States and Societies in Sub-Saharan Africa CH. 18

I. Effects of Early African Migrations: Agriculture & Population Growth Bananas - entered sea lanes by the Indian Ocean - Cultivation in Madagascar moved E. African mainland -Enabled Bantu to increase food supply, enrich diets, and expand Population Growth - Population reflects significance of iron metallurgy and bananas - 400bce before iron3.5 million - Turn of the millennium11 million - 800ce w/banana cultivation17 million - Bantu introduction of iron & agriculture >22million

I. Effects of Early African Migrations: Agriculture & Population Growth Bantu & Forest Peoples - often in C. Africa referred to as “pygmies” - regarded as useful guides to Bantus in unfamiliar territory

I. Effects of Early African Migrations: African Political Organization Kin Based Societies - did not rely on elaborate bureaucracy or hierarchy - Bantus governed themselves through family & kinship groups (usu. About 100 p/village) - Most prominent family head was the chiefruling council (male heads of family)disciplined their own family and kinship - groups of villagesdistrict (no chief or gov’t for the district)

I. Effects of Early African Migrations: African Political Organization Jenne-jeno - urban society in the middle stretches of the Niger river - trade network that extended from N. Africa and the Meditteranean to the savannas and forests of C. Africa - principal crossroads of W. Africa

I. Effects of Early African Migrations: African Political Organization Chiefdoms - as conflicts between villages and districts arose miltaries arose for protection and defense - many districts fell under the rule of powerful chiefs that overran the rule of kinship groups - consolidated small conquered lands into kingdoms

I. Effects of Early African Migrations: African Political Organization Kingdom of Kongo - most active area of political development - population pressures and military challenges encourage kin-based societies to form small states -participated in trade networks - gov’t included: kingofficials (military, judicial, financial affairs)governors (provinces)subordinate officials (districts)chiefs (local gov’t) - royal currency

II. Islamic Kingdoms and Empires Camels -quickened he pace of transportation & communication came from Arabia about 7th c. - replaced horses and donkeys The Kingdom of Ghana - W. Africa , 4/5th c., regional state - most important commercial site in W. Africa -Koumbi-Saleh capital of Ghana (buildings, mosques, large army) - center for trade in gold - controlled and taxed trade of gold, helped strengthen their realm - other exports: ivory, slaves - imports: horses, cloth, manufactured goods, salt

II. Islamic Kingdoms and Empires Islam in West Africa - Kings of Ghana converted to Islam - improved relations w/Muslim merchants from N. Africa as well as nomads - conversion brought: recognition, support - conversion of traders esp. - raids weakened the kingdom and soon collapsed - political leadership fell to the Mali empire

II. Islamic Kingdoms and Empires Sundiata - built Mali empire first half of 13th c. - had alliances, reputation of courage, large army (cavalry) The Mali Empire & Trade - benefited from Trans-Saharan trade - controlled and taxed trade in W. Africa - honored Islam and provided protection, lodging and comforts to Muslim merchants from the north

II. Islamic Kingdoms and Empires Mansa Musa and Islam Islam in East Africa, - conversion to Islam in East Africa brought cooperation w/Muslim merchants along the Indian Ocean Basin - conversion brought: legitimacy, recognition, political alliances

III. African Society & Cultural Development: Social Classes Kinship Groups - families and clans were the main foundation of social and economic organization in small agricultural societies - did not recognize private ownership of land - consisted of several extended family groups - communal lands to cultivate

III. African Society & Cultural Development: Social Classes Sex and Gender Relations - determined work roles - special skills mostly men and passed down - blacksmith usu. Community leaders - men & women harvested Women’s Roles - high honor as sources of life - at times positions of power, aristocratic women influenced public affairs - sometimes engaged in combat and organized all female armies

III. African Society & Cultural Development: Social Classes Age Grades - individuals in community within a given age group - arose in Sudan - performed tasks appropriate to their age and development(labor for projects, helped elderly, helped each other in adversities and challenges) - created a bond among the group

III. African Society & Cultural Development: Social Classes Slavery - captives of war, debtors, suspected witches, criminals - worked as agricultural laborers and construction laborers, miners or porters - a form of wealth in Sub-Saharan Africa - built wealth using trade - Northern lands traded with Sub-Saharan Africa - slave raiding became prominent leading to wars among states and kin-based societies

III. African Society & Cultural Development: Social Classes Zanj Revolt - refers to black slaves - worked in terrible conditions in southern Mesopotamia - attempted many revolts that were suppressed - Ali bin Muhammad initiated a revolt that created a rebel state that last ten years until it was finally put down by the Abbasid rulers -Ali bin Muhammad was executed for his involvement

III. African Society & Cultural Development: African Religion Creator God - Many Africans recognized a single creator god - responsible for setting the world in motion and providing order, sustained the world, intervening indirectly, through spirits - omnipotent and omniscient Lesser Deities and Spirits - recognized smaller deities often connected with nature, participated w/ the working of the world - believed souls of the departed had the power to intervene in the lives of their descendants

III. African Society & Cultural Development: African Religion Diviners - religious specialists - intelligent people understood the poli-socio-economics of their community - learn cause of misfortuneconsult oracleprescribe necessary remedy - more focused on controlling the experiences of the world, emphasized morality and proper behavior - kinship groups took responsibility for those who misbehave

III. African Society & Cultural Development: The Arrival of Christianity and Islam Early Christianity in N. Africa - reached Egypt and N. Africa throughout the Mediterranean Basin - Alexandria prominent area of Christianity The Christian Kingdom of Axum - location if modern Ethiopia - first converts were probably local merchants, in hopes of improving relations w/neighbors to the north - reflects the larger political experience of the region - 7th c. Axum fell to Islam but during 12th c. -16th c. it arose again - Ethiopia’s Solomonic dynasty claimed ancestry from David and Solomon, Kebra Negast (fictional work) traces this lineage

III. African Society & Cultural Development: The Arrival of Christianity and Islam Ethiopian Christianity - Retained basic Christian theology & rituals - belief of evil spirits, carried amulets and charms for protection African Islam - reflected interest of local converts - Islam kept a place for Sub-Saharan African traditions and beliefs - Islam in African accommodated to proper relations between sexes - Islam supplemented rather than replaced traditional religions of Sub-Saharan Africa