1. Kingdoms of Africa

2. Introduction
Anthropologists believe humanity first arose in East Africa
In ancient times, the rise of Egyptian civilization affected African cultures along the upper Nile
Kush – an early iron-producing center, grew rich from selling iron products, ivory, ebony, wood, and slaves. (It had once been a part of Egypt called Nubia)
Axum – Located in Ethiopia. Its rise caused the decline of Kush. King Ezana made Christianity the official religion (330 A.D.). Axum dominated trade in slaves and ivory.

3. Gold-Salt Trade Sahara was never completely cut off from Eurasia
Muslim merchants crossed the Sahara because of gold and other riches in West Africa
West Africa lacked salt – vital to human survival
Merchants picked up large blocks of salt on their journey and exchanged them for gold
A thriving trade developed, based on gold-salt trade
Ideas were exchanged, such as Islamic beliefs

4. Kingdom of Ghana –
Kingdom of Ghana

5. Ghana
Made iron swords, spears, and lances to subdue neighboring peoples and to gain control over West Africa’s major trade routes
Caravans brought salt south to Ghana and returned north with gold
Power of kings of Ghana rested on their ability to tax all trade passing through the region, especially the gold-salt trade
Rulers and nobles were further enriched by using captives of war as slaves
1076 they were invaded by Muslims from North Africa
Muslims brought Islam to West Africa

6. Mali Conquers Ghana’s Capital
In 1240, the people of Mali, under their leader, Sundiata Keita, conquered the old capital of Ghana and established a new empire.

7. Kingdom of Mali –
Timbuktu
Kingdom of Mali

8. Rulers brought both gold and salt mines under their direct control
Rulers converted to Islam, although most people did not
Mansa Musa – expanded kingdom greatly
Made a religious pilgrimage to Mecca
Brought Muslim scholars and architects back to Mali with him
Muslim scholarship flourished
Timbuktu became an important center of several important universities and attracted student from Europe, Asia, and Africa

9. Ibn Battuta –
Arab traveler that wrote about Mansa Musa and his respect for law and the power of its ruler
Because of his extensive travels and his records historians know a lot about this time period in Africa and the Middle East
He was like the Marco Polo of the Muslims

10. Timbuktu Famous trading city
Became an important center of several important universities
Attracted students from Europe, Asia, and Africa
Flourished as a center of Muslim scholarship
Also famous for the Sankore mosque

11. Sultan Sunni Ali
In 1464, Sultan Sunni Ali, captured Timbuktu, brought the upper Niger under his control, and created the larges of West Africa’s three trading kingdoms.

12. Kingdom of Songhai –
Kingdom of Songhai

13. Grew rich from trade across Sahara Desert (salt and gold)
Divided into provinces
Created a navy and soldiers on horseback (cavalry)
expanded its trading networks as far as Europe and Asia
Continued to flourish as a
center of Muslim scholarship
and many subjects were
Muslim

14. Kingdom of Benin
Became famous for their copper and bronze sculptures, which were among the finest of all African artwork
Became involved with the slave trade

15. Kingdom of Benin
Kingdom of Benin

16. The Great Zimbabwe
One of the best known trading kingdoms of South Africa
Great deposits of gold
Traded gold, copper, and ivory from Africa’s interior with Muslim traders along Africa’s east coast
Towers of the Great Zimbabwe

17. Other Important Info Bantu Migrations East African Trading Centers
Communities of peoples who lived on subsistence farming and spoke a common language (Bantu)
Lived throughout West, Central, and southeast Africa
East African Trading Centers
Muslims from the Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf settled at ports along the east coast
Merchants grew wealthy from trade here
Eventually, gave rise to mixed African-Arabian culture known as Swahili

18. Zimbabwe, Trading Cities, and Migrations.
Mogadishu
Mombasa
Kilwa
Zimbabwe

19. African Society
In many African societies, lineage was traced through the mother (matrilineal).
Boys and girls were often separated from the community and underwent special ceremonies at puberty.
Marriages were arranged by families and grooms paid a dowry to the bride’s family.
Under Islam, women were limited to running the household while husbands represented the family outside it.
Slavery
Berber groups in N Africa regularly raided villages south of the Sahara for captives, but slavery was also common further south and along the east coast
Included prisoners of war, debtors, and some criminals
Slaves worked on farmlands, were soldiers, or were domestic servants