Capitalism and cloves : an archaeology of plantation life on nineteenth-century Zanzibar

This study of nineteenth-century clove plantations on Zanzibar provides an important contribution to debates in global historical archaeology. Broadening plantation archaeology beyond the Atlantic World, this work addresses plantations run by Omani Arab colonial rulers of Zanzibar. Drawing on archaeological and historical data, this book argues for the need to examine non-Western contexts of colonialism and capitalism as coeval with those in the North Atlantic World. This work explores themes of capitalism, colonialism, plantation landscapes, African Diaspora communities, gender and sexuality, locally produced and imported goods in historic contexts, and Islamic historical archaeology. Acknowledgements 6 Contents 9 About the Author 11 Chapter-1 12 Introduction 12 Global Historical Archaeology 14 Feminist Archaeology of the African Diaspora 21 Methodology 25 Organization of the Book 27 References 32 Chapter-2 39 Why Clove Plantations: East African Archaeology, History, and Anthropology 39 Urbanism 40 Early Colonialism 45 The Caravan Trade, Arabs Move Inland 48 Clove Plantations 51 Slavery 54 Immigration 56 Swahili, Arab, and African Identities 57 Historical Archaeology in East Africa 60 Directions of Research 62 References 63 Chapter-3 69 Plantation Landscapes 69 Gazing at Plantations 69 The Plantation as an Object 70 The Scopic Regime of Plantation Landscapes 74 Cartography 78 Methodologies 79 Mapping Zanzibar 82 Land Ownership 85 Owning Land on Zanzibar 87 Capitalist Production, Alternative Spatial Logics 91 References 92 Chapter-4 96 The Archaeology of Slavery 96 The Archaeology of Slavery on Zanzibar 96 Islamic Slavery in Africa 98 Remembering Slavery 103 Autonomous Landscapes of Slavery 106 Slavery, Resistance, and Swahili Culture 113 Slave Housing 114 Religion and Resistance 120 Islamic Practice on Zanzibar 125 Violence and Benevolence 132 Freedom 142 The Nature of Zanzibari Plantation Slavery 145 References 147 Chapter-5 153 Plantation Households 153 Households as Units of Analysis 153 Stone Houses 156 Omani Identities 163 Wattle-and-Daub Planters’ Houses 167 Networks of Power 172 Female Plantation Owners Practicing Patriarchy 174 Sexual Slavery 178 Plantation Households 187 References 188 Chapter-6 192 Global Goods 192 Global Trade on Zanzibar 192 Trade Beads 195 Imported Ceramics on Nineteenth-Century Zanzibar 200 Wealth and Reciprocity on Zanzibar 206 The Purchase of Goods on Zanzibar 210 Global Capitalist Relations 212 Meanings of Exchange 214 References 216 Chapter-7 220 Pemban People: Local Ceramics and Changing Identities 220 Ceramics and Clove Plantations 221 Regional Style 224 Contemporary Production 231 Food and Identity on Zanzibar 236 Communities of Practice 239 Slavery and Ceramics 242 Pemban Identities 246 References 247 Chapter-8 251 Capitalism and Cloves: East African Historical Archaeology 251 References 255 Index 257 Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction....Pages 1-27 Why Clove Plantations: East African Archaeology, History, and Anthropology....Pages 29-58 Plantation Landscapes....Pages 59-85 The Archaeology of Slavery....Pages 87-143 Plantation Households....Pages 145-183 Global Goods....Pages 185-212 Pemban People: Local Ceramics and Changing Identities....Pages 213-243 Capitalism and Cloves: East African Historical Archaeology....Pages 245-250 Back Matter....Pages 251-256 Within the well-established field of historical archaeology of plantations, this work is unique in focusing on a plantation outside of the Americas. In nineteenth century Zanzibar, clove plantations were established by Omani Arab colonial rulers of the East African coast. This work will explore themes of: capitalism, colonialism, plantation agriculture, African diaspora communities, gender identities, as well as Islamic studies In nineteenth century Zanzibar, clove plantations were established by Omani Arab colonial rulers. This work explores themes of capitalism, colonialism, plantation agriculture, African diaspora communities, gender identities, as well as Islamic studies