1. Societies and Empires of Africa

2. North & Central Africa 3 types of society develop…
Hunting- Gathering Societies: semi- nomadic, lived by gathering foods and hunting animals.

3. North & Central Africa 3 types of society develop…
2. Stateless Societies: no centralized power, authority balanced among lineages

4. North & Central Africa 3 types of society develop…
3. Muslim States: God’s law higher authority than any human law - Almoravid and Almohad

5. West African Civilizations: Ghana
By AD 200 trade across Sahara existed for centuries
By AD 700, Empire of Ghana had formed and begun to tax this trans- Saharan trade
Gold and Salt
Ruler acted as religious leader, chief judge, and military commander
1076, Muslims had completed their conquest of Ghana

6. West African Civilization: Mali
By 1235, Mali emerged
Sundiata – Mali’s 1st great mansa (emperor)
Took over Ghana
Great leader
Promoted agriculture
Reestablished gold/salt trade

7. West African Civilization: Mali
Mansa Musa ruled
Skilled military leader
royal control over gold/salt trade
100,000 man army
Doubled size of empire
Went on his hajj to Mecca from
Ordered new mosques build
Timbuktu became very important city, wide attractions
Successors weak leaders

8. West African Civilization: Songhai
As Mali lost power, Songhai emerged
Gained control of the trade routes
Despite wealth and power, lacked modern weapons
Collapse of Songhai empire ended a 1000 year period of strong African empires.

9. West African Civilizations
City States developed in other parts of West Africa
Muslim traditions influenced some of these, while others held their traditional African beliefs.
Hausa
Yoruba
Benin

10. East Coast Trade Cities
Important trade cities
Swahili language
Grew wealthy by controlling all incoming and outgoing trade
In 1448, the Portuguese took control of many port cities on the coast and kept them for two centuries

11. Southern Africa: Great Zimbabwe
Area good for farming and cattle raising
After 1000, gained control of important trade routes
Abandoned by 1450, no one knows why