1. Societies and Empires of Africa
Chapter 15

2. SSWH6 The student will describe the diverse characteristics of early African societies before 1800.
a. Identify the Bantu migration patterns and contribution to settled agriculture.
b. Describe the development and decline of the Sudanic kingdoms (Ghana, Mali, Songhai); include the roles of Sundiata, and the pilgrimage of Mansa Musa to Mecca.
c. Describe the trading networks by examining trans- Saharan trade in gold, salt, and slaves; include the Swahili trading cities.
d. Analyze the process of religious syncretism as a blending of traditional African beliefs with new ideas from Islam and Christianity.

3. Essential Questions
What changes occurred in the Sudanic kingdoms as a result of the role of Sundiata and Mansa Musa.
 How was the role of trade and merchant religious faith instrumental in the spread of Islam in Africa?
What connection did Arab traders have with the Swahili coast and in what ways did that connection bring about change?
How did the trade routes of Asia and the Mediterranean facilitate the movement of ideas between these regions?

4. Essential Questions (continued)
How did the slash and burn agriculture of the Bantu people affect the migration of this group?
What changes were brought to Sub-Saharan Africa as a result of the Bantu migrations?
How was religious syncretism expressed in the Islamic regions of Africa?

5. Main Ideas
Around 640, Islam created two North African Empires. Merchants and traders spread Islam into both West and East Africa, where it influenced rulers.
Location of gold determined trade routes.
Only African city-states and empires that were able to tax and control trade became wealthy and powerful.

6. Timeline 800 Empire of Ghana thrives on trade
850 Byzantine Empire spreads to Russia
1000 Hausa city-states emerge
1095 First Crusades begin
1100 Yoruba Kingdom of Life is established
1235 Sundiata founds Mali Empire
1324 Mali king Mansa Musa goes on hajj to Mecca
1347 Bubonic Plague devastates Europe
1464 Sunni Ali begins Songhai Empire

7. Section 1: North and Central Societies
Stateless societies:
Leadership based on lineage (descendents)
No centralized system
Patrilineal – ancestry through fathers
Muslim states 0f North Africa
670 Muslims conquer Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco
Governments based on Islamic law
Relied on religious scholars as Islamic law regulated life

9. Section 2: West African Civilizations
Ghana (ruler)
Gold and salt most important trade near Niger River
Salt trade important near Sahara Desert
Use of camels essential to trade – Arab and Berbers
Tax collectors insured growth of the empire
800 Ghana becomes and Empire
Only king had right to own gold thus limiting supply to keep prices up
King was religious leader, judge and military commander
Islamic influence:
Islam spread through conquest –
People maintain animist religions and honor Islam
Arabic becomes the language with the study of the Qur’an

11. Ghana
assignment-discovery-the-ghana-empire-video.htm

12. Mali Empire Mali Mansa Musa: Wealth built on gold
Mali leader Sundiata became mansa (emporer)
Captures old Ghana Empire
Had administration in place to conduct finances, defense and foreign affairs
Reopens salt-gold trade interrupted by wars
Mansa Musa:
Converts to Islam: built mosques, attended prayers
100,000 army exercised control of trade and rebellion
Hajj: upon return, builds new mosques in Timbuktu
Visited by Ibn Battuta – Famous Muslim Traveler

13. Mali
assignment-discovery-mali-empire-video.htm

15. Sunni Ali: built empire by military conquest
Songhai
Sunni Ali: built empire by military conquest
Riverboat fleets of war canoes/mobile horse back units
Captured Timbuktu and takes over trade
Askia Muhammad
Leads a Muslim protest over lack of religious practice
Set up efficient tax system
Centralized government
Ministers of Navy, Treasury, Army and Agriculture
Problems:
Lacked modern weapons
Moroccan force with gunpowder and cannons quickly defeat the Songhai

16. Section 3: Eastern City-States
1100 Bantu-speaking peoples migrated establishing fishing and farming villages
Seaports and trade developed between Arabia, Persia, and India
These foreign traders settled in East Africa
Arabic blending with Bantu created the Swahili language
1300 trading cities included Mogadishu and Kilwa
These empires controlled incoming and outgoing trade
Wealthy Muslim empire
Location made it easy for Indian ship to trade during monsoon season
Portuguese view the wealth and took the cities of Kilwa and Mombasa

18. Essential Question Review
What changes occurred in the Sudanic kingdoms as a result of the role of Sundiata and Mansa Musa.
 How was the role of trade and merchant religious faith instrumental in the spread of Islam in Africa?
What connection did Arab traders have with the Swahili coast and in what ways did that connection bring about change?
How did the trade routes of Asia and the Mediterranean facilitate the movement of ideas between these regions?

19. Essential Questions (continued)
How did the slash and burn agriculture of the Bantu people affect the migration of this group?
What changes were brought to Sub-Saharan Africa as a result of the Bantu migrations?
How was religious syncretism expressed in the Islamic regions of Africa?

20. African Kingdoms Activity
Research the emergence and decline of one of the African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.
Identify the role of individuals, the spread of Islam and the economic activities of the Sahel and report to the other groups.
You will then share information through a jigsaw activity.
To complete the activity, write a summary comparing the three kingdoms’ similarities and differences.