ISLAMIC EMPIRES IN AFRICA AND INDIA

WEST AFRICA (MALI) Replaced Ghana, but LARGER and MUSLIM Grew from Sub-Saharan trade route – controlled gold fields Sundiata founded empire and took over cities such as Gao, Jenne Griots – oral historians told stories of Sundiata He created basic rules and relationships of society – clans & jobs, crime punished

MANSA MUSA Mansa (“emperor”) Musa pilgrimmage to Mecca showed wealth Ibn Battuta saw Mali’s government as safe (p.378)

Timbuktu – Sankore Mosque Timbuktu became a great trading and financial capital and later a center of learning: universities, libraries and over 150 schools devoted to the Qur’an.

SONGHAY Songhay replaced Mali in Niger valley Sunni Aki took over Timbuktu and Jenne A fusion of Islamic, pagan and African traditions…local interpretation meant that men and women mixed freely, women went unveiled – often matrilineal

INDIA – DELHI SULTANATE Indian Islam more violent than Africa – Hindu’s never forgave the violence (problems later) NORTHERN INDIA: Sultan Iltutmish became a benign ruler – gave throne to daughter Raziya Raziya never accepted: later Sultan Muhammad ibn Tughluq (tolerated other religions) and Sultan Firuz Shah (no toleration, taxed Brahmins) Islam helped centralize political authority

INDIAN OCEAN TRADE : more trade in Indian Ocean Dhow produced in SW India on Malabar coast Junks were larger and developed in China Ibn Battuta describes 12 sails, 1000 men crew Trade decentralized and cooperative

SWAHILI/ZIMBABWE AND ADEN Swahili cities such as Kilwa exported gold near Great Zimbabwe (GZ) GZ economy: agriculture, cattle herding, trade Aden: S. Arabia: rainfall for drinking water, grain – stopover for trade from India to Africa “sorting spot” (cotton-India; spices-SE; horses-Arabia; pearls-Red Sea;slaves/gold/ivory-Ethiopia; grain & opium) Great Zimbabwe declined because of deforestation

MALABAR COAST and MALACCA INDIA: Malabar Coast – Trade included: cotton, leather skins, embroidey, gold thread, linen, silk, gemstones, jewelry, ivory, beads Calicut, Cambay SE ASIA: Malacca - Sumatra and Siam – Islamic trade instead of Hindu helped it grow

SOCIAL & CULTURAL CHANGES Islamic influence in Africa & Asia saw changes in architecture – rock carving in Africa Islam brought literacy to Africa (arabic script) Islam brought study of law, administration, math, medicine, Greek science Delhi, Timbuktu & Malacca learning centers Islam usually spread peacefully through trade, marriage but developed differently by adopting local practices

SOCIAL AND GENDER DISTINCTIONS Elites and commoners gap widened with wealth of trade In India, some lower castes adopted Islam as it offered “hope” from inequalities of Hinduism Slavery increased in Africa and India Slaves were often trained for special purposes Women’s status determined by males: India women expected to marry before puberty African Muslim women: not required veil, could interact with men