1. Civilization and Empire
Sub-Saharan Africa

2. Early African Development
Bantu were a language group from west Africa
used iron tools to clear lands and cultivate crops
grew yams, millet, and sorghum
increasing food supply
population growth strained
resources causing migration
spread language, culture, knowledge
Indian Ocean merchants brought Asian bananas
politically organized in kin-based societies without formal boundaries

4. Trans-Saharan Trade regular crossings by few nomads and merchants
Arabs brought camels from Asia in 7th century BC
conquest encouraged trade
trade products: ivory, slaves, gold, horses, salt
known as the gold-salt trade for most important products

5. Indian Ocean Trade wealth from this trade financed coastal city-states
developed unique language and culture, mixing Bantu and Arabic traditions (Swahili=coasters)
traded for pottery, glass, textiles
from Persia, India, China
cities: Mogadishu, Malindi, Mombasa,
Zanzibar, Kilwa, Mozambique
Great Zimbabwe was a kingdom that controlled trade between interior and coast accumulating great wealth in their large stone complex

7. Islamic States
Islam brought by merchants to West Africa (Niger Valley)
Ghana well developed before Islam, but increased trade with new influx of people
kings used wealth (gold from the south) to strengthen their realms while taxes financed armies
kings converted to Islam, but did not force the people

8. Islamic States Mali became important after Ghana collapsed
ruled by “lion prince”, Sundiata (r )
market cities: Timbuktu, Gao, and Djenne
Mansa Musa made pilgrimage to Mecca spreading gold
established mosques and schools
Mali fell to the Songhai empire in 1400s, but Islam survived

9. Islamic States
Songhai became largest empire in African history with centralized government and trade systems
most important ruler was Sunni Ali
empire declined and was taken over by Morocco in the early 1600s.

11. Society Social Classes
in kinship, gender, and age determined position and age sets did appropriate jobs
no concept of land as private property to influence position
Early Slave Trade
demand was high and
outstripped slave trade of the Mediterranean
about 10,000,000 sold to Islamic world and laid foundation for Atlantic slave trade

13. Culture Traditional African Religion emphasized morality and ethics
recognized a divine, creator force with lesser gods associated with nature
Monotheism in Africa
Christianity arrived in Egypt in 1st century C.E. with Alexandria as an early center
included interest in African life
(ex. Rock Churches at Lalibela)
Islam won converts due in part to
economic benefits and trade
built mosques, schools, went on hajj
Religion in Africa became syncretic