Sub-Saharan Africa

develops differently than the North – little contact for thousands of years. 3rd C AD – Camels used to trade Soninke people’s lands Ruler = “Ghana” or war chief Soninke tax trade 700’s AD – wealthy Kingdom of Ghana

Trans-Saharan Trade Gold (South of Niger river) Salt – Sahara Cloth, weapons, Mediterranean goods King owns all gold – regulates supply By 800 Ghana collects tribute from neighboring states Muslim Merchants  Spread of Islam & Arabic writing Ibn Batutta

11th C Decline 1076 Almoravids conquer Trade routes move east Infertile land

1235 – Mali emerges as dominant kingdom Mali =”where the king lives” Conquers Ghana 1200 – 1450 Controls trans- Saharan Trade Sundiata Kieta – Malian emperor who adopts Islam

Mansa Musa – emperor 14th C Takes the Hajj to Mecca Gifts of Gold  decline in worldwide value Creates Timbuktu as capital and center of Islamic learning and trade Brings scholars artists and architects from Spain, Arabian Peninsula and other Islamic territories

Timbuktu

1450 – 1600 Songhai Grows to largest West African State Controls trans- Saharan Trade Emperor Askia Muhammad makes Islam is official religion Laws based on Sharia (traditional Islamic law) Navy Army

Benin – 1480’s Known for their bronze work Portuguese seek out trade there for pepper, leopard skins, ivory, slaves

Slavery African tribes fight one another for land During Age of European Exploration (1400’s – 1600’s) captives from wars often sold to Arab merchants or Europeans as slaves Slave trade increases with colonization of North and South America Europeans begin independent raids

South Africa Shona people create city of Great Zimbabwe Controlled Zambezi to Lampoon rivers (fertile valley) Controlled trade routes to Sofala (on East Coast)

East coast trading cities Aksum Kilwa Sofala Mombasa Zanzibar 3rd C – Aksum trades with Arabia, Persia, India Rome

Zanzibar

Kilwa By 1331 Ibn Batutta visits Arab and African ruling class Islam Luxurious living Homes and furnishings inlaid with ivory Chinese porcelain Spices from India and far east 1448 Portuguese conquer eastern trading cities – beginning European Imperialism in area