBooks DIFFIE Bailey W and WINIUS George D Foundations of the Portuguese Empire 1415 1580 Volume 1 University of Minnesota Press 1977 NEWITT Malyn A history of Portuguese overseas expansion 1400 1668 Routledge New York 2005 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Guinea region amp oldid 1219669797, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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