Africa and the Spread of IslamAfrica and the Spread of Islam

Stateless Societies – while some African Stateless Societies – while some African societies were organized in the traditional societies were organized in the traditional hierarchy of officials – but others were hierarchy of officials – but others were loosely linked through connections of loosely linked through connections of families or religion.families or religion.

Common Elements in African Societies:Common Elements in African Societies: Bantu language basedBantu language based AnimismAnimism Ancestor worshipAncestor worship

North AfricaNorth Africa

Classical AntiquityClassical Antiquity Cultural Diffusion through Cultural Diffusion through

invasioninvasion IFRIQIYA – Roman term IFRIQIYA – Roman term

for Africa – controlled by for Africa – controlled by the Muslimsthe Muslims

MAGHRIB – Arabic term MAGHRIB – Arabic term for western Africa for western Africa “sunset”“sunset”

Many of the native North Many of the native North Africans disliked Arab Africans disliked Arab domination – BERBERS domination – BERBERS – organized their own – organized their own cities in the westcities in the west

1000s - ALMORAVIDS – 1000s - ALMORAVIDS – a Berber dynasty that led a Berber dynasty that led a holy war or JIHAD to a holy war or JIHAD to spread Islam into north spread Islam into north Africa and into SpainAfrica and into Spain

1130 C.E. – the 1130 C.E. – the ALMOHADIS followed the ALMOHADIS followed the same pattern into north same pattern into north Africa and Spain Africa and Spain

KushKush

In the upper Nile was the kingdom of In the upper Nile was the kingdom of Nubia which provided ancient Egypt gold, Nubia which provided ancient Egypt gold, ostrich feathers, and other riches. Nubia ostrich feathers, and other riches. Nubia was at times under Egyptian control and was at times under Egyptian control and sometimes independent.sometimes independent.

In the 800s B.C.E., the Nubians organized In the 800s B.C.E., the Nubians organized their land into the kingdom of KUSH. their land into the kingdom of KUSH. Influenced by Egyptian culture, the Influenced by Egyptian culture, the kingdom of Kush prospered for centuries.kingdom of Kush prospered for centuries.

AxsumAxsum

About 330 C.E./A.D., Kush was conquered by its About 330 C.E./A.D., Kush was conquered by its southeastern neighbor – the kingdom of southeastern neighbor – the kingdom of AXSUM. AXSUM.

The people of Axsum were some of the earliest The people of Axsum were some of the earliest Christians. They were a trading people – Christians. They were a trading people – providing the world with African luxuries.providing the world with African luxuries.

The trading importance of the Axsum was taken The trading importance of the Axsum was taken over by the Arabs in the 700s A.D./C.E. – but the over by the Arabs in the 700s A.D./C.E. – but the kingdom and culture remain today – known as kingdom and culture remain today – known as ETHIOPIA.ETHIOPIA.

EthiopiaEthiopia

Christianity was the first Christianity was the first universalist religion to take root universalist religion to take root in north east Africa – Egypt in north east Africa – Egypt and Ethiopiaand Ethiopia

Ethiopian king Lalibela - Ethiopian king Lalibela - Ethiopian Christianity grew in Ethiopian Christianity grew in isolation from Orthodox or isolation from Orthodox or Roman Christianity – Roman Christianity – influenced by Judaism and influenced by Judaism and pagan neighborspagan neighbors

Geez – language of Axum for Geez – language of Axum for religious speechreligious speech

Amharis – secular speechAmharis – secular speech Isolation and Independence of Isolation and Independence of

EthiopiaEthiopia

GrasslandsGrasslands

Sahel – grass lands that spread across the Sahel – grass lands that spread across the southern edges of the Saharasouthern edges of the Sahara

Merchants and caravans carried Islam and Merchants and caravans carried Islam and Arabic cultureArabic culture

Sudanic StatesSudanic States

GhanaGhana About 300 A.D./C.E., the About 300 A.D./C.E., the

kingdom of GHANA was kingdom of GHANA was one of the most important one of the most important regions of west Africa. regions of west Africa. Ghana was known for its Ghana was known for its gold and its high levels of gold and its high levels of political organization.political organization.

1235 A.D./C.E.- the 1235 A.D./C.E.- the kingdom of Ghana was kingdom of Ghana was transformed into the MALI transformed into the MALI EMPIREEMPIRE

Islam and indigenous ideas of kingshipIslam and indigenous ideas of kingship Many of the African rulers adopted Islam Many of the African rulers adopted Islam

and used the religion as a royal cult. and used the religion as a royal cult. Initially, the populace did not convert in Initially, the populace did not convert in large numbers.large numbers.

The kingdoms of Mali and Songhay rose The kingdoms of Mali and Songhay rose as fusions of Islamic and indigenous as fusions of Islamic and indigenous African cultures.African cultures.

MaliMali

MaliMali Malinke – name of the Malinke – name of the

peoplepeople Juula – Malinke merchantsJuula – Malinke merchants Sundiata – Malinke ruler Sundiata – Malinke ruler

who led Mali to great who led Mali to great victories – the “Lion Prince”victories – the “Lion Prince”

Griots – oral historians who Griots – oral historians who spread the story of spread the story of SundiataSundiata

Mansa – Mali term for Mansa – Mali term for emperoremperor

Mansa MusaMansa Musa

In the early 1300s, the Mali In the early 1300s, the Mali emperor MANSA MUSA emperor MANSA MUSA converted to Islam. In 1324, converted to Islam. In 1324, Mansa Musa traveled on Mansa Musa traveled on pilgrimage to Mecca. To pilgrimage to Mecca. To impress the world with the impress the world with the riches of Mali, he traveled with riches of Mali, he traveled with 80,000 attendants carrying 80,000 attendants carrying gold bars and bags of gold gold bars and bags of gold dust. Unfortunately for the dust. Unfortunately for the Middle East, that huge influx of Middle East, that huge influx of gold dropped gold prices and gold dropped gold prices and ruined the economy.ruined the economy.

JenneJenne

TimbuktuTimbuktu

SonghaySonghay

After years of internal power After years of internal power struggles – the Mali Empire was struggles – the Mali Empire was taken over by the kingdom of taken over by the kingdom of SONGHAY.SONGHAY.

The Songhay Empire was the The Songhay Empire was the central of trade in Africa. Traders central of trade in Africa. Traders from Europe, India, and China from Europe, India, and China traded in its capital of TIMBUKTU. traded in its capital of TIMBUKTU. Timbuktu was also a center of Timbuktu was also a center of learning with an important learning with an important university.university.

““masters of the soil”masters of the soil” ““masters of the waters”masters of the waters” Sunni Ali – leader who forged the Sunni Ali – leader who forged the

Songhay empire – seized Songhay empire – seized Timbuktu and the Niger valleyTimbuktu and the Niger valley

Muhammad the Great – Muhammad the Great – extended Songhay to extended Songhay to dominate central Sudandominate central Sudan

In Songhay – Islam blended In Songhay – Islam blended with African culture – men and with African culture – men and women mingling in the streets women mingling in the streets often shocked Muslim clerics often shocked Muslim clerics from outside the empirefrom outside the empire

1591 – Moroccan Muslim army 1591 – Moroccan Muslim army defeated Songhay forces and defeated Songhay forces and led to the breakup of the led to the breakup of the empireempire

Hausa – people of northern Hausa – people of northern Nigeria also combined Muslim Nigeria also combined Muslim and pagan traditionsand pagan traditions

Swahili Coast of East AfricaSwahili Coast of East Africa

Zenj – Arab term for east African coastZenj – Arab term for east African coast Ibn Batuta – Moroccan Berber scholar and Ibn Batuta – Moroccan Berber scholar and

explorer 1304-1368explorer 1304-1368 Indian-Chinese-African tradeIndian-Chinese-African trade

BantuBantu Swahili – Arabic influence – “coastal”Swahili – Arabic influence – “coastal”

NokNok

Yoruba - OyoYoruba - Oyo

Benin City – now part of NigeriaBenin City – now part of Nigeria

Great Zimbabwe 11Great Zimbabwe 11thth-14-14thth centuries centuries