African Civilizations AP World History

Geography & Environment Is divided into 5 regions – N. Africa, E. Africa, W. Africa, Southern. Africa, & Central Africa Three times as large as the U.S. The Sahel is a great central plateau south of the Sahara desert

African Societies in General (before Islam) Diverse – centralized states & stateless societies Animistic religions – nature, rituals, dancing, witchcraft, creator deity, ancestor worship, sacrifice, drumming Languages had common origin (Bantu)

Bantu People Location: West Africa (Now southeastern Nigeria) Lifestyle: Farmers and nomadic herders Farming: slash and burn (which forced them to move around) Iron Making: Skilled iron workers, produced tools and weapons of iron, spread iron metallurgy throughout most of Sub-Saharan Africa. (may have been related to Nok)

Bantu Migration Push-Pull Factors: Factors which push people out of an area or pull them into an area. (factors include environmental, economic, and political) Causes of migration: Increased food production, increased population density, and lack of sufficient land Effects of migration: Other peoples pushed out, territorial wars, ideas and languages exchanged, and ethnic groups intermingled Swahili: A blend of Bantu languages and Arabic. One of the most commonly spoken languages in Africa.

Bantu Kingdoms (500 C.E. – 1500 C.E.) Mass movement of Africans from west Africa to less populated areas Bantu speaking peoples become the dominant group in Africa south of the Sahara Wealthy Bantu kingdoms rise in central and southern Africa Spread agricultural techniques & language (over 400 today) Relied on iron tools –facilitated crop cultivation Relied on banana (from SE Asia around 400 C.E.) for nutrition Swahili – blend of Bantu languages and Arabic (becomes a lingua franca)

Stateless Societies Controlled by lineage or age sets Lacked concentrated authority Weaknesses - delayed ability to respond to outside pressures, mobilize for war, undertake large building projects or create stability for long distance trade

Nubia, Kush & Axum Nubia- (3000 B.C.) ancient kingdom in the southern part of the Nile River valley – Egypt develops Coptic Church (Christians) Kush – (2000 B.C.) trading kingdom (based mainly on iron) on the upper Nile Axum – (200 B.C.) trading power located on the Red Sea (Ethiopia) who became Christians – isolated, traced origins to Solomon and Sheba

Nubia & Ethiopia Christianity present before arrival of Islam Egyptian Copts had a rich and independent kingdom, but oppression by Byzantines caused them to welcome Muslim invaders Nubians resisted Muslim incursions until the 13th century

Kingdom of Ghana (A.D. 300 – A.D. 1200) Caravan trading empire that prospered from taxes Benefited from salt and gold trade Trade brought Islamic ideas and customs; many converted

Kingdom of Mali (1235 C.E.-1468 C.E.) West African Kingdom established by Sundieta Keita (Lion Prince) in 1235 Rulers supported Islam (mosques, public prayers, preachers) Juula – traders Ibn Batuta visits (Arab traveler) Greatest king was Mansa Musa (Muslim) – made Hajj Important trading center and capital was Timbuktu

Kingdom of Songhai (A.D. 1493 – A.D. 1528 was its height) Sunni Ali – ruthless, tactical commander Most important ruler was Askia Muhammad (Muslim) Were traders, farmers, & fishers who settled in the Niger River Valley Timbuktu became a center of Muslim learning Moroccan Army causes downfall

Islam in Africa Jihad spread Islam to north Africa (8th century) Caravan trade helped spread Islam peacefully into Sub-Saharan Africa (Ghana, Mali, & Sudan) Traditional beliefs blend with Muslim beliefs in some areas Sudan – matrilineal societies resisted Islam; Islamic law (Shariah) said it must be patrilineal Ocean traders spread Islam to coastal areas, islands, & east African cities (Mogadishu, Mombasa, & Kilwa) Little success in interior Africa

Islam in Africa Ibn Battuta – Arab traveler who documented the Islamic world (1300s) Mamluks – originally a military caste that took seized power; dynasty that makes Egypt a center for Muslim culture and learning; were converts to Islam Muslims bring slavery to new heights – saw slavery as a process in conversion

Swahili Coast Series of trading ports became part of the Indian Ocean network Town residents were influenced by Islam , but most of population remained tied to traditional ways Bantu migrants mixed w/indigenous Africans People from Oman and Persian Gulf settle in coastal villages – a mixed Bantu and Islamic culture develops (Swahili) Islamic influence facilitates commerce Islam does not penetrate the interior

Yoruba & Benin In central Nigerian forests Nok culture (w/highly developed art style) flourishes from 500 B.C.E. -200 C.E. Benin – Nigerian city-state formed by the Edo people during the 14th century, famous for its bronze art work Yoruba (non-Bantu peoples) - highly urbanized agriculturists organized into small city-states Yoruba under authority of regional divine kings presiding over elaborate courts

Great Zimbabwe “Royal stone courts” Center of a state flourishing by 11th century Massive stone walls and buildings incorporates the greatest early buildings in sub-Saharan Africa Dominated gold sources and trade with coastal ports of the Indian Ocean network Internal divisions led to split & decline

Slavery Within Africa Demand for concubines and eunuchs by Muslims increased demand for women and children

Discussion Questions What was the cultural effect of Islam’s spread into Africa? Compare the Islamic effect on India and southeast Asia with that on sub-Saharan Africa. Describe the “common elements” in African society. Trace how Islam entered Africa. How did Islam and the beliefs of indigenous societies fuse among African peoples? Describe the connection between east Africa and Islam. Where did the cultures in Africa develop that were NOT affected by Islam?