Societies and Empires of Africa

1. Societies and Empires of Africa Chapter 15

2. SSWH6 The student will describe the diverse characteristics of early African societies before 1800. • a. Identify the Bantu migration patterns and contribution to settled agriculture. • b. Describe the development and decline of the Sudanic kingdoms (Ghana, Mali, Songhai); include the roles of Sundiata, and the pilgrimage of Mansa Musa to Mecca. • c. Describe the trading networks by examining trans-Saharan trade in gold, salt, and slaves; include the Swahili trading cities. • d. Analyze the process of religious syncretism as a blending of traditional African beliefs with new ideas from Islam and Christianity.

3. Essential Questions • What changes occurred in the Sudanic kingdoms as a result of the role of Sundiata and Mansa Musa. •  How was the role of trade and merchant religious faith instrumental in the spread of Islam in Africa? • What connection did Arab traders have with the Swahili coast and in what ways did that connection bring about change? • How did the trade routes of Asia and the Mediterranean facilitate the movement of ideas between these regions?

4. Essential Questions (continued) • How did the slash and burn agriculture of the Bantu people affect the migration of this group? • What changes were brought to Sub-Saharan Africa as a result of the Bantu migrations? • How was religious syncretism expressed in the Islamic regions of Africa?

5. Main Ideas • Around 640, Islam created two North African Empires. Merchants and traders spread Islam into both West and East Africa, where it influenced rulers. • Location of gold determined trade routes. • Only African city-states and empires that were able to tax and control trade became wealthy and powerful.

6. Timeline • 800 Empire of Ghana thrives on trade • 850 Byzantine Empire spreads to Russia • 1000 Hausa city-states emerge • 1095 First Crusades begin • 1100 Yoruba Kingdom of Life is established • 1235 Sundiata founds Mali Empire • 1324 Mali king Mansa Musa goes on hajj to Mecca • 1347 Bubonic Plague devastates Europe • 1464 Sunni Ali begins Songhai Empire

7. Section 1: North and Central Societies Stateless societies: • Leadership based on lineage (descendents) • No centralized system • Patrilineal – ancestry through fathers Muslim states 0f North Africa • 670 Muslims conquer Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco • Governments based on Islamic law • Relied on religious scholars as Islamic law regulated life

9. Section 2: West African Civilizations • Ghana (ruler) • Gold and salt most important trade near Niger River • Salt trade important near Sahara Desert • Use of camels essential to trade – Arab and Berbers • Tax collectors insured growth of the empire • 800 Ghana becomes and Empire • Only king had right to own gold thus limiting supply to keep prices up • King was religious leader, judge and military commander • Islamic influence: • Islam spread through conquest – • People maintain animist religions and honor Islam • Arabic becomes the language with the study of the Qur’an

11. Ghana • http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/30300-assignment-discovery-the-ghana-empire-video.htm

12. Mali Empire • Mali • Wealth built on gold • Mali leader Sundiata became mansa (emporer) • Captures old Ghana Empire • Had administration in place to conduct finances, defense and foreign affairs • Reopens salt-gold trade interrupted by wars • Mansa Musa: • Converts to Islam: built mosques, attended prayers • 100,000 army exercised control of trade and rebellion • Hajj: upon return, builds new mosques in Timbuktu • Visited by IbnBattuta – Famous Muslim Traveler

13. Mali • http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/29489-assignment-discovery-mali-empire-video.htm

14. Songhai • Sunni Ali: built empire by military conquest • Riverboat fleets of war canoes/mobile horse back units • Captured Timbuktu and takes over trade • Askia Muhammad • Leads a Muslim protest over lack of religious practice • Set up efficient tax system • Centralized government • Ministers of Navy, Treasury, Army and Agriculture • Problems: • Lacked modern weapons • Moroccan force with gunpowder and cannons quickly defeat the Songhai

15. Section 3: Eastern City-States • 1100 Bantu-speaking peoples migrated establishing fishing and farming villages • Seaports and trade developed between Arabia, Persia, and India • These foreign traders settled in East Africa • Arabic blending with Bantu created the Swahili language • 1300 trading cities included Mogadishu and Kilwa • These empires controlled incoming and outgoing trade • Wealthy Muslim empire • Location made it easy for Indian ship to trade during monsoon season • Portuguese view the wealth and took the cities of Kilwa and Mombasa

16. Essential Question Review • What changes occurred in the Sudanic kingdoms as a result of the role of Sundiata and Mansa Musa. •  How was the role of trade and merchant religious faith instrumental in the spread of Islam in Africa? • What connection did Arab traders have with the Swahili coast and in what ways did that connection bring about change? • How did the trade routes of Asia and the Mediterranean facilitate the movement of ideas between these regions?

17. Essential Questions (continued) • How did the slash and burn agriculture of the Bantu people affect the migration of this group? • What changes were brought to Sub-Saharan Africa as a result of the Bantu migrations? • How was religious syncretism expressed in the Islamic regions of Africa?

18. African Kingdoms Activity Research the emergence and decline of one of the African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. Identify the role of individuals, the spread of Islam and the economic activities of the Sahel and report to the other groups. You will then share information through a jigsaw activity. To complete the activity, write a summary comparing the three kingdoms’ similarities and differences.