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African Civilization and the Spread of Islam 100 C.E-1500 C.E
DB & LS African Civilization and the Spread of Islam 100 C.E-1500 C.E
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African society: Diversity and similarities
Stateless Societies Organized around kinship Lacking political power Forms of government Authority held by a council of families or community No taxation for population Little authority Secret societies- men and women controlled customs and beliefs Able to limit ruler’s authority External pressure
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Common elements in African societies
Bantu language spread Allowed mutual understanding between neighboring Bontu speakers Religion- belief in power of natural forces personified as spirits of gods (animistic) Specialists/priests- eliminated witches and protected the community Provided cosmology- view of how the universe worked, ethnics and behavior Family, lineage, or clan was important in dealing with gods Agriculture – skilled ironwork, Active, local or regional trade Market life was important Professional merchants Controlled trade
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The Arrival of Islam in North Africa
Between C.E. Followers of Muhammad came to north Africa from Morocco 670 C.E.,- Muslims ruled Ifriqiya (Tunisia) 732 C.E- Muslim advanced halted- established land in north Africa Conversion happened rapidly Certain political unity provided by Abbasid Dynasty Islam offered many attractions within Africa All Muslims are equal acceptance of conquerors and new rulers easier United state and religion in person of ruler appealed to some African kings Egalitarian and utopian ideas Social Stratification remained important
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The Christian Kingdoms: Nubia and Ethiopia
Religion Christian converts in Ethiopia and Egypt before Islam was in 4th century C.E. Christian communities thrived in Egypt and Nubia Christians of Copt and Egypt- translated the gospel and other religious lit. from Greek to Catholic Cuptik spread into Nubia Christians turned inward Occupied Ethiopian highlands, lived in fortified towns King Lalibela- 11 great churches
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13th century church, Bet Giorgis
represents power of early Christianity in Ethiopia
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13th and 14th century- Ethiopian Christian states emerged under original biblical marriage of Solomon Ge’ez language (religious) Amharic (common speech) Struggle between Christians in Ethiopia and Muslims people in Somalia and Red Sea coast Muslim States threatened with help of Turks, Portuguese expedition arrived in 1542 at Massawa Favor of Christians Tried to bring Ethiopian Christianity into the Roman Catholic church failed Ethiopia remained isolated, Christian, fiercely independent
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Kingdoms of the grasslands
Empire of Western Sudan
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Sudanic States Patriarch or council of elders as leaders
Territorial core area- same linguistics or ethnic background Conquest states- drew on taxes, tribute and military support Rulers of states considered sacred Islam became something of a royal cult
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The empire of Mali and Sundiata, the “Lion Prince”
Empire of Mali- creation of the Malinke people Broke away from control of Ghana in 13th century Old forms of kinship were enforced by Islam Rulers supported Islam by: Building mosques, attending public prayers , and supporting preachers Economic: agriculture Trade Like Ghana- gold producing areas Malinke expansion is attributed to Sundiata- a brilliant leader whose exploits were celebrated in oral tradition Fought to create a unified state Became the mansa, or emperor (said that he divided up the world)- originator of social arrangements
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Ibn Batuta Arab traveler
Made sure that the security of travelers and their goods was an essential element in a state where commerce played an important role Sundiata died in 1260 Successors expanded the borders of Mali until it controlled most of Niger valley Sumptuous court was established Housed large number of traders
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Mansa Kankan Musa (Musa I of Mali)
Famous African King Went on Hajj to Mecca in 1324 Procession included 60,000 men, 12,000 slaves, heralds, 80 camels Brought 48,000lbs of solid gold and 4,000-24,000lbs of gold dust Gave gold to poor people, cities, and traded it for souvenirs Built a mosque every Friday Ruled country of Mali, capital was Timbuktu Brought to Mali Ishal al-Sahili Sudanic architecture
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Great mosque of Jenne
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City Dwellers and Villagers
Cities of western Sudan Towns were commercial Craft specialties Resident foreign merchant community Military expansion of states such as Ghana, Mali and later Songhay contributed to commercial success Cities such as Jenne and Timbaktu flourished due to commercial exchange Timbaktu- population of 50,000 Sankore mosque- contained a library and an associated university where scholars, jurists, and Muslim theologians studied Most life in Sudan and Mali was centered on the royal court Soils of the savanna were shallow and sandy Polygamy was common Man with 2 wives and unmarried sons could work more land than a man with 1 wife
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The Songhay Kingdom Dominated the middle area of the Niger valley
“masters of the soil” Herders, farmers, fishers 7th century was considered an independent kingdom 1010 C.E., capital was at Gao Rulers had become Muslims Sunni Ali ( )- under him the empire of Songhay was forged Tactical commander Ruthless leader Expanded borders and seized Timbaktu and Jenne Developed system of provincial administration to mobilize recruits for army Muhammad the Great- extended boundaries of the empire which by mid-16th century dominated Sudan Worship of Muslim and Pagan worship continued Clerics wanted to impose a strict interpretation of the law of Islam 1591 C.E.- Muslim army from Morocco defeated the large forces of Songhay
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Sunni Ali
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Political and Social Life in the Sudanic States
Larger states represented political aims and power of a particular group, often dominant family Common religion and law provided trust Literate Muslim advisors and scribes aided in government administration Large population of Mali and Songhay never converted to Islam Recognized the role of women within the lines of kinship Slave trade had a huge impact on women, children Forms of slavery existed before the Islamic influence Muslims viewed slavery as a stage in the process of conversion Used in variety of occupations Soldiers Laborers administrators Concubines
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The Swahili Coast of East Africa
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The Coastal Trading Ports
Bantu migration reached ports of east Africa Seaborne immigrants settled on large island of Madagascar Introduced foods to the African coast Small coastal villages of fishers and farmers By 13th century east African trading ports developed along the coast Shared common Bantu-based language of Swahili (coastal) Other cultural traits but governed by separate Muslim ruling families Ibn Batuta was impressed by towns and Kilwa was described as “one of the most beautiful and well-constructed towns in the world” Kilwa was wealthy because of the port of Safala Had access to gold 13th to 15 century Kilwa flourished in trade
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The Mixture of Cultures on the Swahili Coast
13th century was period of great Islamic expansion Religious bond of trust Law that facilitated trade throughout ports of Indian Ocean Ruling families in east Africa built mosques, trading ports and palaces Rulers and merchants tended to be Muslim on the east African coast Retained their previous beliefs and culture Mud and thatch houses of the non-Muslim Swahili culture was a dynamic hybrid Swahili people spread their language and culture along the coast of east Africa By 1500 C.E. Swahili culture was widely diffused
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Artists and Kings: Yoruba and Benin
Ile-lfe- city in Nigeria Terra-cotta and bronze portrait heads after 1200 C.E. Greatest achievement of African art Much of art is associated with kings and authority of kinship Yoruba were organized in small city-states Highly urbanized Developed strong authoritative city-states Regional kings were the authority and were considered divine Council of state was made up of nobles Advised the ruler Limited power Also Ogboni- secret society of religious and political leaders Benin- large city-state Under Ewuare the Great ( ) Benin’s control extended from Niger River to Lagos
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Central African Kingdoms
Bontu people spread into southern reaches of rain forest along the Congo River Began their own process of state formation
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The Kingdoms of Kongo and Mwene Mutapa
By 15th century kingdom of Kongo was flourishing Firm agricultural base Developed skills of: Weaving Pottery Blacksmithing Carving Sharp division of labor between men and women Men: Cleared forest and scrub Producing palm oil Palm wine Building houses Hunting Long distance trade Women: Cultivation Care of domestic animals Household duties (on seacoast women made salt from seawater and collected seashells)
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Seashells served as currency in Kongo kingdom
Kinship of the Kongo was hereditary Great Zimbabwe- center of the kingdom Religious importance associated with the bird of God By 15th century centralized states ruled from Great Zimbabwe began to form In the 15th and 16th century kingdom faced short rapid expansion Dominance over the source of gold Advantage in commerce By 16th century kingdom was split by internal divisions and rebellion Emphasis on cattle led to soil exhaustion
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