1 / 30

Empires of Sub-Saharan Africa

Empires of Sub-Saharan Africa. Iron Technology's Impact on West Africa. Before the Discovery of Iron Most people were hunter-gatherers Tools and weapons were made of bone and stone fixed to sticks The Nok Use of Iron Technology after 500 B.C.E.

kyrie
Download Presentation

Empires of Sub-Saharan Africa

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Empires of Sub-Saharan Africa

  2. Iron Technology's Impact on West Africa • Before the Discovery of Iron • Most people were hunter-gatherers • Tools and weapons were made of bone and stone fixed to sticks • The Nok Use of Iron Technology after 500 B.C.E. • Rocks were crushed into small pieces to extract the iron ore • Iron ore was melted in a furnace or over a fire • Hammers were used to beat warm iron into tools or weapons

  3. Iron Brings Revolutionary Changes • More efficient farming developed due to iron tools such as axes and hoes • Larger meat supply was produced due to iron-tipped weapons • Permanent settlements grew along rivers as the number of farms increased • Job specialization led to the production of more trade goods

  4. Early Trade Centers Develop • Jenne-jeno: inhabitants used Niger River as a natural highway for trade • Trade brought great wealth to those who controlled the West African cities • Tremendous wealth allowed West African leaders to build powerful armies, which were used to invade neighboring territories

  5. Bantu Migrations • Bantu Origins • Bantu people originated in West Africa– part of the Nok people • After 500 B.C.E., iron technology allowed for increased food production and population

  6. Bantus migrated to central and southern Africa in three waves, between 500 B.C.E. – 1500 C.E.

  7. Bantu Societies • Economy based on hunting, fishing and farming • In most, basic unit was household, or family • Most Bantu people lived in villages of 5-200 families • Gender roles were clearly defined • Age grades defined specific responsibilities • Village council of elders made decisions

  8. The Kingdom of Gold • Trans-Saharan Trade • North Africans brought salt to trade for gold • Wangarans brought gold to trade for salt • Ghana exploited geographic location and military power to tax all traders

  9. Indigenous Religions • Believed one god created world, and lesser gods ruled over daily life • Believed disaster could be avoided by pleasing gods with prayer and ritual • Islam • Tolerance for Muslims, but Koumbi divided between Muslims and Soninke • Most government officials and merchants were Soninke converts

  10. Sources of Ghana’s Unity • King’s power was absolute; acted as a sole judge in all criminal matters • Large, powerful army and nobles enforced the king’s decisions • Peasants contributed a portion of their harvest so that city dwellers could focus exclusively on their trade

  11. Sources of Ghana’s Strength (800-1500 C.E.) • Iron weapons allowed Ghana’s large army to conquer neighboring territory • Controlled trans-Saharan gold-salt trade

  12. The Kingdom of Mali Under Mansa Musa • The Fight of Control of Mali: Mandinke vs. Sosso • The Mandinke, under the leadership of Sundiata, controlled Mali • Sumanguru, the leader of the Sossos, captured Koumbi, a city in Mali, in 1203 • Legend indicates that both leaders used magic in the Battle of Kirina • Sundiata’s victory expanded Mandinke territory and began the Empire of Mali

  13. Mansa Musa: Sundiata’s Powerful Successor • Mali at Its Height • Under Musa, Mali was twice the size of Ghana • Mali remained powerful for nearly 200 years • Mansa Musa’s Pilgrimage • Brought thousands of people and camelloads of gold with him • Very generous with his gold

  14. Impact of Pilgrimage on Mali • Mapmakers began to include Mali on maps • Qur’anic schools and Muslim architecture built throughout Mali • Government officials read and wrote in Arabic • Territory was divided into provinces ruled by dugu tigis

  15. The Swahili Coastal Trading States • Geography’s Role in Trade • Sailors took advantage of monsoons to travel between China and East Africa • Kilwa’s deep and large harbor could hold the world’s largest ships

  16. Independent City States • Most important city-states: Mogadishu, Malindi, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Kilwa, and Sofala • Each one rule by an emir or sultan • Rulers were supported by an elaborate and well-educated bureaucracy

  17. Swahili Culture • Bantu-speaking Africans converted to Islam; intermarried with Muslim traders • Swahili language combined Bantu, Arabic, and Indian • Architecture, food, dress, farming, and government reflected combined African and Arabic styles

  18. Trade Dynamics • Chinese brought porcelain, silk and jade • Indians brought spices, rice, and cotton cloth • Arabs and Persians brought incense, glass, pearls, fabric, and Muslim culture • Europeans sought to become a dominant trading power in East Africa

  19. Great Zimbabwe: Monument to the Zimbabwe State • The Shona Build Zimbabwe • Developed economy based on pastoral agriculture • Mastered iron making and mined great quantities of gold • Engaged in trade with coastal cities and taxed visiting traders • Built Great Zimbabwe, capital city, as a sign of the state’s prestige

  20. Zimbabwe’s Decline • Great Zimbabwe was abandoned after 1450 • Some provinces of Zimbabwe state declared independence • Monomutapa Empire replace Zimbabwe as dominant power • Portuguese greed for slaves and gold destroyed Monomutapa

More Related