1. The
African
Connection

2. Early Africa
Diverse – large centralized states (Egypt, Kush, Axum) to stateless societies
Bantu migrations (2000 BCE – 1000 CE) spread agriculture & herding
Use of iron after 500 BCE
Cultivated yams, sorghum, and millet
Introduction of bananas after 500 CE caused migration and population surge
3.5 million in 400 BCE to 22 million by 1000 CE

3. Social and political organization centered around the family – no centralized government
Around 640, Islam spread into the northern part of Africa, bringing with it the unifying forces of religious practices and law
Many African rulers converted & centralized states began to form (Berbers of the Sahara)
Result = Islam mixed with native cultures
Nonviolent spread was very conducive to trade
Islands of Christianity -- Copts in Egypt, Nubia, Axum (Ethiopia)

4. West African
Kingdoms

5. GHANA
Formed by the 700s
Grew rich from taxing goods that traders carried through their territory
Most important asset was gold from the Niger River area that they traded for salt from the Sahara – King had exclusive right to the gold nuggets but……everyone else could have the dust……
By 10th century, Ghana’s ruler and elites converted to Islam
By 13th century CE surrounded by Mali…………

6. Salt was sometimes more valuable than gold!
People’s bodies need salt to live
In the desert heat, salt is lost through perspiration
Salt was used to preserve food
Salt was brought in large slabs (coins)

7. Gold-Salt Trade Berbers SALT
Camels allowed traders to travel across the Sahara
GOLD

8. MALI Became larger, more powerful, and richer than Ghana
Wealth based on gold
Sundiata,
Mansa Musa
Timbuktu – world center of trade, education and sophistication

9. Timbuktu-”Heavenly Clay”

10. MANSA MUSA’S HAJJ
1324 – sets off on a journey across the Sahara to Mecca
100 hundred camels carrying a ton of gold dust and 500 salves, each carrying a 6 pound gold walking stick
Cairo – devalues the Egyptian economy
Put Mali on that map as the “land of gold”……..15th century Portuguese explorers……

11. East Africa
City-States

12. Swahili civilization of East Africa - blend of Bantu with commercial life of Indian Ocean (Islamic)
Growing demand for East African products
African merchant class developed with towns & kingships
Height of civilization was between 1000 & 1500 CE
Very urban
Politically independent, ruled by king (emir
Sharp class distinctions

13. Architecture, food, dress, farming, and government reflected combined African and Arabic styles
KILWA

15. Arab Traders of the Swahili City-States
Used the monsoon winds to get small boats (Dhows) from the African coast to the Arabian peninsula or India
Muslim sailors
Wide-spread conversion

17. Great
Zimbabwe

18. “Zimbabwe” = “stone enclosure”
Great Zimbabwe [ ]
Settled between 500 & 1000 CE by Bantu-speaking people called the Shona
Economy based on pastoral agriculture
Expert Iron workers
Discovered gold along the coast – began to trade with merchants from the Indian Ocean coast
State became known – built city between CE
Abandoned around the year 1450??????
“Zimbabwe” = “stone enclosure”

20. How Does Islam Adapt in Africa?
Appealed to ruling elite and merchants
Converts took Islam seriously, built mosques and schools
Accommodated African gender relations – women had more freedom than in other parts of the Islamic world
Supplemented rather than replaced traditional relations

21. Christian
African
Kingdoms

22. “Islands of Christianity”
Christian Egyptians
Copts
Traded with Byzantine Empire
Difference – split with Eastern Orthodox Church
Allowed to keep religion by Muslim invaders – “People of the Book” -- tolerance

23. Axum > Ethiopia
Most important African Christian outpost
Cut off, influenced by Jewish & pagan immigrants
Dynasty traces origins to marriage of Solomon & Sheba
Maintained isolated brand of Christianity

25. Central
African
Kingdoms

26. Kingdom of the Kongo
Villages formed small states along Congo River around 1000 CE
Small states formed principalities, 1200 CE
One becomes strong – maintained strong centralized government, with a currency system
Very effective until 17th century when Portuguese arrive…………..

27. What role does Africa play in the cross-cultural interactions of this time period?
Formation of trade and religious centers tied to Eurasia
Land and sea trade routes to link AfroEurAsia