1. States and Societies of Sub-Saharan Africa
Chapter 18
States and Societies of Sub-Saharan Africa
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2. Announcements! Unit 3 Retests: Today with me! 
Work on Chapter 17 & 18 vocab!
Chapter 18 quiz (double daily) on Thursday

3. GEOGRAPHY OF AFRICA DESERT RAIN FORESTS MOUNTAINS
Africa’s geography is very diverse, containing mountain ranges, scorching deserts, rain forests, river valleys, open plains, and jungles

4. The Bottom Line:
The peoples of sub-Saharan Africa (and the Americas) faced more environmental challenges compared to the civilizations of Eurasia.
WHY??
Fewer crop varieties and more difficult agricultural conditions.
A large amount of tropical environment – and all the tropical difficulties and diseases.
North-South orientation of the continents makes the spread of people, crops, animals more difficult due to environmental/climate changes.
Fewer domesticated animals (especially in the Americas). This was a huge disadvantage. Why?

5. Regional developments in pre-modern Africa included:
The rise of West African kingdoms. They controlled trans-Saharan trade routes  African connection to Islamic world
Bantu Kingdoms developed in central and southern Africa
often transferred trade goods to Swahili Coast city-states.
Indian Ocean trade routes led to the growth of Swahili Coast city-states and ports.
The Swahili culture and language developed along the coast, mixing African and Arabic cultures and languages.
Woman of Burkina Faso

6. Bantu Migrations: 3000 BCE – 1000 Ce
Gradual migrations from central/west Africa southward
Spread of language family
Spread of agricultural techniques
Spread of Bantu culture and religious practices * *

7. Effects of Early African Migrations
Bantu-speaking peoples settle south of equator
By 1000: Most migrations were complete
societies built on foundation of what Bantu migrations established
Spread of agriculture, herding to all of Africa with Bantu migrations  displaced hunters & gatherers
By 500: mastered iron metallurgy
Had ability to build tools to help develop agriculture further
Results:
increased agricultural production
growing population
pressure for migration into new territories
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8. Bananas Bananas caused a surge in migration
Brief history of the banana:
Domesticated in Papua New Guinea (first to be manipulated); came to Africa via Indian Ocean trade routes
Malay seafarers colonized Madagascar, 300–500 C.E.
Introduced bananas, yams, taro, chickens, and southeast Asian cultural traditions
Provided a nutritious supplement to Bantu diets and enabled the expansion into heavily forested areas
High in calories, provides energy  could sustain slaves
Well-adapted to African climate
Food supply increased with this key crop
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9. Population Growth
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10. Post-Migration Societies
Bantu end expansion ~1000 C.E.; form increasingly complex forms of government
Stateless, segmented societies
No elaborate hierarchies, bureaucracies
Mostly ruled themselves through family & kinship groups
Average population of village: avg. 100 people
Ruling council = male heads of families
Patriarchy!!
Network of villages resolved disputes in ad hoc manner (Negotiations btw villages)
Higher government authorities rare—villages usually dealt with disputes themselves
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11. Early Cities: Jenne-jeno
Vibrant urban society located near the Niger River (modern-day Mali)
By 400 C.E., emerging as center of iron production and trade
Also had supplies of fish, rice & domesticated animals
Extensive trade network from north Africa/Mediterranean
By 8th century, principal commercial city & crossroads of west Africa
Decline with creation of W. African kingdoms/empires (10th century)
becomes inspiration of Timbuktu, other major cities
Is a current UNESCO World Heritage site (w/Great Mosque)
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12. Kin-Based SocietiesChiefdoms
More problems in kin-based societies after 1000 C.E.
Population growth strained resources, but little land available
Conflict between villages became more intense and more frequent
Small chiefdoms appeared, overruling kin-based groups
Ruled by chiefs who imposed their own rules/authority
Military organization—conquered lands
Small kingdoms formed (Ife, Benin)
Kin-based  chiefdoms  kingdoms
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13. Kingdoms, Empires, and City-States of Sub-Saharan Africa, 800–1500 C.E.
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14. Kingdom of Kongo Located @ Basin of the Congo (Zaire) River
Ruled from the 14th-17th centuries
Collection of several village alliances
Development supported by economic growth
Villages came together due to population pressures, conflict between small states (large groups > small groups!)
Participated actively in trade networks—copper, cloth, shells
Kingdoms were tightly centralized
Imperial rule: king and his officials who oversaw military, judicial, and financial affairs
Imperial rule provincial admins  district admins village chief
Portuguese slave traders undermine kings in 17th century, ending central government
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15. Kingdom of Kongo
Side note: the kin-based societies did not totally disappear but actually survived into the 19th century even though the kingdoms were more prominent (especially after 1000 C.E.)
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17. Islamic Kingdoms and Empires
While Bantu migrations happening in central & south Africa—spread of Islam to west Africa
Brought by merchants from north Africa & SW Asia
Spread to west Africa through Trans-Saharan camel caravans
Spread to coastal east Africa through maritime trade
Profound influence after eighth century
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18. Trans-Saharan Trade and Islamic States in West Africa
Drying out (desiccation) of Sahara, beginning ~5000 B.C.E.
Nomads continued to live in the desert w/light connections with other peoples & merchants
More trade in Mediterranean than in the desert
Introduction of Arabian camels revolutionized trade
70–90 days to cross Sahara & didn’t need AS much water
Camel + Camel Saddle = easier trade! (replaced donkeys)
Arabs introduced Islam, included Africa into trading communities
By 8th century: had contacts with West Africa
Example: Gao
Offered copper, ironware, salt among other items

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20. A West African kingdom, Ghana, amassed vast wealth by taxing merchants
WEST AFRICA: GHANA
The gold-salt trade led to increased wealth in West Africa and the formation of empires
A West African kingdom, Ghana, amassed vast wealth by taxing merchants
Ghana became an empire when it used that wealth to build a massive army and conquer neighboring people

21. By the year 800 CE, Ghana was the most powerful empire in West Africa
WEST AFRICA: GHANA
By the year 800 CE, Ghana was the most powerful empire in West Africa
Ghana’s kings were not merely rulers; they served as judges, religious leaders, and generals
Koumbi-Saleh = capital & principal trading site.
Financed large army through taxes.
Protected gold, maintained order, kept allies in line & defended Ghana against nomads

22. Islam in West Africa Conversion of Ghana kings by 10th century
What did it do?
Improved relations with Muslim merchants from N. Africa
Improved relations with nomads who crossed Sahara
Brought support from north African Muslim states
Didn’t impose Islam on subjects, and continued to observe traditional religious customs in addition to Islam
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23. Trading Kingdoms and Empires of West Africa
Ghana

24. WEST AFRICA: MALI
A kingdom neighboring Ghana, Mali, eventually overthrew Ghana and absorbed its territory into the new Mali Empire
Mali’s King Sundiata took over the Ghana Empire and controlled the major trade cities of West Africa

25. MALI

26. WEST AFRICA: MALI
The kings of Mali who ruled after Sundiata converted to Islam
The most important of these Muslim kings of Mali was Mansa Musa

27. WEST AFRICA: MALI
Mansa Musa built an army of 100,000 soldiers to control Mali’s gold trade and secure his empire
To easier manage his territory, he divided the Mali Empire into provinces, each controlled by a governor he appointed

28. MANSA MUSA’S INFLUENCE
Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim and went on a hajj to Mecca in 1324
Mansa Musa distributed an enormous amount of gold as charity during his hajj.

29. A European map of West Africa with a depiction of Mansa Musa– map made by Abraham Cresques, a Jewish mapmaker in Spain in 1375

30. Timbuktu

31. Timbuktu became a trade city that attracted scholars, religious leaders, and doctors
The city had a university and became an important center of learning in the world

32. More on Timbuktu…
Founded around 1100 C.E. as a camp for its proximity to the Niger River.
Caravans quickly began to haul salt from mines in the Sahara Desert to trade for gold and slaves brought along the river from the south.
By 1330, Timbuktu was part of the powerful Mali empire, which controlled the lucrative gold-salt trade routes in the region.
Two centuries later, Timbuktu reached its height under the Songhai (a.k.a. Songhay) empire, becoming a haven for Islamic scholars.

33. Mosque in Mali

34. Askia the Great
Songhai (Songhay)
Sunni Ali

35. After Mansa Musa’ reign was over, the Mali Empire began to decline
WEST AFRICA: SONGHAI
After Mansa Musa’ reign was over, the Mali Empire began to decline
Another neighboring kingdom, the Songhai, eventually took over Mali and formed the Songhai Empire

36. The Songhai grew into the largest of the West African empires
WEST AFRICA: SONGHAI
Songhai kings gained control of the major trade cities along the highly valuable gold-salt trade routes
The Songhai grew into the largest of the West African empires
The fall of the Songhai Empire in 1591 CE ended a thousand year era of West African Empires

37. Indian Ocean Trade and Islamic States in East Africa
East African coastal trade weak until second century, when Bantu peoples populated much of East Africa
Introduced agriculture, cattle herding, iron metallurgy
Coast “dwellers” = Swahili, engaged in trade w/Arabs
Swahili: increased trade with Islamic merchants in interior E. Africa by 10th century
Gold, slaves, ivory in exchange for pottery, glass from Silk Roads (China, Persia, India)
Wealth to port cities on coast by 11th & 12th centuries
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38. East African Swahili City-States 800-1505 CE
Beginning in the 8th century CE Arab Muslim traders began to settle in ports along the East African Coast.
The result was a string of City-State trading ports.
Some people and traders of Mogadishu, Mombasa, Zanzibar and Kilwa grew quite wealthy from trade with India, China and West Africa.
Indian Ocean trade financed city-states on coast; kingdoms in interior
(example of wealth: buildings of mud & dried wood  coral  stone)

39. Southern Africa: Great Zimbabwe 1350-1450 CE
Zimbabwe was one of the major kingdoms in southern Africa
although located far inland, it prospered from trade with Muslim merchants on the coast of the Indian Ocean

40. East Africa, Continued…
By 1200 East African trading cities had become thriving city-states by taxing the import/export business associated with Indian Ocean trade.
Kilwa, an East African port, developed a monopoly on the gold trade.
Malindi, Mombasa, Mogadishu, and Sofala were other thriving port cities.
Iron ore mined in East Africa was shipped to the Arabian peninsula and South Asia.
The Island of Zanzibar also became a trade center.
As a result of trade, East Africa became multicultural, Islam spread
Islamic and African traditions and beliefs BLENDED; African traditions used for cultural leadership in societies
Benefits of Islam
Allowed for close cooperation with Muslim merchants
Allowed for political legitimacy & political alliances w/Muslim rulers

41. Indian Ocean Trade
Indian Ocean trade system stretched from East African coast to Middle East, India, and Indonesia (Spice Islands) and included ivory, gold, and slaves from Africa traded to the Islamic empires of the Middle East to be used as soldiers, servants and laborers.
Spices, silk, and other Asian goods were traded back to Africa and the Middle East in exchange for their goods.

42. Islam in East Africa
Ruling elites in east Africa accepted Islam without forcing general population to convert
Often retained pagan religious traditions and practices for cultural purposes
Islam served as social glue with other merchants, states
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43. AFRiCan Society and Cultural Development
Kingdoms, empires & city-states—complex societies developed w/defined social classes
Ruling elites, admins, religious authorities
Merchant class: artisans, business entrepreneurs
Peasant class
Slaves
**resembled agricultural lands of Eurasia
Different social structures in small states & kin-based societies
Defined by age, gender, family/kinship group
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44. Sex and Gender Relations
Men worked with specialized skills
Tanning, iron work
Heavy labor
Both sexes worked in agriculture
Male rule more common, but some expanded roles for women
Merchants, some military activity
Islamic norms slow to penetrate African society
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45. Age Grades From early agricultural period, Sudan
Peer groups of single age cohort
Crossed lines of family and kinship
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46. Slavery Practiced since ancient times Most slaves captives of war
Debtors
Suspected witches
Criminals
Used principally in agricultural labor
Slaves a form of personal wealth, social status
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47. Slave Trading
Slave trade stimulated by increased trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean trade, ninth century C.E.
Africa replaced eastern Europe as principal source of slaves
Slave raiding became increasingly prominent
More powerful states attacked smaller kinship-based groups
10,000–20,000 slaves per year
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48. The Zanj Revolt
Slaves from Swahili coast exported to work in Mesopotamia
Sugarcane plantations
Salt deposits
869 C.E., revolt of 15,000 slaves mounted by slave Ali bin Muhammad
Capture of Basra
Later crushed by Abbasids
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49. African Religion Great diversity of religious belief
Common element: single male creator god
Lesser deities associated with natural phenomena
Ancestor worship
Diviners
Religious specialists, principally men
Oracle reading, spells, other rituals
Limited emphasis on theology
Morality, balance of nature important
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50. Early Christianity in North Africa
First century: popular in Egypt, north Africa
Initially weak in sub-Saharan Africa
Christian Kingdom of Axum, fourth century C.E.
Ethiopia
Merchants, then kings convert
Bible translated into Ethiopian
Isolated during Islamic period; renaissance during twelfth century C.E.
Massive churches carved out of solid rock
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51. Ethiopian Christianity
Isolation from other Christian areas until sixteenth century
Independent development
Strong African influence
Spirit world
Amulets
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52. African Islam Like Christianity, reflected interests of local converts
Place made for inherited traditions and beliefs
Accommodation of African notions of relations between sexes
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53. CONCLUSIONS
Pre-Modern African societies were transformed by powerful forces:
Bantu Migrations
Trade with outsiders
Introduction of Islam