1. State Building in Africa
Chapter 18
State Building in Africa

2. Kin-Based Societies Stateless, segmented societies
No elaborate hierarchies, bureaucracies
Average population of village:
one hundred
Ruled by elders (ruling council)
Higher government authorities rare

3. Chiefdoms
Population pressures after 1000 C.E. increase competition, disputes
Small chiefdoms appear, overrule kin-based groups
Small city-state kingdoms form

4. Chiefdom Example: Kingdom of Kongo
Basin of the Congo (Zaire) river
Conglomeration of several village alliances
Most tightly centralized of early Bantu kingdoms
Ruled fourteenth to seventeenth century, until undermined by Portuguese slave traders

5. Islamic Kingdoms and Empires
Islam spreads to west Africa
Intro of Arabian camel revolutionizes travel across Sahara – 70 to 90 days
Trans-Saharan caravans

6. The Kingdom of Ghana Not related to modern State of Ghana
Developed fourth to fifth century C.E.
Center of African gold trade
Imported from south to Ghana
Also sold ivory, slaves

7. The kings of Ghana controlled the salt and gold trade between northern and western Africa.
Rock salt
Gold nuggets

8. Islam in West Africa Kings of Ghana convert, tenth century
Positive impact on trade, relations with north Africa
Synthesized Islam with local traditions

9. By the 8th century, there were large populations of Muslims throughout northern Africa.
The Berbers of Northern Africa brought Arab scholars to teach at centers for Islamic learning in cities like Timbuktu.  .
Timbuktu

10. Sundiata (r. 1230-1255) Empire of Mali extends over kingdom of Ghana
Took greater advantage of trans-Saharan trade
Nominally Muslim, but did not force conversions

11. Mansa Musa (r. 1312-1337) Grand-nephew of Sundiata Fervent Muslim
Performed hajj in
Constructed numerous mosques
Supported Muslim scholars
Empire declines after his rule, replaced by Songhay

12. In 1324, he made a pilgrimage to Mecca with up to 50,000 people.
Map of Mali
Mansa Musa
In 1324, he made a pilgrimage to Mecca with up to 50,000 people.
It is said that he traveled to Mecca with about 100 camels, each carrying 100 pounds of gold dust.

13. The Indian Ocean Trade and Islamic States in East Africa
Migrating Bantu peoples populate East coast
Agriculture, herding, metallurgy
Swahili (“coasters”) engage in trade with Arabs
Developed city-states

14. Swahili City-States

15. Zimbabwe “Dwelling of the chief”
Stone complex called “Great Zimbabwe” built early thirteenth century C.E., capital
Population 18,000 in late fifteenth century
Managed trade between internal and coastal regions

16. The Stone Kingdom Great Zimbabwe National Park

17. African Society and Cultural Development
Some kingdoms, empires, city-states with well- defined classes
Ruling elites
Merchant class
Peasant class
Other areas in sub-Saharan Africa continue to use traditional kin-based groups

18. Gender & Age Relations Men work with specialized skills
Both genders work in agriculture
Male rule more common, but some expanded roles for women
Merchants, some military activity
Islamic norms slow to penetrate African society
Many societies group people into age grades
Task according to development