Early Civilizations and Medieval Societies Africa Early Civilizations and Medieval Societies

Early Civilizations of Africa Geography- savannas (grassy plains), cataracts (waterfalls) Trade- salt, gold, iron and copper were major commodities. Camels became important. Why would camels be essential to trading in Africa? Nubia- kingdom along the upper Nile (present day Sudan) North Africa- Phoenicians build Carthage, Rome rules North Africa, Islam Spreads

Kingdoms of West Africa Ghana: The Land of Gold. Actually in present day Mali. Capital at Kumbi Saleh. Strong Muslim influence. Kingdom of Mali “where the king dwells”- swallowed up Ghana. Mansa Musa- greatest ruler, converted to Islam, but ensured religious tolerance Mansa Musa’s hajj in 1324- established new ties to the Middle East Built Islamic university at Timbuktu

Empire of Songhai Located in present day Mali and Niger Took over kingdom of Mali Capital was Gao Empire also tied to Middle East through Hajj Eventually overtaken my the Moroccans

Smaller Societies of West Africa Kingdom of Benin Located in the rain forest Kings called oba Capital at Benin City Famous for their bronze works of art City-States of the Hausa Walled cities for protection Hausa goods were sold in North Africa and southern Europe Islam was very influential Many women rulers

Kingdoms and Trading States of East Africa

Axum Located in present day Ethiopia and Eritrea Language called Geez Great location for trading Christianity becomes the official religion in the 300s Kingdom declined as Islam gained a foothold in the region…. Why?

Ethiopia Ethiopia is a Greek term Isolated geographically and religiously King Lalibela and his churches Christian services still conducted in the ancient Geez language Sizeable amount of Jews also in Ethiopia

Great Zimbabwe Zimbabwe means “stone houses” Reached its height around 1300 Not much is known about its government Trading heavily with the Middle East, India, and China

Societies in Medieval Africa Common Elements: Family, Government, Religion, and Art Family Patterns Nuclear family Extended family Patrilineal Matrilineal Lineage- groups of households who claimed a common ancestor Age grade

Political Patterns Power usually shared in smaller medieval African communities Women took leadership roles in some places (West Africa) Decisions made by consensus Old equals wise and respected Kingdom of the Kongo 1500 Many villages were grouped into districts and governed by an appointed official Money paid to king in goods or cowrie shells No standing army King chosen by a group of electors

Religious Beliefs Polytheistic with a belief in a supreme being that was above lesser gods and goddesses Ancestor worship- turned to ancestors for advice and guidance Christianity and Islam were widespread by 1000 Absorbed local practices Associated Muslim or Christian god with “supreme being”

Art and Literature Art usually served a social and religious purpose Pyramids in Egypt and Nubia, rock churches in Ethiopia, rock paintings Ancient Egypt, Nubia, and Axum left written records Artists worked with gold, ivory, wood, bronze, cloth Masks used to feel the spiritual force that the mask represented Patterns usually had special meaning i.e. royalty or family clan Arabic was a common written language Oral traditions Griots- professional storytellers