African Civilizations and the Spread of Islam Mrs. Mills African Civilizations and the Spread of Islam

Diversity and Similarities Differences in geography, language, religion, politics, and other aspects of life contributed to Africa’s lack of political unity over long periods of time

Stateless Socities Many African societies were organized around kinship or other forms of obligation, but did not have a concentration of political power or authority May have some form of governing body but typically held by a family or group of families and it was not a full time occupation

Weaknesses of stateless societies Throughout Africa many stateless societies thrived-mainly because if there was an internal dispute, people could leave and establish themselves elsewhere in the sparsely populated lands of Africa Weaknesses: resisting outside pressures, mobilizing for warfare, organizing large building projects, creating stable conditions for long distance trade

Common Elements in African Society Bantu language- not everywhere, but in many places across Africa Belief in natural forces personified by gods- example: spirit of wind, god of sun Rituals and worship- dancing, drumming, sacrifice Cosmology- a view of how the universe worked and a guide to ethics and behavior Ancestry: deceased family often considered direct link between living and spirit world

Differences in Economy North Africa: clearly involved in the Mediterranean and Arab economic world, so influenced by these places Sub Saharan Africa: not influenced as greatly by these places- settled agriculture and ironwork dominates Lively markets with regional and local trade International trade not as common, but starts to grow

Islam in North Africa North Africa had played a major role prominent early civilizations with Phoenicians, relations with Greece and Rome, etc. By 670 CE- Muslims rules Tunisia, or Ifriqiya, what Romans called Africa During Abbasid Dynasty Islam spread quickly throughout Northern Africa Berbers, people of the desert who resisted Arab rule but not Islam necessarily Almohadis- reformist group on the course of a jihad- a holy war waged to protect, purify, spread faith

Christian Kingdoms Christian converts in Africa before 4th century Christians in Ethiopia and Egypt Christians of Egypt known as Copts Nubia= ancient land of Kush that also had heavy Christian influence Ethiopian Kingdom that grew from Axum was the most important African outpost- fiercely independent because it was surrounded by pagan neighbors, so it turned inward and remained very Christian and very independent

Trading among African states and cultures Introduction of using camels for trade came between 1st and 5th centuries However, camels could not live in humid forest zones because of disease and therefore popular trade point became known as the sahel. Sahel-extensive grassland belt at southern edge of Sahara became point of exchange between the forests to the south and North Africa This trade route allows Ghana to rise to power between 3rd and 10th centuries

Sudanic States States of the Sudan Patriarchy Conquest states: drew on taxes and military support of subordinate areas they controlled Ghana, Mali, Songhay Rulers of these states considered sacred Most rulers convert to Islam even though many of their subjects do not

The Empire of Mali and Sundiata Created by a group of people (Malinke) who in 13th century broke away from control of Ghana In Mali, Old forms of “kingship” reinforced by Islam Rulers are Islamic and rituals/prayers reinforce their power and support of their rule Agricultural Traded heavily throughout west Africa Malinke expansion attributed to Sundiata (Sunjata) whose stories were celebrated by griots (professional oral historians) Sundiata also known as the “Lion Prince”

Task: Investigating Primary Source Documents You will be responsible for reading and analyzing specific documents pertaining to this material. Document One: “The Great Oral Tradition and the Epic of Sundiata” Document Two: Leo Africanus, History and Description of Africa

Document Directions You will work in pairs to analyze your assigned document on the rise and spread of Islam. Complete your SOAPS handout and answer the analysis questions. You will then create a poster presentation on your document to the class. Be sure to summarize it and analyze the POV.

Presentation Directions During each presentation, take notes on the document. Once the presentations are over, you and your partner must develop a DBQ prompt that would encompass these documents.