1. By: Alyssa Simmons Class of 2018
Chapter 13: Kingdoms and States of Medieval Africa Lesson 2: Kingdoms and States of Africa
By: Alyssa Simmons Class of 2018

2. Social (Ghana) Most people were farmers who loved in villages
Citizens were born into their social class/level
Women:
Bared/raised children, harvested crops
Men:
Hunters and farmers

3. Political (Ghana) Kings governed the entire kingdom
Kings governed with no written laws
Villages governed by local rulers, who were appointed by the king

4. Interaction Between Humans and the Environment (Ghana)
Planted and harvested crops
Camel caravans traveled across the Sahara
Mansa Musa began to take pilgrimages to Makkah

5. Culture (Ghana) Muslim merchants spread religious influences
Religious ideas and technology also spread
Skilled in the art of crafts
Sculpting and weaving

6. Economy (Ghana) Relied mostly on trade Mainly gold and salt
Imports included, metal goods, textiles, horses, and salt
Exports included ivory, hides and slaves

7. Social (Songhai) Society organized by a caste system
social elite consisted of individuals with ties to the imperial family
Below the elite are common citizens
Consisted of the nations agricultural and military employees
Citizens couldn’t move between levels of the caste systems

8. Political (Songhai)
Under Sunni Ali; one ruler controlled both the military and the government
Under Muhammad Ture; five provinces were ruled by a governor while an emperor ruled overall

9. Interaction Between Humans and the Environment (Songhai)
Raised crops and cattle
Used the Niger River as a source of fresh water
Conquered territories, resulting in some destruction of land and animals

10. Culture (Songhai)
Became a blending of traditional West African beliefs and the Islamic religion
Daily life was ruled by traditions and local customs while the law of the land was governed by Islam.

11. Economy (Songhai)
Like other regions in the area Songhai prospered in the gold and salt trade
Cowrie shells were used as a medium of exchange

12. Social (East Africa) The Bantus migrated in small groups
Mostly relied on subsistence farming, along with hunting and gathering
Women: tilled fields, took care of children
Men: did the hunting and trading

13. Political (East Africa)
Bantus people lived in stateless societies
Eventually the societies began to be ruled by kings

14. Interaction Between Humans and the Environment (East Africa)
Established cities, using natural recourses to do so.
Grew crops to live a subsistence farming lifestyle
Tilled fields, hunted wild animals, domesticated livestock, and gathered natural foods

15. Culture (East Africa)
Spreading of Islam also showed an increase in regional trade
Culture was a blending of African-Arabian, creating Swahili
Intermarriage common among the ruling class
Swahili language emerging as a result of the trade between Arab lands and Bantu people

16. Economy (East Africa)
Like many other regions East Africa was active in the salt and gold trade, mainly between Arab and Bantu peoples
Also active in the regional sea trade

17. Social (South Africa)
Many people lived in stateless societies, which created the first southern states
In some regions people lived independent villages
Both relied on farming and cattle herding for food

18. Political (South Africa)
Independent villages ruled by a local chieftain, or clan leader

19. Interactions Between Humans and the Environment (South Africa)
Built The Great Enclosure, by stacking granite blocks without mortar
Smaller enclosures and houses built of mud-like cement
Relied on farming and cattle herding

20. Culture (South Africa)
Basic handicrafts were well developed in Bantu villages
Spinning, weaving, pottery making, and carpentry
Loyalty to the clan was most important
Customary beliefs lay on top of all social and political institutions
profound awareness of human interdependence. 

21. Economy (South Africa)
Had a mixed economy
Farming, trading, and cattle herding
Also active in the gold trade