Chapter 1, section 3

  Forest kingdoms of West Africa were complex and wealthy cultures  West Africa had an extensive trading system extending from Guinea to North Africa  The Songhai Empire interacted with other lands through trade and participation in Islamic culture The World of the West Africans

 The first interactions between European and African cultures came in the 1400’s along the coast of West Africa. These would lead to later interactions in the Americas. At the time, the great kingdoms of West Africa had prosperous, complex cultures.

  Generally know as Guinea  Comprised of three kingdoms  Oyo, Ife, Benin  Most prominent, Benin  Traditions passed on through stories and art  Trade was vital to Benin “Like North America and Europe, Africa at this time had a network of trade routes that linked its many societies.” The Forest Kingdoms

  Most lived in towns  Farming was key to survival  Kinship networks (lineage)=social units  most town residents related  Ruling classes were related  Head of extended family-headmen Guinea Society

  Varied from one group to another  All believed in a Supreme Being  Lesser gods and spirits  Spirits were viewed in everything (animals, nature, etc.)  Humans – living spirits before and after death “Like Native Americans and Europenas, Africans believed that the goodwill of more than human forces must be won through prayer and ceremony.” Religion

  1400s-Largest empire in world  Major trading spot in Africa 1400s and 1500s  Considerable trade with Forest Kingdoms  Brought books, paper, weapons, cloth, horses, salt from North Africa Songhai

  Rule of Songhai – Askia Muhammad  Wealthy from tributes and trade  Government officials – part of hierarchy  Paid  Administered laws  Policed  Tax collectors  Diplomats  Bankers (sophisticated banking system) Government

  Askia Muhammad enjoyed learning  Schools abundant in empire  Koran used to teach in schools  Islam introduced through trade/invasion from north  Arabic learned from Koran  African Muslims-ritualistic  Islam not common in Western Africa or outside Songhai empire Songhai Religion

  People enslaved through kidnapping and invasion  Usually taken from one region to another  Trading dependent on slavery  Slaves treated like goods, helped produce and transport goods African Slavery

  Private ownership of slaves desirable  Differed from Europeans in ownership of land  Labor decided wealth and status-slaves  Lifespan of Africans short  Number of people important to rulers  Showed power Origins of Slavery

  1400s slavery just like Europe and some Native American tribes  prisoners of war  Orphans  Criminals  Other rejects of society  Slaves usually adopted into kinship networks  Female slaves valued-had children and farmed  Male slaves-soldiers, some field work The Enslaved

  “ Enslaved people played a major role in African life. After they encountered Europeans, Africans would also be forced to go to the Americas, where they would take part in creating new societies.” conclusion