Civilization and Empire Sub-Saharan Africa

Early African Development Bantu were a language group from west Africa used iron tools to clear lands and cultivate crops grew yams, millet, and sorghum increasing food supply population growth strained resources causing migration spread language, culture, knowledge Indian Ocean merchants brought Asian bananas politically organized in kin-based societies without formal boundaries

Trans-Saharan Trade regular crossings by few nomads and merchants Arabs brought camels from Asia in 7th century BC conquest encouraged trade trade products: ivory, slaves, gold, horses, salt known as the gold-salt trade for most important products

Indian Ocean Trade wealth from this trade financed coastal city-states developed unique language and culture, mixing Bantu and Arabic traditions (Swahili=coasters) traded for pottery, glass, textiles from Persia, India, China cities: Mogadishu, Malindi, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Kilwa, Mozambique Great Zimbabwe was a kingdom that controlled trade between interior and coast accumulating great wealth in their large stone complex

Islamic States Islam brought by merchants to West Africa (Niger Valley) Ghana well developed before Islam, but increased trade with new influx of people kings used wealth (gold from the south) to strengthen their realms while taxes financed armies kings converted to Islam, but did not force the people

Islamic States Mali became important after Ghana collapsed ruled by “lion prince”, Sundiata (r. 1230-1255) market cities: Timbuktu, Gao, and Djenne Mansa Musa made pilgrimage to Mecca spreading gold established mosques and schools Mali fell to the Songhai empire in 1400s, but Islam survived

Islamic States Songhai became largest empire in African history with centralized government and trade systems most important ruler was Sunni Ali empire declined and was taken over by Morocco in the early 1600s.

Society Social Classes in kinship, gender, and age determined position and age sets did appropriate jobs no concept of land as private property to influence position   Early Slave Trade demand was high and outstripped slave trade of the Mediterranean about 10,000,000 sold to Islamic world and laid foundation for Atlantic slave trade

Culture Traditional African Religion emphasized morality and ethics recognized a divine, creator force with lesser gods associated with nature   Monotheism in Africa Christianity arrived in Egypt in 1st century C.E. with Alexandria as an early center included interest in African life (ex. Rock Churches at Lalibela) Islam won converts due in part to economic benefits and trade built mosques, schools, went on hajj Religion in Africa became syncretic