1. The Muslim World and Africa (730 B.C.–A.D. 1500)
Topic 2 Lesson 7 Trading States of East Africa

2. The Muslim World and Africa (730 B.C.–A.D. 1500)
Topic 2 Lesson 7 Trading States of East Africa
Learning Objectives
Explain how religion influenced the development of Axum and Ethiopia.
Understand how trade affected the city-states in East Africa.
Describe the economy of Great Zimbabwe.

3. An Ideal Location for Trade
Axum
An Ideal Location for Trade
The people of Axum are African farmers and people from the Middle East who brought Jewish tradition with them
The port of Adulis on the Red Sea and the city of Axum allowed it to have a triangle trade that connected Africa, India, and the Mediterranean
Africa: Ivory, animal hides, gold
India: Iron, spices, precious stones, and cotton cloth from India
Christianity Takes Hold
Christianity reaches Axum by the 300’s
King Ezana converts to Christianity and makes it the country’s official religion
Islam Spreads
In the 600’s Islam spreads across North Africa and area around Axum. Axum will be isolated b/c they are Christian. This will help their decline

4. Axum
Analyze Maps Axum’s location allowed the kingdom to become a hub of trade in East Africa. Based on the map, why did Axum become a favorite center for maritime traders?

5. Axum
This antique crown with Christian symbols was found in Axum, which for much of its history was a center of Christianity in Africa.

6. Ethiopia
A Distinctive Culture
The mountains will allow the Axumites to maintain their independence for centuries
Following Christian beliefs will also help make them distinct
King Lalibela (early 1200’s) comes into power and build 11 churches into the mountain, still around today
They will make pilgrimages to Jerusalem, adopt local custom over the years
Judaism in Ethiopia
Ethiopian Kings claim descent from King Solomon (Israel) and the Queen of Sheba. This belief is recorded in an ancient Ethopian book and that they follow some Jewish holidays and dietary laws
Some Ethiopians practiced Judaism but left Ethiopia in the late 1900’s to go to Israel following persecutions and famine

7. A portrait of King Lalibela, ruler of Ethiopia in the early 1200s

8. City-States of East Africa
Trade in the Indian Ocean
Monsoon winds would take traders from Africa to India in June and then in October the winds would blow back to Africa
African goods: Ivory, leopard skins, iron, copper, gold
India/China goods: cotton, silk, spices, porcelain, glassware, swords
All of this trade will make strong city states
Trade Influences Swahili
All this trade will lead to a culture and language named Swahili
As these cities grew in size and wealth traders from the Middle East and Asia will settle here
These cities will absorb the culture of the new residents
Eventually the language will be written using Arab script

9. City-States of East Africa
Traders from Europe, Asia, and the interior of Africa descended on East Africa to trade enslaved people and ivory, gold, and other goods.

10. City-States of East Africa
Trade brought great wealth and different cultural influences to the region. The Great Mosque in Kilwa reflects the prosperity and the spread of Islam that trade brought to the area.

11. City-States of East Africa
The Travels of Ibn Battuta
A Muslim who completes his studies by the age of 21, he goes on his pilgrimage to Mecca
He takes 30 years and goes to Southeast Asia, West Africa, Southern Russia, India, and China
He writes a book called Travel in which he describes the places and people that he meets.
He will describe the trading rituals followed by one of these city-states, Mogadishu

12. City-States of East Africa
Analyze Maps In 1325, a Moroccan named Ibn Battuta began one of the greatest trips of medieval times, visiting Asia, parts of Europe, and the Middle East. In which general direction did Ibn Battuta travel from the Caspian Sea to Delhi?

13. An Inland Trading Center
Great Zimbabwe
An Inland Trading Center
Zimbabwe means stone houses
People who started here brought iron, mining methods, and improved farming in the 900’s
By the 1300’s it will reach the height of its power. It will have beads from India, porcelain from China and they will export gold and cloth
Very little is known about the government however
Zimbabwe Declines
By the 1500’s Zimbabwe is in decline
Too much population, civil war, dwindling trade are factors
The Portuguese looking for gold mines inland also helped weaken the area.
Overproduction of land also led to famine

14. Great Zimbabwe
Apply Concepts The Great Enclosure, a portion of which is shown here, is one of the two major ruins of Great Zimbabwe. Why would the ruler of Great Zimbabwe build such a tremendous structure?