1. Africa and the Spread of Islam
Chapter 8

2. African Societies
Stateless – organized around kinship or other obligations
Bantu = base on most African language
Religion
Animism
Veneration of ancestors
Economics
North Africa = Mediterranean trade
Sub-Saharan = varied; mostly agrarian
Trade conducted by professional merchants

3. North Africa and Islam 640-700: Invasions Unified under Abbasid
Berbers (desert people) formed own states Almoravids and Almohadis – launched jihads to purify
Appeal: method of unity and egalitarian

4. Christian Kingdoms Nubia and Egypt Ethiopia (Axum)
Copts borrowed from Byzantine
Spread up Nile to Nubia (Kush)
Independent kingdom until 13th century
Ethiopia (Axum)
Limited outside influence due to geography
King Lalibela built 11 churches
Remained independent

5. The Grasslands and Ghana
Sahel: southern edge of Sahara = trading posts
Subject to attack and drought
Ghana profited from taxing salt and gold trade
10th c. – rulers converted to Islam

6. Mali 13th c. Malinke people broke from Ghana
Islam used by kings to justify power
Agrarian + trade
Juula (merchants) formed partnerships and expanded through west Africa

7. Sundiata, the Lion Prince of Mali
Grouped the people by clans
16 military clans
5 religious duty clans
4 specialist clans; ex. blacksmiths and griots (oral historians)
Garrisons provided safe travel and trade
Successor Mansa Musa traveled to Mecca
Outside influence grew

8. Life in the Mali Cosmopolitan court life
“Port” cities grew (Timbuktu) off of Niger River
Libraries, universities and mosques flourished
Book trade was most lucrative
Still mostly agrarian
Many small farms
Geography made it difficult
Polygamy helped with labor supply

9. The Songhay Kingdom Middle area of Niger valley “Masters of the soil”
Gold trade from west Africa thrived

10. Politics and Society in Sudan
Unified states = structure for different groups to coexist
One ruling family
Islam provided common core of beliefs and law
Animism/paganism still important
Women enjoyed social freedom; some matrilineal societies as well
Extensive slave trade; slavery = one step in conversion to Islam

11. The Swahili Coast – East Africa
“Zanj” (Arabic name)
Many Bantu-speaking herders and trading ports and fishing villages
Refugees from Oman settled
Very diverse communities
Swahili combined Bantu with Arabic
Muslim ruling famlies
Extensive trade and wealth

12. A Hybrid Culture 13th c – Growth of Islam in East Africa
Mosques built in trading ports
Rulers and merchants Muslim; townspeople retained traditional beliefs
Swahili became dominant
Maternal (property) and paternal lines used for lineage for rulers
1500s: Portuguese influence introduced but minimal
Mozambique
Fort Jesus, Mombasa

13. Central Nigeria: Yoruba and Benin
Yoruba = language
Terracotta and bronze art
Small city-states
Oyo – king controlled “princes” with tribute
Edo people in Benin
Strong emphasis on image of king and royal lineage

14. Central African Kingdoms
Rainforest region
Congo River Basin
Kinship based societies
Katanga: Divine kinship and kingship – ensured crops’ success

15. Kongo Late 15th century Strong agriculture = strong artisan class
Traditional division of labor between men and women
Family-based villages
Hereditary kingship but local chieftains were not
Confederation under “manikongo” (king)
Iron and art important

16. Great Zimbabwe and Mwene Mutapa
Bantu confederation
Shona-speaking herders and farmers
Between Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers
“Zimbabwe”: Stone houses built for rulers
The bird of God = link with spirits
Mwene Mutapa became king
Expanded kingdom
Increased trade with coast, Portugal and India
Control of gold fields was critical
Survived into late 19th c.

17. Impact of Islam on Africa
While Islam spread to large areas of Africa, it was infused with African culture.
Many African cultures remained independent.
Late 15th century European explorers found well- developed kingdoms and empires – especially those that were Muslim.
Africa was already a center of trade for salt, ivory, slaves and gold.