Question

"The first man who came to Pate* was Sulayman, son of Mudhafar. He was a king in Arabia, but he had been driven out. He came to Pate in 1203 and married the daughter of the king of Pate. Because of this marriage, the Swahili adopted a custom that still lasts to this day: seven days after a wedding, the husband goes to see his wife's father, who then gives him something. Indeed, seven days after the wedding, Sulayman went to see his father-in-law, who handed over the kingdom to him.

In 1291, Sulayman's great-grandson Muhammad reigned, and he kept on conquering the towns of the Swahili coast in many wars. His son, Sultan Umar, became very powerful and gained possession of all of the Swahili towns.

In 1331, Sulayman's great-great grandson Muhammad ruled the whole kingdom of his father by peaceable means. He was extremely fond of money and trade. He ordered his merchants to undertake voyages to India to trade there, and because of this he became very wealthy."

*an island located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Kenya

A Swahili History of Pate, chronicle based on an ancient oral tradition, written down in Swahili in 1903. Swahili is a Bantu language that contains a significant number of Arabic words and phrases.

Voyages such as those referred to in the third paragraph were most directly facilitated by which of the following?

A) A decrease in pirate activity following Zheng He's naval expeditions

B) Merchants' understanding of the patterns of the monsoon winds

C) An increase in the use of new forms of credit, such as paper money

D) Technological transfers from Europe, such as the compass

Answer 1

The voyages mentioned in the Swahili chronicle were most directly facilitated by merchants' knowledge of monsoon wind patterns, essential for navigation and scheduling trade journeys in the Indian Ocean.

Step-by-step explanation:

The voyages referred to in the chronicle were most directly facilitated by merchants' understanding of the patterns of the monsoon winds, which was crucial for navigation and scheduling of trade voyages in the Indian Ocean. Monsoon winds were well-known to the Swahili and Arab sailors, who had been engaging in maritime trade long before the period mentioned in the text. Knowledge of these seasonal winds enabled merchants to plan their voyages to India and back, ensuring safe and timely travel for commerce. The Swahili coast, with its strategic position and expertise in maritime trade, played a significant role in the prosperity and cultural development of the region.