1. African Civilizations and the Spread of Islam
Mrs. Mills
African Civilizations and the Spread of Islam

2. Diversity and Similarities
Differences in geography, language, religion, politics, and other aspects of life contributed to Africa’s lack of political unity over long periods of time

3. Stateless Socities
Many African societies were organized around kinship or other forms of obligation, but did not have a concentration of political power or authority
May have some form of governing body but typically held by a family or group of families and it was not a full time occupation

4. Weaknesses of stateless societies
Throughout Africa many stateless societies thrived-mainly because if there was an internal dispute, people could leave and establish themselves elsewhere in the sparsely populated lands of Africa
Weaknesses: resisting outside pressures, mobilizing for warfare, organizing large building projects, creating stable conditions for long distance trade

5. Common Elements in African Society
Bantu language- not everywhere, but in many places across Africa
Belief in natural forces personified by gods- example: spirit of wind, god of sun
Rituals and worship- dancing, drumming, sacrifice
Cosmology- a view of how the universe worked and a guide to ethics and behavior
Ancestry: deceased family often considered direct link between living and spirit world

6. Differences in Economy
North Africa: clearly involved in the Mediterranean and Arab economic world, so influenced by these places
Sub Saharan Africa: not influenced as greatly by these places- settled agriculture and ironwork dominates
Lively markets with regional and local trade
International trade not as common, but starts to grow

8. Islam in North Africa
North Africa had played a major role prominent early civilizations with Phoenicians, relations with Greece and Rome, etc.
By 670 CE- Muslims rules Tunisia, or Ifriqiya, what Romans called Africa
During Abbasid Dynasty Islam spread quickly throughout Northern Africa
Berbers, people of the desert who resisted Arab rule but not Islam necessarily
Almohadis- reformist group on the course of a jihad- a holy war waged to protect, purify, spread faith

9. Christian Kingdoms Christian converts in Africa before 4th century
Christians in Ethiopia and Egypt
Christians of Egypt known as Copts
Nubia= ancient land of Kush that also had heavy Christian influence
Ethiopian Kingdom that grew from Axum was the most important African outpost- fiercely independent because it was surrounded by pagan neighbors, so it turned inward and remained very Christian and very independent

10. Trading among African states and cultures
Introduction of using camels for trade came between 1st and 5th centuries
However, camels could not live in humid forest zones because of disease and therefore popular trade point became known as the sahel.
Sahel-extensive grassland belt at southern edge of Sahara became point of exchange between the forests to the south and North Africa
This trade route allows Ghana to rise to power between 3rd and 10th centuries

11. Sudanic States States of the Sudan Patriarchy
Conquest states: drew on taxes and military support of subordinate areas they controlled
Ghana, Mali, Songhay
Rulers of these states considered sacred
Most rulers convert to Islam even though many of their subjects do not

13. The Empire of Mali and Sundiata
Created by a group of people (Malinke) who in 13th century broke away from control of Ghana
In Mali, Old forms of “kingship” reinforced by Islam
Rulers are Islamic and rituals/prayers reinforce their power and support of their rule
Agricultural
Traded heavily throughout west Africa
Malinke expansion attributed to Sundiata (Sunjata) whose stories were celebrated by griots (professional oral historians)
Sundiata also known as the “Lion Prince”

14. Task: Investigating Primary Source Documents
You will be responsible for reading and analyzing specific documents pertaining to this material.
Document One: “The Great Oral Tradition and the Epic of Sundiata”
Document Two: Leo Africanus, History and Description of Africa

15. Document Directions
You will work in pairs to analyze your assigned document on the rise and spread of Islam.
Complete your SOAPS handout and answer the analysis questions.
You will then create a poster presentation on your document to the class. Be sure to summarize it and analyze the POV.

16. Presentation Directions
During each presentation, take notes on the document.
Once the presentations are over, you and your partner must develop a DBQ prompt that would encompass these documents.