1. African Societies: Diversity & Similarities

2. Introduction
The spread of Islam through much of the northern third of Africa resulted in more trade & commerce
State-building all over Africa
Mali
Songhay
Military power and dynastic alliances based on cultural unity
City-states & Merchant communities similar to Italy

3. Stateless Societies Organized around kinship
Lacking concentrated political power & authority
Power exercised by rulers or a council of families
No taxes
Some secret societies
Many thrived

4. Common Elements in African Societies
Bantu Migration – some mutual languages
A. Religion
Animistic religion
Belief in evil – produced witchcraft
Cosmology
Spirits & gods

6. B. Economics
Varied from region to region
Agriculture
Trade
Specialization
Kinship groups sometimes controlled trade

7. The Arrival of Islam to N. Africa
As part of the Roman & Greek Empires Christianity was main religion
Muhammad’s followers swept across N. Africa spreading Islam
Arab & Berber armies
Spread stopped by Martel & the Franks

8. Almoravids & Almohadis– puritanical reformist
Launched jihad
Islam promoted equality of believers
Social stratification continued
Uniting of powers of the state & religion appealed to African kings

10. Christian Kingdoms: Nubia & Ethiopia
Christianity first universal religion in Africa
Copts – Egyptian Christians
Allowed to keep faith by Muslims
Spread to Nubia
Axum Christians in Ethiopia
King Lalibela
Built Christian state