1. Africa’s Government and Religion
Today we are learning about the governments and religions that influenced life in medieval Africa

2. Government & Society
All citizens were allowed to come to a meeting w/ the king to voice complaints.
Kings
settled arguments
Managed trade
Protected the empire
Subjects
Had to obey the king completely

3. Ghana’s Government King Council of ministers (close advisors)
Lesser Kings – conquered leaders (governed provinces)
District Chiefs (governed smaller districts)
Each district had a Chief’s clan (group of people from the same ancestor)

4. Kings most important job – control trade
No one traded w/out his permission
Illegal to own a gold nugget
Only allowed to trade gold dust
???? Why not the son????
Royal blood lines were matrilineal (passed on by mother)
Throne inherited by nephew, not son

5. Mali’s Government Like Ghana’s but larger
More territory, people, trade
Royal officials – more responsibilities
Specialized- each was in charge of something dif.
Generals – oversaw the provinces divided by Sundiata
Trousers – Military honor
to wear sewn clothes

6. Songhai’s Government Modeled after Ghana & Mali
Sunni Ali – Divided empire into provinces
Never finished what he started
Died mysteriously in 1492
Muhammad Ture – general, took over
Loyal Muslim
Religion affected the government

7. Traditional African Religions
Located here
Olaudah Equiano – Igbo, disagreed with Europeans – he said they did believe in a higher power
Common Belief - in one supreme god
Communication
Nanti in E. Africa – talk directly to their god
Igbo – only be spoken to through less powerful gods
Helped people stay in touch w/ their history
Dead relatives spirits stayed in the community

8. 3 Major African Religions Today
Muslim
Christians
Traditional

9. Islam in Africa Ibn Battuta – Arab lawyer from Morocco
1325- goes to see the Muslim world
Islam had been spreading since 600s
Mansa Musa – ruler of Mali
1324- made pilgrimage to Makkah

10. Mansa Musa

11. Songhai and Askia Muhammad
Sunni Ali – declared himself a Muslim to keep support of townspeople, but practiced a traditional religion
Sunni’s son – refused
Muhammad Ture – general, took over the gov. when had support of Muslim’s townspeople
Took the name Askia Muhammad – Askia is a rank in the Songhai army
Honored Muslim laws
Made Timbuktu a center for Islamic culture

12. Islam in East Africa
Sultan of Mogadishu was honored by Ibn Battuta visiting
He spoke in both Arabic and Swahili
Swahili – “people of the coast”
The unique culture
The language spoken
Swahili – exist in East Africa today
Blend of African and Muslim influences
Europeans and Portuguese tried to destroy it
Swahili outlived European rule

13. Islam’s Impact Africans who accepted Islam adopted: Islamic laws
Ideas of right/wrong
Education
Arabic language
Art/Architecture