By: Alyssa Simmons Class of 2018 Chapter 13: Kingdoms and States of Medieval Africa Lesson 2: Kingdoms and States of Africa By: Alyssa Simmons Class of 2018

Social (Ghana) Most people were farmers who loved in villages Citizens were born into their social class/level Women: Bared/raised children, harvested crops Men: Hunters and farmers

Political (Ghana) Kings governed the entire kingdom Kings governed with no written laws Villages governed by local rulers, who were appointed by the king

Interaction Between Humans and the Environment (Ghana) Planted and harvested crops Camel caravans traveled across the Sahara Mansa Musa began to take pilgrimages to Makkah

Culture (Ghana) Muslim merchants spread religious influences Religious ideas and technology also spread Skilled in the art of crafts Sculpting and weaving

Economy (Ghana) Relied mostly on trade Mainly gold and salt Imports included, metal goods, textiles, horses, and salt Exports included ivory, hides and slaves

Social (Songhai) Society organized by a caste system social elite consisted of individuals with ties to the imperial family Below the elite are common citizens Consisted of the nations agricultural and military employees Citizens couldn’t move between levels of the caste systems

Political (Songhai) Under Sunni Ali; one ruler controlled both the military and the government Under Muhammad Ture; five provinces were ruled by a governor while an emperor ruled overall

Interaction Between Humans and the Environment (Songhai) Raised crops and cattle Used the Niger River as a source of fresh water Conquered territories, resulting in some destruction of land and animals

Culture (Songhai) Became a blending of traditional West African beliefs and the Islamic religion Daily life was ruled by traditions and local customs while the law of the land was governed by Islam.

Economy (Songhai) Like other regions in the area Songhai prospered in the gold and salt trade Cowrie shells were used as a medium of exchange

Social (East Africa) The Bantus migrated in small groups Mostly relied on subsistence farming, along with hunting and gathering Women: tilled fields, took care of children Men: did the hunting and trading

Political (East Africa) Bantus people lived in stateless societies Eventually the societies began to be ruled by kings

Interaction Between Humans and the Environment (East Africa) Established cities, using natural recourses to do so. Grew crops to live a subsistence farming lifestyle Tilled fields, hunted wild animals, domesticated livestock, and gathered natural foods

Culture (East Africa) Spreading of Islam also showed an increase in regional trade Culture was a blending of African-Arabian, creating Swahili Intermarriage common among the ruling class Swahili language emerging as a result of the trade between Arab lands and Bantu people

Economy (East Africa) Like many other regions East Africa was active in the salt and gold trade, mainly between Arab and Bantu peoples Also active in the regional sea trade

Social (South Africa) Many people lived in stateless societies, which created the first southern states In some regions people lived independent villages Both relied on farming and cattle herding for food

Political (South Africa) Independent villages ruled by a local chieftain, or clan leader

Interactions Between Humans and the Environment (South Africa) Built The Great Enclosure, by stacking granite blocks without mortar Smaller enclosures and houses built of mud-like cement Relied on farming and cattle herding

Culture (South Africa) Basic handicrafts were well developed in Bantu villages Spinning, weaving, pottery making, and carpentry Loyalty to the clan was most important Customary beliefs lay on top of all social and political institutions profound awareness of human interdependence. 

Economy (South Africa) Had a mixed economy Farming, trading, and cattle herding Also active in the gold trade