Let the Elephants Talk—Exploring Ivory, the Ivory Trade, and Exchange in Southeast Africa and the Indian Ocean World in the Early 16th Century

Abstract

This article explores ivory and ivory trade in early 16th century Southeast Africa, examining them through both historical and environmental lenses. It emphasizes the importance of inter and transdisciplinary research to fully understand the intricacies of the ivory trade, highlighting the need to integrate diverse data sources to understand the sociodynamics of the region and the links between hunted animals, extracted ivory, ivory work and the global networks, and markets in Africa and the Indian Ocean world. In addition, the article also discusses the limitations of the documents used, stressing the complexities of interpreting historical data, the importance of tightly weaving relevant data from other disciplines, and the need for caution when drawing conclusions based on limited evidence. This study contributes to interdisciplinary research on the history of ivory and the ivory trade in Southeast Africa, underscoring the significance of merging historical and environmental perspectives. It encourages future researchers to take a more critical approach and gather more extensive data to gain a deeper understanding of the trade’s complexities.