Post-Classical Africa in a Day

Bantu Migration (1000BCE – 500CE) Bantu tribes migrated across southern Africa, spreading agriculture, ironworking, language and culture to those areas. Bantu groups migrated to East African coast and interacted with Arab traders, resulting in Swahili city-states for Indian Ocean trade.

Bantu Migrations Historians believe that climate change or increased populations (due to new foods like the banana from SE Asia) triggered migrations.

Spread of Islam 622-709 AD Islam initially spread into North Africa by conquest under the first caliphs (bypassing the already Christian Ethiopia), spread south across the Sahara into West Africa by traders. The first West African converts were rulers of kingdoms (including Mali) which saw Islam as a valuable tool with which to increase their authority. It was also useful to impose monotheistic belief on a diverse, polytheistic population. Conversion by the masses was more gradual and rarely eliminated all Animist rituals/beliefs. West African kingdoms were increasingly connected to the outside world through trade and the Hajj.

Kingdom of Ghana 400-1200 AD Ghana was the first great Trade State of West Africa. Ghana’s Merchants and Kings grew very wealthy trading abundant Iron Ore and Gold for North African Salt. Muslim traders traveled across the Sahara using camel caravans “fleets of the desert.”

Kingdom of Mali 1250-1450 AD In the 13th century, Sundiata Keita united the people of Mali and created a strong government. Wealth and power of Mali and its capital, Timbuktu were built on the Gold and Salt Trade. Mansa Musa (1312-1337) doubled the size of Mali. Pilgrimage to Mecca: Gold and Gifts Established Timbuktu as a center for scholarship and religious study.

The story of Sundiata’s rise is legendary The story of Sundiata’s rise is legendary. Some of it is probably not feasible, but here it is anyway: *He was son of the ruler of the Madinka peoples in west Africa. His early life was difficult because he was born crippled with the inability to walk. *He and his mother were ridiculed endlessly by the other wives and sons of the king because of his crippled state. Sundiata developed a fierce determination to walk. *After he grew in strength and defeated his handicap, he became a brave and able warrior. But when his father died, one of his step-brothers turned against him and drove he and his mother into exile. *Taken in by a neighboring tribe because of his skill in battle, he steadily gains support until he returns home to overthrow an evil king that had taken his homeland. *Thus, Sundiata is seen as not only savior of his people, but founder of the Mali Empire. DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR??

Major Cities of the Sahel Timbuktu, Jenne, and Gao West African Port Cities

Salt and Gold The two most important commodities in this region were salt and gold. Salt was found in abundance throughout the Sahara and gold was plentiful in the forested regions of west Africa. These two commodities were highly taxed as they passed through the grassland kingdoms of the Sahel. The two products would remain staples of the economies for years to come and would contribute to an ever increasing Trans-Saharan trade network.

SUNDIATA….THE LION KING

Mansa Musa…the world’s richest man! Sundiata’s grandnephew, Mansa Musa is probably the most famous king of Mali for his pilgrimage to Mecca. Being a devout Muslim, he made this trip in 1324. The caravan that accompanied him consisted of thousands of camels, slaves, soldiers, bureaucrats, griots, and ENORMOUS WEALTH. News of this voyage made its way throughout Europe, and an obsession with west African wealth set in.

Kingdom of Songhai 1000-1600 AD From south of the Niger river, the Songhai people slowly grew in regional power. Under the leadership of Sunni Ali, the Songhai gained control of trade in West Africa with the conquest of Timbuktu and Jenne in 1464.

Trans-Saharan Trade Routes Timbuktu Gao Fez Marrekesh Tunis Tripoli Cairo Trans-Saharan trade in gold and salt made the West African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai extremely rich. Trade wealth and Islam resulted in the construction of great centers of learning such as Timbuktu (Mali).

The “ships of the Sahara” …the camel The camel’s ability to travel long distances made them perfect for trade along these arid routes. Because they live in the deserts, they have few predators and essentially all the resources to themselves. They are omnivores and will eat most anything. They can carry huge amounts of cargo vast distances and are easily domesticated.

Great Zimbabwe 1350-1450 AD Zimbabwe was the major kingdom in southern Africa: it prospered from trade with Muslim merchants on the coast of the Indian Ocean

East African Swahili City-States 800-1505 AD Beginning in the 8th century AD Muslim traders began to settle in ports along the East African Coast. The result was a string of City-State trading ports. The People and Traders of Mogadishu, Mombasa, Zanzibar and Kilwa grew quite wealthy from trade with India, China and West Africa.

Travels of Ibn Battuta Traveler Ibn Battuta visited West Africa and became major source of info on the civilizations of the region.

Indian Ocean Trade Indian Ocean trade system stretched from East African coast to Middle East, India, and Indonesia (Spice Islands) and included ivory, gold, and slaves from Africa traded to the Islamic empires of the Middle East to be used as soldiers, servants and laborers. Spices, silk, and other Asian goods were traded back to Africa and the Middle East in exchange for their goods.