AFRICA

Geography and Early Civilizations Large size – more than 3 times the size of the U.S. Deserts make up 40% of Africa – The Sahara is the largest in the world – Separated north Africa from south Africa East Africa – Known as the Ivory Coast – Main trading products include ivory, slaves, ebony, some gold

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Spread of Islam into Africa Ibn Battuta was an explorer from Saudi Arabia who went around Africa spreading Islam Mansa Musa, the ruler from the Mali Empire, converted to Islam and even made a pilgrimage to Mecca Both Ibn Battuta and Mansa Musa are credited with spreading Islam in Africa Swahili – Due to trade and invading Muslims, a new African- Arabian culture emerged along East Africa’s coast – The African language of Bantu blended with Arab into Swahili “peoples of the coast” – Is the national language of Kenya and Tanzania

West Africa Known as the Gold Coast Main trading products include gold, salt, iron, and slaves

Society The southern half of Africa developed states more slowly and most of the people lived in stateless societies until the 11 th century AD African societies used captives for forced labor and sold slaves – Slaves were people captured in war, debtors, and criminals

Kingdoms and Empires Great Zimbabwe – 1100s to 1400s AD – Part of Africa’s thriving trade network due to its location – Was in the middle of a trade route linking Africa’s interior gold mines to the city-states on the coast Mali Empire – 1230s – 1430s – Much of the wealth of the empire came from the taxation of the gold-salt trade – Mali kept order along the trade routes by using a large army – The famous ruler Mansa Musa made a pilgrimage to Mecca Brought Mali to the attention of the Europeans – Exports: gold and salt – Famous trading city of Timbuktu