African Empires
Zimbabwe Location: South/Southeastern Africa Started: 1000 A.D. – 1450 A.D. Cities: Great Zimbabwe Sofala Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Government: Kingdom (feudal system) Religion: Mutuapa “The Great Conqueror” Religion: Ancestral: Believe the ancestors watched over them with Mwari being the supreme being Economy: Gold Mining and Trade Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Acheivements: Great Zimbabwe was part of a trade network that reached across the Atlantic Ocean. Kingdom was enclosed with rounded stones and a small gate Very strong and defensible Zimbabwe
Aksum (Axum) Location Start/End Major Cities East Africa (Horn) 1000 B.C. to 750 A.D. Major Cities Adulis: The greatest seaport. Connected Egypt, Arabia, Persia, India, and Rome Aksum (Axum)
Aksum (Axum) Government Religion Economy Major Leader: Ezana expanded the empire and converted to Christianity Dynasty with kings Religion Ancestral Christian Economy Sea Trade with Egypt, Arabia, Persia, India, and Rome Aksum (Axum)
Aksum (Axum) Acheivements Only African kingdom to develop a written language First African kingdom to create its own coins Created Terrace Farming Growing crops on hills Aksum (Axum)
Swahili Location Start/End Major Cities East Africa 1100 A.D. to 1488 A.D. Major Cities Kilwa: Import city: Brought in manufactured goods while shipping out raw materials Swahili
Swahili Government Religion Economy Muslim Empire Islam Based on Imports and Exports Imported :porcelian, jewels, cotton Exported: Ivory, gold, and salt Swahili
Ghana Location Start/End Major Cities North West Africa 700 A.D. to 1076 A.D. Major Cities Walata Koumbi Saleh Ghana
Ghana Government Religion Economy Dynasty based on warfare (Ghana means war chief) Religion Ancestral Converted to Islam Economy Gold and Salt Ghana
Mali Location Start/End Major Cities North West Africa 1235 A.D. to 1353 A.D. Major Cities Walata Timbuktu Gao Koumbi Saleh Niani Mali
Mali Government Religion Economy Empire Islam Gold and Salt Ruled by Sundiata Expanded by Mansa Musa Religion Islam Economy Gold and Salt Mali
Location North West Africa Start/End 1400 A.D. to 1591 A.D. Songhai
Songhai Major Cities Taghaza Walata Koumbi Saleh Niani Djenne Gao Timbuktu Kano Agades Songhai
Songhai Government Religion Economy Empire Islam Gold and Salt Ruled first by Sunni Ali who built the empire through military conquest and took over the city Djenne by marrying their queen to complete his conquest Religion Islam Economy Gold and Salt Songhai