Today 10/18 & 10/21 Reading Quiz Reading Guide Brief lecture Group activity Objective: You will be able to explain how different religions spread throughout Africa

Interesting site for further reading Chapter 8

Common Themes: Classical Era Culture – Similar language base – Bantu Comes along with some shared cultural characteristics, but should not be interpreted as creating uniformity Religion - Similar early religious beliefs & practices Animism, as well as belief in a creator deity Ancestor worship Existence of magic and need to combat it (priest class) Similar to W. Europe Moral and legal foundation for society Economy - Familial agricultural society

Common Themes Post-Classical Religion - Influence of Major Religions Introduced through trade rather than missionary work Religious Divisions: North-Eastern Africa becomes Christian Ethiopia and Nubia Northern (Ifriqiya), Western (Maghrib), and South-Eastern (Zenj)Africa becomes Muslim Ghana – 10 th century Songhay – 11 th century Mali – 13 th century Syncretism Fusion of Islam with animistic/pagan traditions

Common Themes Post-Classical Politics Clan system dominates village life Eventually leads to unified states Islamic tradition of political/spiritual ruler (caliph) Rulers appeal to elements of both Islam and pagan traditions States v. Stateless societies Pros & cons? (taxation, mobilization, building)

Common Themes Post-Classical Economics Incredibly varied levels of economic sophistication/involvement North Africa – very involved Sub-Saharan – varies considerably Increase in slave trade after introduction of Islam Growing demand for slaves due to practice of freeing children of slaves

Common Themes Post-Classical Society Mixing of Arabic and African culture Development of Swahili (coastal language)  mix of Arabic and Bantu Upper classes influenced more than lower

Side Note We have talked about the Bantu These are a group of people who migrated throughout Africa. We can follow their process by following their language This is also one of the reasons there are so many languages in Africa today About 500 different languages Swahili is one of them Cultural diffusion We also see a spread of ideas and technology

Nubia and Ethiopia

Nubia and Ethiopia Nubia and Ethiopia Religion and the Spread of Islam Christian States The people were unhappy with Byzantine Christians and welcomed Islam Nubia resisted Muslim incursions until the 13 th century Ethiopia retained Christianity even with the increasing pressure from Muslims and a growing Muslim population Islam spread from here into Somalia

Nubia and Ethiopia Nubia and Ethiopia Politics, Culture and Famous People Fiercely Independent from their neighbors Egypt influenced art Grew out of the Axum Empire

Nubia and Ethiopia Nubia and Ethiopia Geography, Economics and Trade the region around the segment of the Nile River that lies in northern Sudan and southernmost Egypt Trade Ethiopia exported gold, ivory etc Nubia rich with gold and amethyst Agricultural

Ghana

Ghana Ghana Religion and the Spread of Islam The animism rulers converted to Islam Still maintained some of their old beliefs Much of the population did not convert to Islam

Ghana Ghana Politics, Culture and Famous People Patriarchal government Lead by a council of elders Power based on trade, wealth (gold), control of conquered areas Large heterogeneous population (small ethnic core) Point of contact between north, west, and sub-Saharan

Ghana Ghana Geography, Economics and Trade Slave trade Controlled trans-saharan trade routes Made the region VERY rich Traded: Gold and Salt Grasslands and forests

Mali

Mali Mali Religion and the Spread of Islam Muslim Empire Rulers supported Islam Built Mosques and encouraged prayer 5 pillars helped to keep order Islam spread throughout the area

Mali Mali Politics, Culture and Famous People Sundiata: Lion Prince expanded Mali and created Mali’s political structure Mansa Musa: Most famous of Sundiata Successors First Mali king to pilgrimage to Mecca Clear social divisions under Mansa Sundiata

Mali Mali Geography, Economics and Trade Agriculturally based Traded gold (Juula) Tradition of active trade Traded throughout the empire Spread its territory into Western Africa

Songhay

Songhay Songhay Religion and the Spread of Islam Created a unique brand of Islam A fusion of Islam and local spiritual beliefs Islam spread through merchants who joined the local community Intermarriage Rulers were generally Muslim but the population was generally not Muslims

Songhay Songhay Politics, Culture and Famous People Sunni Ali: ruthless, tactical commander who expanded the boarders Timbuktu Women mixed freely in society without veils

Songhay Songhay Geography, Economics and Trade Middle of Niger River Valley Gao became a large city for trade Got the gold from Western Africa Agriculturally based

Central African States

Central Africa Central Africa Religion and the Spread of Islam Mostly beyond the influence of Islam Kongo converted to Christianity

Central Africa Central Africa Politics, Culture and Famous People Political authority was based on Kingship not Kinship Divine familial rule Development of bureaucracy Art: weaving, pottery, blacksmithing Division of labor between men and women Centralized authority Council of states

Central Africa Central Africa Geography, Economics and Trade South of rain forest near Lake Victoria Sharp division of labor Agricultural Traded salt Source of gold

Swahili States

Swahili States Swahili States Religion and the Spread of Islam Almost all rulers and merchants were Muslims Islamicized trading cities developed as a result of contacts with trading partners from Arabia, Persia, India, and China Islam provided a universal set of ethics and beliefs that made their maritime contacts easier

Swahili States Swahili States Politics, Culture and Famous People Shared language Mosques were build Royal courts

Swahili States Swahili States Geography, Economics and Trade Heavily based on long-distance trade with India, Middle East, and the Mediterranean Became strong due to trade Swahili cities were important trading ports for trade with the Middle East and Far Fishing and farming