1. North and Central African Societies
Chapter 15
Section 1

2. Key Terms Lineage Stateless societies Patrilineal Matrilineal Maghrib
Almoravids
Almohads

3. Hunting and Gathering Societies
Oldest form of social organization
Still exists in Africa today
Speak own language and have their own techniques
Scholars can get clues from the past

4. Forest Dwellers Efe- several hunting gathering societies in Africa
Ituri Forest in the DRC
Small groups 10 to 100
All related
Nomadic people

5. Forest Dwellers Women are gatherers
Search for roots, yams, mushrooms, wild seeds
Men and boys are the hunters
Small antelope
Trade for honey, wild game and crops from nearby villages

6. Social Structure Respected older male is the leader
Does not give orders or act as a chief
Each family free to come and go
Settle arguments with discussion
Life not governed by formal laws

7. Stateless Societies
African societies and families organized by lineage
Lineage –members of certain groups
Stateless societies-do not have a centralized power, balanced by lineage equally

8. Stateless Societies
Igbo- from Nigeria formed in the 9th century and lasted till the 19th century
Europeans expect to deal with one leader not a whole village

9. Tracing Family Descent
Patrilineal- society that traces its ancestors through their fathers
Inheritance passed father to son
Married son stay with father’s family
Matrilineal- trace ancestry through the mother
Men still hold power
Inheritance from the mother’s family

10. Age Set System Ties outside of lineage Young people within a region
Born during a certain time
Each set passes through stages (warrior or elder)
Men and women each have their own duties

11. Muslim States Islam vital role in North Africa Converted by conquest
Maghrib- North Africa, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco
Government based on Islamic law
Relied on religious scholars

12. Islamic Law Religious obligation Regulates almost all areas of life
Have ethnic and cultural differences
States have differing interpretations
Berbers-mountain dwellers

13. Almoravid Reformers 11th century Lived in western Sahara
After a pilgrimage convinced Abd Allah to return and teach Islam
Almoravid- strict religious brotherhood
Ribat- fortified monastery

14. Almoravid Reformers Almoravids took Morocco Founded Marakech
1076 overran Ghana
Captured southern Spain (called Moors)

15. Almohads Take over Mid 1100’s Seized power from Almoravids
Began in Atlas Mountains
Teachings of Ibn Tumart
Tumart criticized Almoravids
Obey strict teachings of the Qur’ an

16. Almohads Take Over 1148 Almohads control Morocco
Keep Marakech as the capitol
Africa from Tripoli to Tunis
Almohad broke into several individual Muslim dynasties
United Magrib under one ruler