1. Quaestio: Is oral tradition a trustworthy source of history
Quaestio: Is oral tradition a trustworthy source of history? Nunc Agenda: Work as a group to read Keepers of History in order to discuss the question at the bottom

2. Islam in North Africa
Islam spread across North Africa during the Umayyad expansion in the 7th and 8th centuries
The mostly nomadic Berbers of the Sahara quickly embraced Islam and created several states of their own over the following centuries
Through the Gold-Salt trade, the Berbers introduced Islam to West Africa

4. West African Societies
Many Sub-Saharan societies practiced African Folk Religions (local religious traditions and customs) which were usually animistic (focused on spirits, nature, and ancestors)
When Islam reached West Africa, it often blended with and adjusted to local beliefs, known as religious syncretism... for example:
Continued to believe in and even worship nature spirits, now called Jinns (Arabic word for demonic spirits)
Gender and clothing norms of Islamic society loosely enforced in West Africa

7. Islam in the Gold Kingdoms
During the Ghana Empire, the rulers adopted Islam, but only a few of the people
During the Mali Empire, Mansa Musa went for Hajj, and brought back scholars to Timbuktu to help better educate people on orthodox Islam, and more people converted, though there were still many pre- Islamic practices
During the Songhai Empire, Islam became the main religion of the government and the people, with syncretism decreasing

8. Mansa Musa-
King of Mali
Richest Man
In History

9. Mansa Musa
Went on Hajj to Mecca

10. Sundiata

11. Timbuktu- Capital of Mali, center of trade and learning

13. TRADE!

14. Rulers of Songhai
Askia Muhammad
Sonni Ali

15. Griots: Keepers of History
Oral tradition, passing down stories of the past generation to generation, has existed for much longer than written history and is still used today in many societies
In West Africa, storytellers called Griots (Djeli in the local language) sing the history of their ancestors, and pass down the traditions from father to son, playing a string instrument called the Kora

16. Griots: Keepers of History
While Western historians once rejected Griots as a source of history, considering it nothing but legend, they are now much more open to learning from them
The most famous story is that of Sundiata, the founder of the Kingdom of Mali

17. Sundiata- Founder of Mali

18. Sundiata Epic of Mali
As a group of four, review the questions, and then work together to recite the story of Sundiata aloud. As you read, annotate information that might help you answer the questions, and feel free to pause to discuss and write responses. You will be assessed based on the group collaboration component of the class work rubric

19. Who was Ibn Battuta?

20. Who was Ibn Battuta?

21. Who was Ibn Battuta?

22. Who was Ibn Battuta?

23. Ibn Battuta: World Traveler
Ibn Battuta was Berber Muslim traveler and scholar from Tangier, Morocco in North Africa
He traveled farther than Marco Polo, setting out for Hajj in 1325 at age 21 and continuing to journey throughout Asia, Europe, and Africa
He received education in Egypt, served as a judge in India, an ambassador in Mongol China, escaped the spread of the plague, and even spent time in the kingdom of Mali
He recorded the stories of his travels in the Rihla, which helps us today to learn about a wide variety of regions during the Post-Classical period
The full title was “A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling”
His perspective was from an outsider’s point of view