African Civilizations
I. Early Societies Many early African societies based on small social units, the family Stateless societies – organized around kinship, no formal political organization Lacked ability to respond to outside forces, create complex structures, embark on long-distance trade Diverse local religious traditions, typically based on animism Most lacked formal record keeping Few societies had written language, depended on oral tradition – griots (storytellers)
II. The Kingdom of Aksum Aksum - located south of Egypt, along Red Sea Was once most powerful kingdom in East Africa, C.E. People decedents from African farmers and migrants from Middle East Grew rich, powerful through international trade Trade brought new ideas and culture, including Christia nity After decline of Aksum, Ethiopia grew, with large population of Christians, despite pressure from Islam
III. Kingdom of Ghana ( C.E.) By 700s, Ghana’s rulers were rich from taxing merchants and traders Gold and salt most important Rulers peacefully convert to Islam Much of population did not convert, but Islam became influential in politics and social life Fusion of Islam and traditional African beliefs Islam helped spread literacy through learning to read the Qur’an 1100 – Decline The Almoravids – from northern Africa – seized control of Ghana Disrupted gold/salt trade Groups migrated away, merged with other societies
IV. Kingdom of Mali (1200s – 1500s C.E.) Founded c by Malinke people, who broke away from Ghana during its decline Trading kingdom, based around gold, salt Sundiata Mali’s greatest leader Established strong, bureaucratic government Promoted agriculture to increase population Helped reestablish gold/salt trade after fall of Ghana After death of Sundiata (1255), many of Mali’s next rulers converted to Islam Mansa Musa expanded Mali to almost twice the size empire of Ghana had been
V. Continued… Mansa Musa (continued…) Helped establish city of Timbuktu as one of the most important trading cities in Africa Attracted Muslim scholars, doctors, religious leaders from neighboring regions Mosques and universities were well known throughout region Ibn Battuta – famous Muslim traveler and historian, wrote extensively on Mali and Timbuktu
VI. Kingdom of Songhay (1400s – 1500s) Mali declined in 1400s People once under their control began to break away, form independent kingdoms Songhai people in east built up army, extended territory to the Niger Riverextended territory to the Niger River Sunni Ali (ruled ) Muslim leader, built massive professional army Established bureaucracy to control region Captured two great trading cities during his reign Timbuktu, Djenne
VI. Continued… After Sunni Ali, Muslim rulers took title “askia” Spread kingdom to include area of modern-day Sudan Islamic traditions combined with traditional African culture Men and women mixed freely, women did not wear veils Eventually defeated by Moroccans, kingdom splintered in to smaller states, such as the Hausa people
VII. Trading Cities of the East Like the kingdom of Aksum, cities of eastern coastal Africa were diverse, due to trade Bantu-speaking people migrated from west Merchants and traders came from Arabia, Persia, India Swahili – new language arose from mix of Arabic and Bantu language Swahili By 1300, more than 35 trading cities along coast Example: Kilwa Most powerful, wealthiest coastal city-state Controlled trade, including gold, from southern Africa to Asia Cities fell to European control in late 1400s
VIII. Great Zimbabwe ( ) Established sometime around 1000, by the Shona people in southern Savanda Located between Zambezi and Limpopo rivers in modern-day Zimbabwemodern-day Zimbabwe Near important trading routes for gold trade Controlled and taxed traders who travelled routes 1200s-1400s, became economic, political, and religious center Essentially abandoned by 1450, reasons largely unknown Theory: Cattle grazing wore out land, salt and timber used up, could not support large population
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