Africa Post Classical Period

The Sahara: to 600 Pre- Post Classical Age long history of sporadic encounters for more than 1000 years. Site of Innovation: urbanization and state- formation started in Western Africa independently (jenne-Jeno) regular commercial and cultural exchange between Western Africa and the Mediterranean world did not start until the 8th century AD.

West African Development Niger River Valley

Leadership: Stateless Societies Village LifeVillage Life –100s of people –Chief & Council of Elders –Groups of villages constituted a district –Consensus or agreement Less social stratificationLess social stratification than urban areas –A type of ‘Aristocratic’ ruling elite –Religious authorities –No concept of individual property ownership

Evolution African Political Organization Stateless society or Segmentary society –No bureaucracy Tribalism –Family and kinship groups ( Tribalism ) Around 1000 – Changes… during post classical age! –Population growth –Strained resources –Increased conflict Emergence of Formal Governments in some areas

West African Changes…WHY? Trans Saharan Muslims traders joined up with the internal West African networks. The savanna’s established states ( Ghana and Gao ) and cities, like Jenne had some twenty thousand inhabitants. –Demand for Salt in the north –Gold reserves in Niger Delta (south) Camel caravans revolutionize trade across Sahara Gold for Salt TradeGovernments regulated and profit from Gold for Salt Trade

Trans-Saharan Trade Influence

West African Development

Ghana ( ) 4 th century Agricultural traditional people Sought protection from Camel nomads 8 th Century Ghana rulers (divine) welcomed Muslim traders 2 cities (Muslim/Traditional) 11 th Century Almoravids introduced Islam

West African heritage Formal Governments became prosperous from taxes and duties that regulated gold-for-salt trade networks, YET…. Most people outside cities maintained a traditional agricultural existence –Tribal identities & animistic beliefs continued to dominate the region/people

Timbuktu Development

Tribal Culture Gender expectations –Men- blacksmiths, tanners, clear the field –Women – potters, domestic chores, child-rearing –Both planted & harvested crops –Women enjoyed more rights in Africa than other Eurasian regions (occupations, freedom of movement) Age sets (age grade) –Communal tasks –Rights of passage

Mali ( ) Sundiata – founder Peak of Gold-Salt trade Mansa Musa –Importance of Hajj Timbuktu – intellectual capital of scholarship University of Sankore Competing factions led to decline - invasions

Songhai ( ) Sunni Ali – founder Gao – capital –Well-organized government Prosperity continued through trade, commerce, agriculture Scholarly pursuits continued at universities – Timbuktu, Jenne