1. Chapter 13: Medieval Africa
Section 1: The Rise of African Civilizations

2. I Can…
Describe the importance of the West African empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai including:
a.) Trade routes
b.) Products
c.) Spread of Arabic language

3. Africa’s Geography Holds the world’s largest desert=> Sahara
World’s second largest continent
Rain forests cover 10% of the land
Areas of mild climate are found along the Mediterranean Sea
Almost all of Africa lies on a plateau
Nile River is Africa’s longest river

4. West African Empire
Berbers were the 1st known people to settle in N. Africa
Started the trade w/ Western Africa
Trade would lead to small cities which lead to great empires

5. Ghana 400s AD-1200 AD “Crossroads of Trade”
Had a huge army; had iron weapons
Traders had to pay a tax to get through Ghana
New gold mines cut into taxes collected
Couldn’t feed people; constant fighting

6. Mali 1230-1332 Warrior-king Sundiata Keita took over Ghana
Controlled land from Atlantic Coast to Timbuktu
Controlled gold-mining areas; rebuild the salt and gold trade
Last strong ruler Mansa Musa; weak rulers fall to the Berbers

7. Songhai
Leader Sunni Ali drove Berbers out of Timbuktu
Control lands from the Nile River to deep in to the Sahara Desert; Largest empire in Western Africa
Destroyed by Moroccan soldiers

8. Kingdoms of the Rainforest
Benin and Kongo
Had farmable soil and warm, wet climate
Great farming which led to surplus of food which led to more trade

9. East Africa
Mid- 700s AD- Many Arab Muslim traders settled in East Africa city-states
Goods and ideas exchanged btwn Arabs and Africans

10. Zimbabwe
700 AD-1400s AD
Founded by Shona People
Supplied gold, ivory, and copper to E. African coast
Ruled by 2 kings: Mutota and Matope made Zimbabwe into a large empire
South of Zambezi River to the Indian Ocean

11. Section 2: Africa’s Gov’t and Religion

12. Gov’t and Society
Kings settled arguments, managed trade, and protected the empire
Complete obedience was expected in return
Ghana’s Gov’t:
Kings relied on help from close advisers
As empire grew, rulers divided it into provinces which were divided into districts
Kings held tightly to power and controlled trade
Weird=> throne goes to king’s nephew

13. Mali’s Gov’t:
Followed Ghana’s model but on a much larger scale
Empire split into provinces but generals were leaders instead of lesser kings
Songhai’s Gov’t:
Built on traditions of Ghana and Mali
Gov’t never fully set up due to Sunni Ali’s constant fighting

14. Traditional African Religions
Believe in 1 supreme god
Understood the Christian and Muslim idea of one god, but wanted to worship in own way
Religion provided rules for living and helped people stay in touch w/ their history

15. Islam in Africa Mansa Musa worked to make Islam stronger in Africa
Most African Muslims chose Islam bc it helped them trade w/ Arab Muslims
Musa built many mosques to help spread Islam
After his trip to Makkah, he brought back the finest architects, writers, and teachers to help share Islam w/ West Africa

16. Askia Muhammad strengthened Islam in Songhai
Made court honor Muslim laws
Made Timbuktu an important center of Islamic culture
Set up 150 schools to teach the Quran
In East Africa, the Swahili culture is created
Mix of African and Muslim traditions
Impact of Islam on Africa:
1.) Changes laws
2.) Advances learning
3.) Introduces Arabic language to Africa
4.) Influences the architecture in Africa
5.) Begins to change the culture of Africa

17. Section 3: African Society and Culture
1.) Describe the causes and effects of European exploration after 1400 including:
B.) Impact on the peoples of sub-Saharan Africa
ect

18. Life in Medieval Africa
3000 BC-400 AD- The Bantu people moved from Nigeria and settled much of Africa
Wherever they went, they took their culture w/ them
This is the reason why people all across Africa share some common ideas and traditions

19. Importance of Family Family is basis of African society
Live in extended families
Many villages were matrilineal
Trace descent through mothers
Value children greatly

20. Education and Community
Education carried out by family and other villagers
Learn history of their people and skills needed to survive c

21. Role of Women Acted mostly as wives and mothers
Men had more rights and controlled much of what women did
Served as soldiers in some African kingdoms
Some became famous rulers:
1.) Dahia al-Kahina=> fought Muslim invaders of her kingdom
2.) Nzinga=> Spent 40 yrs. Battling Portuguese slave traders

22. Slavery W/in Africa
Europeans did not invent slavery; existed throughout the world for a long time
Africans enslaved criminals, captives, or prisoners of war
Became part of Saharan trade
Could become free through hard work or marrying a free person
Human trade increased as trade grew w/ Muslim merchants

23. The European Slave Trade
Began in 1441 w/ Portugal
Usually stayed in Portugal and worked as laborers
Then, they began colonizing and used enslaved Africans to do all the hard work
The rest of Europe will follow Portugal’s example
Late 1400s- Europeans arrived in America and brought Africans over to work the land