1. States and Societies of Sub-Saharan Africa
Chapter 18
States and Societies of Sub-Saharan Africa
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2. Effects of Early African Migrations
Bantu and other migrations from 2000 B.C.E C.E.
Spread agriculture and herding throughout Africa
Displaced and/or absorbed hunting/gathering/fishing people
Iron metallurgy after 500 B.C.E. facilitated clearing more land
Introduction of bananas after 500 C.E. caused migration and population surge
Population growth: from 3.5 million in 400 B.C.E. to 22 million by 1000 C.E.
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Population Growth
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Kin-Based Societies
Kin-based society the norm (sometimes called "stateless society")
Early societies did not depend on elaborate bureaucracy
Societies governed through family and kinship groups
Village council consisted of male family heads
Higher government authorities rare
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Chiefdoms
Population growth strained resources and increased conflict
Some African communities began to organize military forces, 1000 C.E.
Powerful chiefs overrode kinship networks and imposed authority and conquered
Examples: Ife and Benin
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Kingdoms, Empires, and City-States of Sub-Saharan Africa, C.E.
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7. Trans-Saharan Trade and Islamic States in West Africa
After 300 C.E. camels replaced horses and donkeys as transport animals
Camels' arrival quickened pace of communication across the Sahara
70-90 days to cross Sahara
Islamic merchants crossed desert and established relations
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The Kingdom of Ghana
The kingdom of Ghana became the most important commercial site in west Africa
Provided gold (most important), ivory, and slaves for traders from north Africa
Exchanged for horses, cloth, manufactured goods, and salt
Ghana kings converted to Islam by the tenth century, didn't force on others
Nomadic raids from the Sahara weakened the kingdom in the early thirteenth century
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Sundiata (r )
Took greater advantage of trans-Saharan trade
Nominally Muslim, but did not force conversions
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Mansa Musa (r )
Made his pilgrimage to Mecca in with huge caravan
Upon return to Mali, built mosques
Sent students to study with distinguished Islamic scholars in northern Africa
Established Islamic schools in Mali
Decline of Mali due to factions and military pressure from neighbors and nomads
The Songhay empire replaced Mali by the late fifteenth century
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Mansa Musa
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16. The Indian Ocean Trade and Islamic States in East Africa
Swahili is an Arabic term meaning "coasters"
Dominated east African coast from Mogadishu to Sofala
Spoke Swahili, a Bantu language, supplemented with some Arabic words
Trade with Muslim merchants became important by the tenth century
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18. The Swahili City-States
Chiefs gained power through taxing trade on ports
Ports developed into city-states governed by kings, eleventh and twelfth centuries
Chinese silk, porcelain imported
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Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe was powerful kingdom of east Africa
By the ninth century, chiefs began to build stone residences (Zimbabwe)
Magnificent stone complex known as Great Zimbabwe in the twelfth century
Eighteen thousand people lived in Great Zimbabwe in the late fifteenth century
Kings organized flow of gold, ivory, and slaves
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Islam in East Africa
Ruling elite and wealthy merchants converted to Islamic faith
Conversion promoted close cooperation with Muslim merchants
Conversion also opened door to political alliances with Muslim rulers
Often retained pagan religious traditions and practices
Islam serves as social glue with other merchants, states
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23. African Society and Cultural Development
Social classes
Kinship groups: extended families and clans as social and economic organizations
Communities claimed rights to land; no private property
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24. Sex and Gender Relations
Men work with specialized skills
Tanning, iron work
Heavy labor
Women were responsible for child rearing, domestic chores
Both sexes work in agriculture
Male rule more common, but some expanded roles for women
Merchants, some military activity
Islamic norms slow to penetrate African society
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Slavery
Practiced since ancient times
Most slaves were captives of war
Debtors
Suspected witches
Criminals
Used principally in agricultural labor
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Slave Trading
Increased trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean trade stimulates slave trade, 9th century C.E.
Africa replaces eastern Europe as principal source of slaves
Creates internal African slave trade
More powerful states attack smaller kinship-based groups
10,000-20,000 slaves per year
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27. Early Christianity in North Africa
First century: popular in Egypt, north Africa
Initially weak in sub-Saharan Africa
The Christian Kingdom of Axum in Ethiopia, fourth century C.E.
Merchants, then kings convert
Bible translated into Ethiopian
Isolated during Islamic period, renaissance during twelfth century C.E.
Massive churches carved out of solid rock
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African Islam
Appealed strongly to ruling elite and merchants of sub-Saharan Africa
Converts took their religion seriously; they built mosques and schools, invited experts
Accommodated African gender relations; women retained more freedoms
Supplemented rather than replaced traditional religions
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