North and Central African Societies Chapter 15 Section 1

Key Terms Lineage Stateless societies Patrilineal Matrilineal Maghrib Almoravids Almohads

Hunting and Gathering Societies Oldest form of social organization Still exists in Africa today Speak own language and have their own techniques Scholars can get clues from the past

Forest Dwellers Efe- several hunting gathering societies in Africa Ituri Forest in the DRC Small groups 10 to 100 All related Nomadic people

Forest Dwellers Women are gatherers Search for roots, yams, mushrooms, wild seeds Men and boys are the hunters Small antelope Trade for honey, wild game and crops from nearby villages

Social Structure Respected older male is the leader Does not give orders or act as a chief Each family free to come and go Settle arguments with discussion Life not governed by formal laws

Stateless Societies African societies and families organized by lineage Lineage –members of certain groups Stateless societies-do not have a centralized power, balanced by lineage equally

Stateless Societies Igbo- from Nigeria formed in the 9th century and lasted till the 19th century Europeans expect to deal with one leader not a whole village

Tracing Family Descent Patrilineal- society that traces its ancestors through their fathers Inheritance passed father to son Married son stay with father’s family Matrilineal- trace ancestry through the mother Men still hold power Inheritance from the mother’s family

Age Set System Ties outside of lineage Young people within a region Born during a certain time Each set passes through stages (warrior or elder) Men and women each have their own duties

Muslim States Islam vital role in North Africa Converted by conquest Maghrib- North Africa, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco Government based on Islamic law Relied on religious scholars

Islamic Law Religious obligation Regulates almost all areas of life Have ethnic and cultural differences States have differing interpretations Berbers-mountain dwellers

Almoravid Reformers 11th century Lived in western Sahara After a pilgrimage convinced Abd Allah to return and teach Islam Almoravid- strict religious brotherhood Ribat- fortified monastery

Almoravid Reformers Almoravids took Morocco Founded Marakech 1076 overran Ghana Captured southern Spain (called Moors)

Almohads Take over Mid 1100’s Seized power from Almoravids Began in Atlas Mountains Teachings of Ibn Tumart Tumart criticized Almoravids Obey strict teachings of the Qur’ an

Almohads Take Over 1148 Almohads control Morocco Keep Marakech as the capitol Africa from Tripoli to Tunis Almohad broke into several individual Muslim dynasties United Magrib under one ruler