Chapter Eight: African Civilizations and the Spread of Islam

May 9, 2014 AIM: How did the spread of Islam affect various African societies? DO NOW: get a laptop from the back and put your desks in a circle. 2

African Regions

Pre-Islamic Africa Extremely diverse societies developed Political unity was difficult because of terrain Bantu is primary language spoken Oral traditions; very few written records Most communities are preliterate (lacking writing system) Animistic and polytheistic religions common Majority of Africa, even after introduction of Islam, will remain in isolation Many who are exposed to Islam do not convert but remain practitioners of their indigenous religion

“Stateless” Societies Many small communities are politically organized in this way Authoritarian and centralized empires will exist, however. Lack concentration of power and authority Authority and power normally exercised by a ruler and court is held by a council or families or community Weakness of stateless societies No organization to collect taxes  no effective militaries No consensus  Difficult to resist external pressures No undertaking of large building projects Hard to create stability for long-distance trade Internal problems could be resolved by allowing dissidents to leave and establish new villages

African Economy Economies vary by region N. Africa integrated into the world economy via Islamic trade routes and Mediterranean Most participate in agriculture and ironworking Africans exchanged abundant raw materials for manufactured goods.

Influence of Islam in Africa 7 th century: Muslim armies moved west from Egypt across N. Africa Spreads Islamic influence; rapid conversions Traders and travelers brought Islam along pre-existing caravan routes. Berbers (people of the Sahara) begin to convert to Islam 11 th -12 th centuries: Almoravids and Almohads (reforming Muslim Berbers) from western Sahara grow in power Launch jihad (war to spread and protect faith) Almohads defeat Almoravids Almohad Caliphate: These groups are essential to penetration of Islam throughout Africa. Almoravids

Grasslands Kingdoms Sahel Grasslands: transition zone between Sahara Desert and savannahs to the south Point of exchange between North and Sub-Saharan Africa; important region of trade Grasslands Kingdoms = Sudanic States = Ghana, Mali, Songhai

Sudanic States Islam reinforced ideas of kingship and power: “royal cult” Joining Islam gives rulers prestige and associates them with other great Muslim leaders Majority of population never converted but retain their polytheism/animism Trade gold for salt from Berbers in North Africa Mali, Ghana and Songhai Combine Islamic religion/culture with local practices Each incorporates the previous kingdom; bigger than last

Ghana 4 th – 11 th c. 1 st great West African empire Rose to power by taxing salt and gold 10 th c: rulers convert to Islam while common people remain loyal to polytheism Reaches 11 th c. height Almoravid armies invaded Ghana in 1076

Mali Broke away from Ghana in 13 th c. Economy: agriculture and gold trade Traders spread beyond W Africa Very wealthy empire Islamized state in 13 th c. when rulers convert Founder: Sundiata (dies 1260) Credited with Malinke expansion and creation of unified state with each tribe having a representative at court Mansa Musa is successor Jenne and Timbuktu Major cities of commercial exchange Scholars, craft specialists, and foreign merchants Timbuktu was famous for its library and university

Mansa Musa 1324: Hajj to Mecca Aligns himself with elite Islamic rulers Brings back scholars, architects Inadvertently devastates economies he enters Indicates wealthy, sophisticated empires existed in Africa Estimated wealth: $400 billion

Songhai Independent from Mali in 1370s Prospered as a trading state and military power. Founded by Sunni Ali ( ) Great military leader; extended rule over the entire Niger River valley. Songhai remained dominant until defeated by Moroccans in 1591 for not being “Muslim enough”

Influence of Islam in Grasslands Kingdoms Islam provided universal faith and fixed law. Rulers reinforced authority through Muslim ideology. Many Sudanic societies were matrilineal and did not seclude women. Hesitancy over conversion to Islam since it restricts women more than these societies did Slavery and slave trade was prevalent from Muslim influence

Swahili Coast of East Africa Coasts enable East Africa to be connected to India Ocean trade Islamized trading ports along coast by 13 th c. Kilwa, Mogadishu, Mombasa: large city-state centers of Islam Ibn Battuta: Islamic scholar/writer who visits these cities Exported raw materials in return for Indian, Islamic and Chinese luxuries Swahili language (Bantu + Arabic) emerged in urbanized trading ports Rulers and merchants were often Muslim. Most of the population retained African beliefs and few converted to Islam Culture = Swahili as language and fused African and Islamic practices.

Central Africa Across central Africa, agrarian societies thrived and kingdoms developed Yoruba Non Bantu-speaking Highly urbanized agriculturalists Benin Forms in 14 th century under ruler/oba Ewuare the Great Ruled from the Niger River to the coast near Lagos Luba Divine kingship Hereditary bureaucracy

Central Africa without Islam Both develop free of Islamic contact Kongo Agricultural society, flourishes by 15 th Gender division of labor and family-based villages Largest site: Mbanza Kongo = 60, ,000 people Zimbabwe Great Zimbabwe, largest site Dominated gold sources and trade with coastal ports

Christianity in Africa Christian states are present in North Africa, Egypt, and Ethiopia before the arrival of Islam. Egyptian Christians, the Copts, had a rich and independent tradition (Coptic Christianity). The Nubians resisted Muslim incursions from 9 th until 13 th century. Ethiopia continues to retain Christianity. Christianity will come later to the rest of the continent with the presence of Europeans.

Global Connections Spread of Islam brought large areas of Africa into the global community through increasing contact from CE between Africa and Mediterranean and Asian civilizations. Sudanic states and East Africa However, most of Africa evolved in regions free of Islamic contact (Central + Southern Africa). Organized their lives in stateless societies. While no universal empires and religions develop in Africa, Christianity and Islam impact the region through political, economic, and cultural development.

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