Early African Kingdoms & Empires

Pre-Historic Africa

North African Kingdoms

Kingdom of Kush [295 BCE – 320 CE] Nubia [modern-day Sudan]

Pyramids of Kush at Meroë

Pyramids of Kush at Meroë

Kushite in Egypt, 23 BCE

Kingdom of Axum [300-700]

Stele, Ezana’s Royal Tomb, Aksum (4c)

Christian Church, Lalibela [Ethiopia]

Christian Church, Lalibela [Ethiopia] Coptic Christian Priest

AXUM’S ACHIEVEMENTS Controlled NE African Built Stelae Trade Written Language Terrace Farming Spread Christianity in No. & E. Africa

West African Empires & Civilizations

Early African Kingdoms 600 CE – 1500’s Ghana Mali Songhay Benin Swahili Great Zimbabwe

Trans-Saharan Trade & Islamic States in W. Africa After 300 CE – camels replaced horses & donkeys as transport Camels – quicken pace of communication Islamic merchants crossed desert & established relations

Gold-Salt Trade Berbers SALT GOLD

Gold “Money”, Ghana/Ivory Coast Ghana Empire [4c-11c] Gold “Money”, Ghana/Ivory Coast

Salt

Kingdom of Ghana -- Gold-Salt Trade Most important commercial site in W. Africa Provided gold, ivory, & slaves for traders from N. Africa In exchange for salt, horses, cloth, & manufactured goods Capital = Ghana – thriving commercial center Ghana kings convert to Islam by 10th cent. – tolerant

Mali Empire [13c-15c] SALT GOLD

Sundiata [1210-1260] “Lion Prince”

Mali Empire Sundiata “Lion Prince” Built Mali Empire Controlled gold-salt trade (post-Ghana) Taxed all trade in W. Africa Caravans linked Mali & N. Africa Many prosperous cities

Mansa Musa [r. 1312-1337]

Mansa Musa Greatest king of Mali Sundiata’s grandnephew Known for pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)– huge caravan Effects of Hajj (Important) Strengthened Islam, promoted education, trade & commerce in Mali Built mosques (Timbuktu, Gao & Djenne) Sent students to study w/scholars in W. Africa Estab. Islamic schools Timbuktu Commercial & Intellectual center of Mali

Mansa Musa – Hajj Stats 100 camel-loads of gold (300 lbs./each) 500 Slaves – each carrying a 4 lb. gold staff Thousands of his subjects Senior Wife 500 attendants He was “making it rain” gold in Egypt & Mecca SO!! Mansa Musa ran out of $$$$. “He gave out so much gold… it caused its value to fall”

Timbuktu-”Heavenly Clay”

Timbuktu Rooftop, Mosque

Tuaregs

Marketplace near the Niger River

Mosque in Gao

Great Mosque at Djenne, Mali

Distant Mosque at Djenne, Mali

European Map

Songhai Empire [15c-16c] SALT GOLD

Sunni Ali [r.1464-1492] Songhai take over from Mali (control gold-salt trade) Muslim leaders Sunni Ali – ruler of Songhai Worked to unify, strenghten & enlarge the land (took over Timbuktu & Djenne) Brought stability & peace to Songhai Religiously tolerant

Askia Mohammed [r.1493-1529] Great leader of Songhai Serious Muslim Supported Islamic education (Timbuktu flourished again) Djenne became a center of learning Organized govt. and laws based on Islamic principles Created 1st standing army

Askia Mohammed’s Tomb [1443-1538] Gao, Mali

Benin Empire [15c-19c]

Bronze Heads from Benin (16c)

Benin Bronze Leopard

Migrations Into & Within Africa

What are some reasons why humans migrate?

Bantu Migrations: 1000 BCE To 500 CE

Islamic Invasions

Eastern City-States

African Trade Routes

Swahili-Speaking Areas of E. Africa SWAHILI [“the coast’] = Bantu + some Arabic

Arab Dow off the coast of Zanzibar

Southern African Kingdoms

“Zimbabwe” = “stone enclosure” Great Zimbabwe [1200-1450] “Zimbabwe” = “stone enclosure”

Great Zimbabwe Street

Great Enclosure, Zimbabwe

Manamotopa Empire [1450-1630]

Africa during the Age of European Exploration

Overland & Sea Trade Routes by 16c

African Trade [15c-17c]