State Building in Africa Chapter 18 State Building in Africa

Kin-Based Societies Stateless, segmented societies No elaborate hierarchies, bureaucracies Average population of village: one hundred Ruled by elders (ruling council) Higher government authorities rare

Chiefdoms Population pressures after 1000 C.E. increase competition, disputes Small chiefdoms appear, overrule kin-based groups Small city-state kingdoms form

Chiefdom Example: Kingdom of Kongo Basin of the Congo (Zaire) river Conglomeration of several village alliances Most tightly centralized of early Bantu kingdoms Ruled fourteenth to seventeenth century, until undermined by Portuguese slave traders

Islamic Kingdoms and Empires Islam spreads to west Africa Intro of Arabian camel revolutionizes travel across Sahara – 70 to 90 days Trans-Saharan caravans

The Kingdom of Ghana Not related to modern State of Ghana Developed fourth to fifth century C.E. Center of African gold trade Imported from south to Ghana Also sold ivory, slaves

The kings of Ghana controlled the salt and gold trade between northern and western Africa. Rock salt Gold nuggets

Islam in West Africa Kings of Ghana convert, tenth century Positive impact on trade, relations with north Africa Synthesized Islam with local traditions

By the 8th century, there were large populations of Muslims throughout northern Africa. The Berbers of Northern Africa brought Arab scholars to teach at centers for Islamic learning in cities like Timbuktu.  . Timbuktu

Sundiata (r. 1230-1255) Empire of Mali extends over kingdom of Ghana Took greater advantage of trans-Saharan trade Nominally Muslim, but did not force conversions

Mansa Musa (r. 1312-1337) Grand-nephew of Sundiata Fervent Muslim Performed hajj in 1324-25 Constructed numerous mosques Supported Muslim scholars Empire declines after his rule, replaced by Songhay

In 1324, he made a pilgrimage to Mecca with up to 50,000 people. Map of Mali Mansa Musa In 1324, he made a pilgrimage to Mecca with up to 50,000 people. It is said that he traveled to Mecca with about 100 camels, each carrying 100 pounds of gold dust.

The Indian Ocean Trade and Islamic States in East Africa Migrating Bantu peoples populate East coast Agriculture, herding, metallurgy Swahili (“coasters”) engage in trade with Arabs Developed city-states

Swahili City-States

Zimbabwe “Dwelling of the chief” Stone complex called “Great Zimbabwe” built early thirteenth century C.E., capital Population 18,000 in late fifteenth century Managed trade between internal and coastal regions

The Stone Kingdom Great Zimbabwe National Park

African Society and Cultural Development Some kingdoms, empires, city-states with well- defined classes Ruling elites Merchant class Peasant class Other areas in sub-Saharan Africa continue to use traditional kin-based groups

Gender & Age Relations Men work with specialized skills Both genders work in agriculture Male rule more common, but some expanded roles for women Merchants, some military activity Islamic norms slow to penetrate African society Many societies group people into age grades Task according to development