How Do You Spell ZANJ REBELLION?

Pronunciation: [zˈand͡ʒ ɹɪbˈɛli͡ən] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "zanj rebellion" follows the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription. "Zanj" is transcribed as /zænʤ/ with a voiced alveolar fricative followed by a voiced postalveolar affricate. "Rebellion" is transcribed as /rɪˈbɛliən/ with a voiced alveolar approximant followed by an unstressed schwa, then a voiced bilabial stop, an unstressed schwa again, and finally, an alveolar nasal. The IPA transcription helps to accurately and universally represent the sounds of language.

ZANJ REBELLION Meaning and Definition

1. The Zanj Rebellion was a major uprising that occurred in the 9th century in what is now southern Iraq, during the Abbasid Caliphate. The rebellion was led by African slaves known as the Zanj, who were majority East Africans and had been forcefully brought to the region to work in the salt marshes and sugar plantations.

   The Zanj Rebellion is often considered one of the largest and most significant slave uprisings in history. The revolt was fueled by the oppressive conditions and mistreatment that the Zanj slaves experienced, including brutal labor, harsh living conditions, and widespread abuse.

   The rebellion lasted for approximately fourteen years, from 869 to 883 CE. The Zanj rebels managed to establish their own independent state, which at its height included several thousand rebels controlling large areas of southern Iraq. The rebel forces utilized guerrilla warfare tactics and successfully held off numerous military campaigns launched by the Abbasid Caliphate.

   The rebellion ultimately ended with the defeat of the Zanj rebels by the Abbasid forces. The caliphate employed a combination of military strategies, diplomacy, and internal divisions among the rebels to regain control over the region. Following the rebellion, the African slaves in the area continued to face oppressive conditions, leading to a significant decline in their population over time.

   The Zanj Rebellion remains an important milestone in the struggle against slavery and the fight for human rights throughout history, highlighting the resilience and determination of enslaved individuals to resist their oppressors.

Etymology of ZANJ REBELLION

The term "Zanj rebellion" refers to a major uprising that occurred in the 9th century in the region known as Zanj, located in present-day Iraq and Iran. The word "Zanj" comes from the Arabic term "Zanjī" (زنجي), which historically referred to the African slaves and laborers brought to the Abbasid Caliphate, especially to work in the salt marshes and sugar plantations in the Basra area.

The etymology of the word "Zanj" is believed to stem from the Bantu languages spoken in the regions of East Africa from where many of the slaves were captured. In Bantu languages such as Swahili, "Zanj" means "black" or "dark-skinned". The term was later adopted by Arab traders and slaveholders to describe the African slaves they acquired and transported to various parts of the Islamic world.