1. Spread of Christianity & Islam in Africa
Comparative Civilizations 12

2. initial spread of Christianity
Can see on the map how close Egypt/Northeast Africa is to the homeland of Christianity in Jerusalem
Christianity began in Jerusalem 2000 years ago
Based on teachings of Jesus
Used Roman infrastructure (e.g. roads) to help spread message
Jesus left no writings, so early Church was divided over beliefs and practices & many sects were founded

3. Christianity in Northeast AFRICA
1st century: reached Egypt
By 7th century, Coptics dominate Egypt
Similar rituals & structure to Catholics
More emphasis on contemplative, monastic life
Spread to Axum in 4th century
Ethiopia never colonized, so unique form of Christianity developed there (Ethiopian Orthodox Church)
Lost ground to Islam, but 15% of Egyptians are still Coptic today
Images are from Christian Ethiopian artist Adamu Tesfaw
Top: St. Yared with Holy Family
Bottom: St. George slaying the dragon
Axum is 1st Christian state
Ethiopia is the oldest continuous nation-state in Africa
Ethiopian Orthodox Church is similar to Coptics
Spread to Nubia in 8th century, but lost ground to Islam

4. Christianity in west Africa
Spread to interior restricted by spread of Islam
Portuguese brought Catholic missionaries to Africa’s West coast in 16th century
Successfully converted many in Kingdom of Kongo
Portugal explored West coast of Africa looking for new route to Asia
Kingdom of Kongo was a large territory along the Congo River encompassing modern Gabon, the two Congos and Angola

5. Christianity in west africa
Kongolese had mutually beneficial trade relationship with Portuguese
Portuguese encouraged Kongolese to raid non-Christian territories for slave trade which weakened the kingdom
18th century: Beatrice Kimpa Vita established Antonine church (more reflective of Kongolese traditions)
1st example of an African Independent Church
Image: Beatrice Kimpa Vita I (artist’s representation)
Kongo weakened because raiding neighbouring areas for slaves caused retaliatory attacks on them
Vita claimed St. Anthony had come to her in a dream to inspire her new church
Taught that Jesus was actually from Kongo

6. Christianity & The Slave trade
Churches looked the other way during early slave trade
Abolitionist movement started by Christians
African slaves often converted to Christianity & many were active Abolitionists
Initially Christians found Bible passages to support slavery & benefitted from large donations from wealthy slave owners
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Abolitionists also found Bible passages condemning slavery

7. Christianity & COLONIALISM
Europeans encouraged missionaries to increase conversions believing shared Christianity would increase support for colonial rule
Missionaries opened schools & hospitals
The symbiotic relationship between colonists and missionaries was strongest in countries with small Muslim populations
Discouraged missionary work in Muslim areas to avoid offence and maintain alliances
Schools and hospitals opened by missionaries were important institutions as colonial powers were unwilling to spend money on providing these services to Africans

8. African Independent Churches
Beginning in 19th & 20th centuries, many Africans formed their own churches due to:
Racism
Desire to incorporate African beliefs into Christian faith
AICs are fastest growing religious movement in Africa
Racism particularly frustrated devout, educated Africans who were denied high church positions
Estimated that there may be up to 7000 different AICs in Africa

9. initial spread of ISLAM
Can see early spread of Islam. Notice correlation on map from last day’s handout: most predominantly Muslim countries are in these purple zones and most predominantly Christian countries today are located in the grey territory.
Islam began in Mecca in what is today Saudi Arabia in 610
Based on the teachings of Muhammad (God’s final prophet)
Spread easily to North and East Africa after its founding because of close proximity and because Arab Muslims were already used to navigating desert conditions in their homeland and were experienced sea traders

10. ISLAM in Northeast & NORTHAFRICA
Egypt mostly Christian in 7th century, so it took several hundred years to spread
From Egypt, Arab traders spread Islam to Nubia and across North Africa
Only became dominant religion in North Africa during Arab rule beginning in 12th century
Coptic Christians were the dominant group
Egypt’s rulers at time spoke Arabic, but even they were slow to convert
Nubia=modern Sudan and Eritrea (didn’t spread very successfully in Ethiopia where Christianity was strong)
Due to Arab rule, Arabic is the official language and Islam is the main religion of most North African countries including Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco
North Africa only place where Arab political control accompanied the spread of Islam
Images: Muhammad Ali Mosque in Cairo, Egypt (top) and mosque in Garian, Libya

11. Trade & The SPREAD OF ISLAM
Arab traders brought Islam to the east coast by 780 & it slowly caught on becoming the major religion by the 15th century
Berber trade caravans brought Islam across the Sahara to West Africa by the 12th century
Muslim clerics & scholars came with them
They converted the rulers before trying to convert the general population
Arab traders had been trading along the Swahili coast for hundred of years before the founding of Islam
Berbers were one of the groups in North Africa who had converted to Islam during its early spread through that region
Some of the clerics and scholars most famous converts were great leaders of the West African kingdoms, like Mansa Musa

12. ISLAM & The Slave trade
17th century: Dutch colonists imported Muslim slaves from their South East Asian colonies spreading Islam to South Africa
late 18th & 19th century: Islam spread to interior East Africa when Arab-Swahili plantation owners began to import slaves from that region
It’s spread in these regions was stopped by colonialism
Plantations grew things like coconuts, sugar and spices
The Arab-Swahili businessmen would work with certain kingdoms in the interior to obtain slaves and this business relationship eventually caused the faith to spread
Later, cheap Indian labourers were brought in to work plantations in South Africa and many of them were also Muslim (20th century)

13. reasons for Islam's success in africa
It spread gradually and without force
It adapted to and absorbed aspects of African culture and religion
Education is important in Islam, so Qur'anic schools, libraries and universities were present in Africa long before Christian missionaries established schools
Islam’s tradition of charity has helped the poor in many parts of the country
#2 example: Communal nature of African society reflected in the Muslim Brotherhoods that bring Muslims together in order to accomplish a common task.