Chapter 6, Lesson 2: Africa’s Governments & Religions It Matters Because: Ancient African societies showed the effects of government disputes, traditional African beliefs, & Islam

I. African Rulers & Society A. Most African kings were close to the common people 1. Rulers in Ghana called people to village council with a drum 2. Anyone with a concern could speak to king with respect B. Trading empires developed strong governments with powerful kings 1. Kings settled disputes, controlled trade, defended empire 2. Merchants paid taxes, received trading favor from the king

II. African Governments A. Kings in Ghana were strong rulers provinces B. As Ghana grew, divided into territories called provinces clans 1. Provinces divided into districts, villages, & clans 2. Clan 2. Clan - group of people from same ancestor C. Mali was similar to Ghana, but bigger 1. Controlled more territory, conducted more trade 2. Strong central government, divided into provinces 3. Generals ruled & protected provinces

Mansa Musa D. Mansa Musa - Mali’s most powerful king 1. Won loyalty by giving gifts to his subjects National Honor of theTrousers 2. Awarded military heroes with the National Honor of the Trousers (pants) a. only king could wear clothing that was sewn F. Songhai copied governments of Ghana & Mali Muhammad Ture 1. General Muhammad Ture was greatest emperor 2. Divided empire into provinces, maintained peace with strong cavalry & navy II. African Governments

III. Traditional African Religions A.Most African groups believed in single creator God 1. Most African slaves in the Americas believed this B. African beliefs provided rules for living, helped people honor history & ancestors C. Africans relied on religion to protect from harm & promise success diviners 1. Kings used diviners to guarantee good harvests & protect the kingdom 2. Diviner 2. Diviner - person with power to see future, communicate with the spirit world

IV. Islam in Africa A. Ca. 700, Berber & Muslim traders introduced Islam to W. Africa 1. African rulers allowed subjects to convert to Islam & eventually converted themselves 2. By 1500, most of Africa south of Sahara was Muslim Ibn Battuta B. In 1352, Ibn Battuta, an Arabian lawyer, traveled to W. Africa 1. Was impressed by religious enthusiasm of native Africans who practiced Islam

King Sunni Ali C. In Songhai, King Sunni Ali converted to Islam in order to keep merchants loyal 1. Songhai became W. Africa’s largest trading empire 2. Became center for Islamic learning 3. In 1591, Songhai fell to Moroccan invaders D. Islam spread slowly in E. Africa IV. Islam in Africa

Swahili E. In 1100s, new culture known as Swahili emerged 1. Swahili 1. Swahili - Arabic term meaning “people of the coast” 2. Swahili came to mean both the culture of these people & their language 3. Swahili language & culture still thrive in Africa IV. Islam in Africa

V. Journey of Mansa Musa A. Allowed his subjects religious freedom, but was devoted to Islam 1. Used empire’s wealth to build mosques & libraries hajj B. In 1324, Mansa Musa made his hajj to Mecca 1. Along his journey, he gave two tons of gold to the poor (about $72 million today) 2. Brought Muslim scholars from Mecca back to Mali

VI. Legacy of Islam in Africa A. African Islam is unique in many ways 1. Most women outside of Egypt do not wear veils 2. Quran available in languages other than Arabic B. Islam affected laws & ideas, art & architecture