African Civilizations and the Spread of Islam

1. African Civilizations and the Spread of Islam

2. 1. African Societies: Diversity and Similarities 2. Kingdoms of the Grasslands 3. The Swahili Coast of East Africa 4. People of the Forest and Plains African Civilizations and Islam

3. Political forms Vary • Sometimes influenced by Christians and Muslims • Different Religions • Extreme cultural diversity African Societies:Diversity and Similarities

4. Stateless societies were controlled by Kinship Institutions • Lacked Authority Structures • Incorporated more people • Secret societies • Important in social life, would limit ruler’s authority • Weaknesses • Delayed ability to respond to outside pressures, mobilize for war, undertake large building projects, create stability for long term trade. Societies With and Without States

5. Bantu Migration • Expansion of Bantu over time video • One Language base • Animism- well developed ideas of good an evil • Cosmology • Ethical Code • Lineage important in relation with god • Deceased related to spiritual world Common Elements in African Societies

6. Economies • N Africa- integrated into the world economy • Sub- Saharan- varying structures • Present was iron work • Both men and women were important in market life • Little know about population, but it is known that by 1500 it may have been close to 30-60 million Common Elements in African Societies

7. Part of Mediterranean • Arrival of Islam • Spain, by 711 • (Indigenousness) Berber Almoravids • Western Sahara • Assist conversion • Almohads opposing group • Succeed Berbers, 12th Century • Equality of Believers, political unity, and religious world appealed to many leaders • However social disparities continued between men and women The Arrival of Islam in North Africa

8. Copts • Egyptian Christians –rich independent tradition, but oppressed Byzantine Christians • Welcome Muslims • Spread to Nubia (Kush)- resisted Muslim incursion, until the 13 century • Ethiopia • Heirs to Axum- formed in the 13th and 14th century • King Lalibela- built great rock churches The Christian Kingdoms: Nubia and Ethiopia

9. Caravans Across Sahara • Sahel (grassland) • Transfer point • Camels were unable to carry goods to humid forest zones such as the Sahel, until new states emerged like Ghana Kingdoms of the Grasslands

10. Rule Sacred- ruled from lineage • Islam • From 900’s • Supports State • Most important states • Mali • Songhay Sudanic States

12. Malinke people from Ghana • Strengthened by Islam • Agriculture and gold trade economic base • Sundiata (c. 1260) expansion and government based on CLAN structure • Mansa (ruler) • Expanded states The Empire of Mali and Sundiata, The “Lion Prince”

13. Mansa Kankan Musa • Pilgrimage to mecca • Brings back Ishak al-Sahili • Architect from Muslim Spain • Beaten clay architecture The Empire of Mali and Sundiata, The “Lion Prince”

14. Jenne, Timbuktu • Thrive with expansion of Mali, Songhay • Residence scholars, craft specialist, foreign merchant, and developed what is current day SUDAN • Mandinka Juula- Traders, not treason • Merchants • Farmers are the Majority • Problems faced: poor soil, primitive technology, droughts, insect pests. City Dwellers and Villagers

15. Middle Niger Valley • Independent by 700 • Muslim by 1010 • Capital at Gao • Sunni Ali( 1464-1492) • Expanded Territory • Successor is  ASKIA • Defeated by Morocco, 1591 • Hausa States, Northern Nigeria • Kano Becomes Muslim leader The Songhay Kingdom

16. Trading Ports • Muslim influence Strong • Rest of population will remain traditional The Swahili Coast of East Africa

17. Mogadishu, Mombasa, Malindi, Kilwa, Pate Zanzibar • Madagascar • Southeast Asian Immigrants • Bring Bananas, coconuts • Blending Culture (Current day melting pot) • Bantu, Islamic • Swahili • Spreads along coast • Trade with Asia The Coastal Trading Ports

18. Islam Unifies • Along with Swahili • Two Transition of World Population • Prior to 18th century little census taking was done, and it was thought that population grew slowly. Population before 1750 approx 500 Million • At the Birth of the Industrial Revolution, there was an population explosion and continues to grow. 20th century 5 Billion The Mixture of Cultures on the Swahili Coast

19. Artist and Kings: Yoruba and Benin • Nok culture, 500 B.C.E. and 200 CE • Nigerian Forests • Agriculture, iron tools • Hiatus, 200-1000 • Yoruba • Urbanized Agriculturalists • Small city-states • Divine King • Lle-lfe • Holy • Notable portrait beads • Edo • Benin, 14th Century • Ewuare Peoples of the Forest and Plains

20. Bantu close to Cape Horn by 1200 • Form States • Katanga • Luba Peoples • Divine Kingship • Hereditary Bureacurcay Central African Kingdom

21. Kongo • Along the Lower Congo, by the Late 15th Century were large Agriculture society • Weaving, pottery, blacksmithing, and carving • Pronounced gender division of labor • Women Farm, would run the household • Men would clear forest, hunt and trade • Mbanza Kongo • Capital • Federation of 8 States The Kingdoms of the Kongo and the Mwene Mutapa

22. Shona Language group • Zimbabwe (Stone Courts) • By the 9th Century • Great Zimbabwe • Mwene Mutapa • Control of Gold Sources The Kingdoms of the Kongo and the Mwene Mutapa

23. Spread of Islam • Bring sub Saharan Africa into contact with other world regions • Yet some trends develop outside of the region of the Greatest Muslim Influence • Portuguese bring new contacts Global Connection: Internal Developments and global Contacts