Life on the Margins of Islam African Societies

Diverse Land: 10s of geographies 100s of tribes 100s of languages →political unity rare

Sahara Sudan / Sahel Congo Rainforest ~the savanna coastline~

Bantu Migration Sedentary tribal group Experience population pressure → Migration Spreading:  Agriculture  Language Ethiopia Bantu

Bantu Impact Proliferation of agriculture →  States arise Population booms Political organization → more complex Iron technology increasingly useful Long distance trade becomes possible  Stateless societies pushed to periphery Increased interaction among cultures

States Form in 3 Regions Ethiopia Sudan C. African Forests Swahili Coast (E. Africa)

…but along came Islam Ethiopia Sudan (West Africa) C. African Forests Swahili Coast (E. Africa) Islamic North Africa

Traditional Society Kinship = central to social & political life  Stateless: societies with government based on family & community not taxes & centrality Animism = religion of many natural spirits w/ rituals for ancestors & land Women enjoy freedoms  Clearly defined roles but economic contributors, source of lineage, free to socialize

Early States Influenced by location on periphery of Mediterranean Agriculture & Christianity in: Nubia Ethiopia

Sudanic West Africa Home of: Ghana, Mali, Songhay Empires Strategically located to profit from trade Islamic empire = dawn of new international trade Muslims introduce camel → trans-Saharan trade easier

Sudanic West Africa Empires:  Territorial core  w/ subordinate tributaries Highly bureaucratic political administration Emphasized justice & crime punishment Trading states  80% of population = farmers  Gold (goes North) for salt, horses, cloth, manufactured goods

Sudanic West Africa - Mali Sundiata  Founder Mansa Musa  Famous hajj brought attention of Islamic world to Mali

Social & Political Blending Islam ↔ slow conversions  Foothold mainly w/ ruler, elites, merchants Rulers = Muslim (probably for alliances) but provide leadership of animistic rituals Sharia:  common laws & expectations for merchants  does not apply to women Tradition of slavery expands under Muslim trade networks

Swahili East Coast Home of: Mogadishu, Kilwa, Sofala Strategically located to profit from trade Islamic empire intensifies Indian Ocean trade Monsoons provide seasonal transportation route to Arabia to S Asia to SE Asia

Swahili East Coast City-states trading goods from central Africa to Arabs, Indians, Malay  Port cities cosmopolitan, but unified by Swahili  Ivory, gold, iron, slaves to coast for silks & porcelain Highly urbanized, wealthy, luxurious Kilwa  “One of the most beautiful & well- constructed towns in the world”

Central Africa Home of: Benin, Kongo, Zimbabwe Strategically located to profit from trade Source of goods traded in East & West Africa No direct contact with Muslims C. African Forests

Central Africa Kongo  Agricultural with highly divided gender roles  Extremely well-organized government Zimbabwe  Complex stone structures