Societies & Empires of Africa

I. Geographic features Deserts Sahara – northern Africa, roughly the size of U.S.A. Kalahari – southern Africa Rain forest – dense, humid forest found around the equator Savannas – grassy plains Cover 40% of Africa Dry seasons alternate with rainy seasons Sahara Desert Rain Forest Savanna Kalahari Desert

II. Early Societies Most African societies based on small social units, the family Stateless societies – no formal political organization Diverse local religious traditions Most family groups had own belief systems Organized info about the world Animism – nature & spirits play an important role in daily life Spirits present in animals, plants, natural forces (wind, fire, etc.) Record keeping Few societies had written language, depended on oral tradition – griots (storytellers)

III. The Kingdom of Aksum Aksum - located south of Egypt, along Red Sea Was once most powerful kingdom in East Africa, 300-700 C.E. People decedents from African farmers and migrants from Middle East Geographic advantages Well suited for agriculture Ideal location for trading Seaport at city of Adulis attracted merchants from African interior, Mediterranean region, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, India

III. Continued… International trading King Ezana Traded salt, rhinoceros horns, ivory, gold Received cloth, glass, olive oil, wine First African kingdom south of Sahara to mint own coins Merchants found it practical for trading King Ezana Aksum became not only wealthy trading kingdom, but also strong military power Reached height under King Ezana, whose reign began about 320 C.E. Expanded into Arabian peninsula, modern-day Yemen Defeated northern rival trading kingdom of Kush, 350 C.E. Gave Aksum complete control of trade in region

III. continued… Aksum culture Diverse cultural heritage Language Mix of Arab and African descent Language Greek was international trading language at the time Ge’ez - Aksum language, brought by early Arab inhabitants One of first written languages developed in Africa Basis of written language in Ethiopia today Religion Traditionally believed in one god - Mahrem King was directly descended from him Also found aspects of animism Offered sacrifices, usually of oxen

III. continued… Trading brought more than just goods, money Brought new ideas, including Christianity King Ezana converted, made Christianity official religion Modern-day Ethiopia still has large population of Christians Technology & innovations Created a new method of farming - terrace farming Step-like ridges (terraces) are dug into the side of mountain slopes Prevents water from washing down Dug canals, built holding tanks (cisterns) for water

III. concluded… Decline of Aksum Kingdom lasted more than 800 years Muslim Invaders 600s, 700s invaders conquered parts of East, North Africa City of Aksum itself was never conquered Nearby areas became Muslim, Christian Aksum isolated Muslims destroyed Aksum’s port city, Adulis, took over Red Sea trade Cut off from trade, Aksum lost main source of wealth and power Aksum people retreated inland, settled in what is now northern Ethiopia

IV. Empire of Ghana (800-1200 C.E.) Arose from trade across savannah region of Africa Name comes from Soninke people’s word for their ruler Means “war chief” By 700s, Ghana’s rulers were rich from taxing merchants and traders Gold and salt most important Rulers eventually convert to Islam Much of population did not convert Those that did retained many traditional beliefs Fusion of Islam and animism Islam helped spread literacy (ability to read and write) through learning to read the Qur’an

IV. Continued… 1100 – Decline of kingdom Group from northern African – the Almoravids – seized control of Ghana Disrupted gold/salt trade Groups migrated away, merged with other societies

V. Empire of Mali (1235 – 1500 C.E.) Founded around 1235 by Mande-speaking people South of Ghana, also a trading kingdom Mostly based on gold Sundiata Mali’s greatest leader Established strong, bureaucratic government Promoted agriculture to increase population Reestablished gold/salt trade after fall of Ghana After death of Sundiata (1255), many of Mali’s next rulers converted to Islam Mansa Musa expanded Mali to almost twice the size empire of Ghana had been

V. Continued… Mansa Musa (continued…) Helped establish city of Timbuktu as one of the most important trading cities in Africa Attracted Muslim scholars, doctors, religious leaders from all over Mosques and universities were well known throughout region

VI. Empire of Songhai (1400 – 1500 C.E.) Mali declined in 1400s People once under their control began to break away, form independent kingdoms Songhai people in east built up army, extended territory to the Niger River Sunni Ali (ruled 1464-1492) Muslim leader, built massive professional army Dominated using skilled horseman, war canoes Captured two great trading cities during his reign Timbuktu, Djenne

VI. Continued… Askia Muhammad Replaced Sunni Ali’s son after a revolt Set up tax system, bureaucratic government Lacked modern weapons Invaded by north African groups with guns and cannons in 1500s Collapse of Songhai empire ended a 1,000 year period in which powerful, united kingdoms ruled West Africa

VII. Trading Cities of the East Like the kingdom of Aksum, cities of eastern coastal Africa were diverse, due to trade Bantu-speaking people migrated from west Merchants and traders came from Arabia, Persia, India Swahili – new language arose from mix of Arabic and Bantu language By 1300, more than 35 trading cities along coast Example: Kilwa Most powerful, wealthiest coastal city-state Controlled trade, including gold, from southern Africa to Asia Cities fell to European control in late 1400s

VII. Continued… Slave trade Began around 9th century Arab traders exported slaves from eastern Africa Sent to Arabia, Persia, India, China Employed as soldiers, dock/ship workers, domestic workers Number of slaves was small – 1,000/year Did not increase much until 1700s, when Europe began trading in slaves

VIII. Great Zimbabwe (1100-1450) Established sometime around 1000, by the Shona people Located between Zambezi and Limpopo rivers in modern-day Zimbabwe Near important trading routes for gold trade Controlled and taxed traders who travelled routes 1200s-1400s, became economic, political, and religious center Abandoned by 1450, reasons unknown Theory: Cattle grazing wore out land, salt and timber used up, could not support large population

IX. The Mutapa Empire (1400s-1700s) Established by a man named Mutota after he left Great Zimbabwe in 1420 Used military force to dominate surrounding peoples Initiated a system of tribute to support his army Was called “mwene mutapa” by those he conquered Means “conqueror” or “master pillager” Grew wealthy from gold trade Eventually, Portuguese would try to conquer the empire Failed to outright conquer it, but were able to influence politics Signaled beginning of increasing interference by Europeans in Africa

Great Zimbabwe BACK

Songhai Empire BACK