Africa And Geography

Islam  3 rd major monotheistic religion  5 noble tenants Faith Prayer Almsgiving Fasting Pilgrimage to Mecca  Sunnah (Sunnis) & Shia (Shi’ites) divided over successor of Muhammed

Origin of Sunnis & Shi’ites  Death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 CE led to question of who was to take over the leadership of the Muslim nation.  Sunni Muslims agree with the position taken by many of the Prophet's companions, that the new leader should be elected. Abu Bakr, became the first Caliph of the Islamic nation. The word "Sunni" in Arabic comes from a word meaning "one who follows the traditions of the Prophet.” Sunnis make up 90% of Muslims worldwide.

Origin of Sunnis & Shi’ites  Shia Muslims believe leadership should have stayed within the Prophet's own family, among those specifically appointed by him, or among Imams appointed by God Himself.  Leadership should have passed directly to his cousin/son-in-law, Ali.  Shia Muslims have not recognized the authority of elected Muslim leaders.  The word "Shia" in Arabic means a group or supportive party of people. The commonly-known term is shortened from the historical "Shia-t-Ali," or "the Party of Ali.”  Shiites make up 10% of Muslims worldwide.

Islam & North Africa and Egypt  Sunni religious leaders and Shi’ites (Shia) struggle for influence in Muslim religion  By the 13 th century Shi’ites were a minority in Muslim masses (still are today)  Feisty regionalism generally characterized states of Africa  No one kingdom controlled north African: except Morocco & Tunisia, which were both overseen by Ottoman Empire  Morocco ruled by a series of Muslim sharifs

 Another source for the spread of Islam was Egypt and Nilotic Sudan, its agents were mostly traders and immigrants seeking new land  In the year 985 West Africa royal court officially became Muslim  They did not convert their subjects but, maintained the indigenous customs  1030Berber “Almoravids” began a zealous conversion campaign and forcibly converted many Soninke ruling groups in Ghana and many others (at one time had a kingdom from N. Africa into Spain & Portugal)  However, many groups in Africa resisted Islamization like the Mossi kingdoms founded in 1050 in Wagadugu and 1170 in Yatenga Spread of Islam

Spread Of Islam to the South Sahara  Islamic influence started as early as 700’s as far south as Zimbabwe  Islam never penetrated commercial/ruling class but blended with indigenous rituals  Islamization brought many changes, such as technology and architecture  The spread of Islam was very different comparing the east to the west  In the East traders began to move along the coastline and “islamization” occurred  In the central/west Islam was spread through overland routes of traders along the Nile valley

Africa by the 1400s

Sahelian Empires of the Western And Central Sudan

Ghana  kingdom originated as the near end of C.E. but Ghana emerged as a region near the end of 900 and flourished for 2 centuries  Was a model empire then kingdom  Ghana’s central population group were the Soninke  Ghanaian rulers were matrilineally descended (the previous king’s sister) The king was said be semi-divine, he ruled with a council of ministers

Ghana  Economy: Ghana’s power rested on a solid economic base, gained by tribute and taxes on royal lands There were also duties levied on all incoming and outgoing trade Traded salt, cloth, metal goods such as copper and kola nuts from the south  Ghana also controlled the gold and slave trade that originated from Savannah  Although the king and court were not Muslim they made great accommodations for Muslim traders  Hierarchical  society slaves were lowest farmers and draftsmen above them, ad merchants above them, the king his court and the nobility on top  Ghana’s empire was probably destroyed by anti-Muslim Soso  Empire was subsumed by Almoravids; were vulnerable on desert side of empire