1. Chapter 15: Societies & Empires in Africa
Organized in diverse ways to meet political, economic & social needs
varied climate & topography influenced how each community developed

2. How did Geography & Climate influence Development in Africa?
Great variety
Climate
Topography
Landforms

3. North & Central African Societies: Hunter-Gatherer
Oldest in world
Still around but very small percentage of population
unique languages, unique hunting techniques
Semi-nomadic
Few possessions
Provide clues about ancient times

4. “Stateless” Societies
South of Sahara
Power not centralized; shifts over generations
Based on lineage groups not individual ruler
Family groups based on common ancestor
Living members
Past generations
Future generations
Strong loyalty
balance authority among lineages of equal power
may be
patri-lineal
matri-lineal
Men usually hold positions of authority

5. Muslim States Islam spread across N. Africa- Rulers converted
Government based on Islamic Law (Sharia)
Muslim rulers relied on religious scholars as government advisors

6. Islamic Law Religious obligation to follow the law
Sharia Law regulates all aspects of life
Brought stability, wealth but not uniformity

7. Berbers Desert, mountain dwellers Indigenous to N. Africa
Accepted Islam
Maintained Berber Identity
Almoravids & Almohads found empires that united N. Africa (Maghrib)

8. Impact of Berber Rule Spread N. African culture Stability & order
Unity through Islamic teaching
North/South Trade flourished

9. West African Civilizations
Three powerful empires flourished in West Africa in Sahel-the savanna region just south of the Sahara
Grew strong by controlling trade

10. Empire of Ghana Around 200 AD, trade across Sahara was infrequent
Berbers began to use camels
Travel great distance without water
Taxed trade-grew wealthy

11. Gold-Salt Trade
Arab & Berber traders crossed desert w/salt, cloth, weapons, manufactured goods
African traders brought gold north
Merchants met in trade cities, exchanged goods, officials collected tax & ensured fair weights and provided protection from bandits

12. Land of Gold By 800, Ghana was an empire
King controlled trade, large army, demanded taxes & gifts from chiefs of surrounding lands
King controlled supply of gold, kept price high
King was religious leader, judge, military commander
Head of government bureaucracy

13. Islamic Influences Islam spread through trade
Ghana’s rulers/elites converted to Islam
Common people kept traditional beliefs/practices
Islam spread literacy
Ghana lost power when Almoravids disrupted gold-salt trade

14. Empire of Mali By 1235 the kingdom of Mali had emerged
Its founders were Mande-speaking people, who lived south of Ghana.
Mali’s wealth was also built on gold

15. Sundiata Conquers an Empire
A powerful king named Sundiata ruled Mali from around AD. He became known as a mansa, or emperor
He led the people in conquering & expanding his kingdom to be as great as Ghana had been

16. Mansa Musa Expands Mali (1312-1337)
Greatest king of Mali
developed gold/salt trade-
kingdom became very powerful & rich
Made hajj to Mecca-upon return built many mosques in Timbuktu
Attracted Muslim judges, doctors, religious leaders scholars

17. Ibn Battuta: 1352 Muslim legal scholar
Traveled throughout Muslim world -27 years
Wrote a journal
Praised people of Mali for their study of Qur’an
Criticized lack of strict practice (women did not veil)
Within 50 years, gold trade shifted to new fields in East
Mali weakened

18. Empire of Songhai
As Mali declined, Songhai east built an army & extended territory-gained control of trade routes. Gao was the capital.

19. Songhai’s Powerful Muslim Leaders
Askia Muhammad
-stable government
-Encouraged learning
Sunni Ali
-Built a professional army

20. Other Peoples of West Africa: Hausa City-States
Named for spoken language
Rulers depended on crops of farmers, traded salt, grain, cotton cloth
Profit from caravans
Slave trade thrived as well
Rivalry, conflict prevented creation of empire

21. Other Peoples of West Africa: Yoruba Kingdoms
Forest dwellers
United by language
King was religious and political leader
Secret group limited kings power-reviewed his decisions

22. Other Peoples of West Africa: Benin
Forest dwellers
King claimed legitimacy from “first king of life”
Powerful army controlled large area
Built walls around Benin City, broad streets
Huge palace w/courtyards
Sophisticated metalworkers

23. Eastern African City-States: Trade Creates Power/Wealth

24. East Coast Trade Cities
Villages developed into trade cities
By 1100 Bantu-speaking peoples migrated across central Africa
Trade developed between East African merchants & traders from Arabia, Persia & India
Muslim Arab & Persian traders settled in these port cities
Arabic blended w/ Bantu language; created Swahili
By 1300, 35 trading cities thrived
Grew wealthy by controlling all trade

25. Kilwa In 1331, Ibn Battuta visited Admired all aspects of society
Strategic location led to great power & wealth
Conquered by Portuguese in 1488

26. Islamic Influences Growth of commerce caused Islam to spread
Even small towns had mosques
Ruler, government officials, & merchants were Muslim
Majority held to traditional beliefs

27. Muslim Enslavement of Africans
not prohibited by Islam
Slaves acquired by kidnapping, war
Relatively small percentage
Used for heavy labor on docks, ships,
soldiers & household servants

28. Southern Africa & Great Zimbabwe
Southeast Africa
Established by Shona people
Built on gold trade to Sofala
By 1450, abandoned due to overgrazing, overuse of soil, salt, timber
Mutapa Empire took its place