African Civilizations

Introduction The spread of Islam through much of the northern third of Africa resulting in more trade & commerce State-building all over Africa Mali Songhay Military power and dynastic alliances based on cultural unity City-states & Merchant communities similar to Italy

African Societies: Diversity & Similarities Stateless Socieites - Lacked political unity due to diverse geography, religion, language, politics, etc… Organized around kinship Lacking concentrated political power & authority Power exercised by rulers or a council of families No taxes Some secret societies Many thrived

African Societies: Diversity & Similarities II. Common Elements in African Societies Bantu Migration – some mutual languages A. Religion Animistic religion Belief in evil – produced witchcraft Cosmology Spirits & gods

African Societies: Diversity & Similarities B. Economics Varied from region to region Agriculture Trade Specialization Kinship groups sometimes controlled trade

African Societies: Diversity & Similarities III. The Arrival of Islam to N. Africa As part of the Roman & Greek Empires Christianity was main religion Muhammad’s followers swept across N. Africa spreading Islam Arab & Berber armies Spread stopped by Martel & the Franks

African Societies: Diversity & Similarities Almoravids & Almohadis– puritanical reformist Launched jihad (holy war) Islam promoted equality of believers Social stratification continued Uniting of powers of the state & religion appealed to African kings

African Societies: Diversity & Similarities IV. Christian Kingdoms: Nubia & Ethiopia Christianity first universal religion in Africa Copts – Egyptian Christians Allowed to keep faith by Muslims Spread to Nubia Axum Christians in Ethiopia King Lalibela Built Christian state

Kingdoms of the Grassland Sahel Islam spread via travelers & merchants Three important coasts: Atlantic, Indian, & the savanna on the southern edge of the Sahara Ghana was powerful Taxed salt & gold

Kingdoms of the Grassland I. Sudanic States Patrirach or council of elders as leaders Rulers considered sacred Islam was adopted by rulers, but not most of the population Islam became a “royal cult” Islam reinforced indigenous ideas of kindhsip Mali & Songhay – important cultures!!!

Kingdoms of the Grassland II. Empire of Mali and Sundiata & the “Lion Prince” Malinke people from Ghana Rulers supported Islam Agricultural economy Juula – Malinke merchants Gold

Kingdoms of the Grassland A. Sundiata – mansa (ruler) Griots – oral historians Expanded territory Divisions of social arrangements Ibn Batuta – Arab Travler

Kingdoms of the Grassland B. Mansa Kankan Musa (1312 -1337) Adopted Islam Pilgrammage to Mecca Ishal al-Sahili Architect from Muslim spain Used beaten clay to build

Mosque of Jenne by Ishak al-Sahili

Kingdoms of the Grassland III. City Dwllers & Villiages Jenne & Timbuktu Thrived with expansion on Mali, Songhay Life centered on agriculture & the villiages Polygamy The hoe & bow symbol of the common people of Savanna states

Kingdoms of the Grasslands IV. The Songhay Kingdom Middle Niger Valley “masters of the soil” Independent 7th century Muslim by 11th century

Kingdoms of the Grasslands Sunni Ali (1464-1492) Expanded territory Succeeded by askia Muhammad the Great Muslims uneasy with pagan populations, the local interpretation of Islamic law, & the free mixing of men and women

Kingdoms of the Grasslands Songhay defeated by Muslims from Morrocco Hausa states Kano becomes Muslim center

Kingdoms of the Grasslands V. Political and Social Life in the Sudanic States Common religion and law (Sharia) provided solidarity Islam fused with indigenous traditions Many converts kept old beliefs

Kingdoms of the Grasslands Slavery and slave trade between black Africa and the rest of the Islamic world impacted women and children In theory, Muslims viewed slavery as a process of conversion for pagans Slaves had many roles in the Islamic world

The Swahili Coast of East Africa Trading ports along coast (Zenj) Strong Muslim influence Islamatization was slow to reach the general population and when it did it was a compromise between Islam & indigenous ways

The Swahili Coast of East Africa I. The Coastal Trading Ports Mogadishu Mombasa Malindi Kilwa Pate Zanzibar

The Swahili Coast of East Africa A. Madagascar Asian immigrants from Indonesia (Malaya) Bananas & coconuts introduced

The Swahili Coast of East Africa B. Urbanized Trading ports Trading towns shared the Bantu-based & Arabic influenced Swahili language Ibn Batuta impressed with towns Towns tied to each other via coastal commerce Trade with China Ivory, gold, slaves, & exotic animals exported from the Coast

The Swahili Coast of East Africa II. Mixture of Cultures on the Swahili CoaSt Islam facilitated long-distance commerce Provided religious bond and law Class-based – generally elite converted African culture remained strong Swahili language mixed Arabic words & was written in Arabic

Peoples of the Forest & Plains Many sub-Saharan African societies were preliterate & transmitted knowledge, skills, & traditions orally These civilizations made great strides in arts, buildings, & statecraft – urbanized settings without a writing system

Peoples of the Forest & Plains I Artists & Kings: Yoruba & Benin A. Nok culture Nigerian forests Agriculture Iron tools

Peoples of the Forests & Plains B. Yoruba (1200 CE) Kings & kinship City-states Urbanized agricultural Yoruba speaking (non-Bantu language) Ogboni – secret societies Religious & political leaders

Peoples of the Forests & Plains C. Ile-Ife Holy city of Yoruba Specialized in portrait heads Yoruba speaking

Peoples of the Forests & Plains D. Benin (14th century) Edo peoples City-state Eware the Great (oba aka ruler) Iguegha – artisean bronze casting Contact with Europeans

Peoples of the Forests & Plains II. Central African Kingdoms Bantu close to Cape Horn by 1200 Beyond influence of Islam Form states Kingship rather than kinship Kantanga Luba peoples Divine kingship Hereditary bureaucracy

Peoples of the Forests & Plains III. Kingdoms of Kongo & Mwene Mutapa A. Kongo Along lower Congo Agricultural Gender division of labor Mbanza Kongo – capital Hereditary kingship Federation of 8 States

Peoples of the Forests & Plains B. Mwene Mutapa (king) Shona-speaking people Zimbabwe (stone houses) that housed local rulers Great Zimbabwe – center of kingdom Control sources of gold – advantage in commerce By 16th century torn apart via rebellion and internal divisons