Today 10/18 & 10/21Reading QuizReading GuideBrief lectureGroup activity

Objective:You will be able to explain

how different religions spread throughout Africa

http://www.africankingdoms.com/Interesting site for further reading

Chapter 8

Common Themes: Classical EraCulture – Similar language base – Bantu

Comes along with some shared cultural characteristics, but should not be interpreted as creating uniformity

Religion - Similar early religious beliefs & practicesAnimism, as well as belief in a creator deityAncestor worshipExistence of magic and need to combat it (priest class)

Similar to W. EuropeMoral and legal foundation for society

Economy - Familial agricultural society

Common Themes Post-Classical

Religion - Influence of Major Religions

Introduced through trade rather than missionary workReligious Divisions:

North-Eastern Africa becomes Christian Ethiopia and Nubia

Northern (Ifriqiya), Western (Maghrib), and South-Eastern (Zenj)Africa becomes MuslimGhana – 10th centurySonghay – 11th centuryMali – 13th century

SyncretismFusion of Islam with animistic/pagan traditions

Common Themes Post-Classical

PoliticsClan system dominates village life

Eventually leads to unified statesIslamic tradition of political/spiritual ruler

(caliph)Rulers appeal to elements of both Islam

and pagan traditionsStates v. Stateless societies

Pros & cons? (taxation, mobilization, building)

Common Themes Post-Classical

EconomicsIncredibly varied levels of economic

sophistication/involvementNorth Africa – very involvedSub-Saharan – varies considerably

Increase in slave trade after introduction of IslamGrowing demand for slaves due to practice of

freeing children of slaves

Common Themes Post-Classical

Society Mixing of Arabic and

African cultureDevelopment of Swahili

(coastal language) mix of Arabic and Bantu

Upper classes influenced more than lower

Side Note

We have talked about the BantuThese are a group of

people who migrated throughout Africa.

We can follow their process by following their language

This is also one of the reasons there are so many languages in Africa todayAbout 500 different

languagesSwahili is one of themCultural diffusion

We also see a spread of ideas and technology

Nubia and Ethiopia

Nubia and EthiopiaReligion and the Spread of Islam

Christian StatesThe people were unhappy with Byzantine

Christians and welcomed Islam Nubia resisted Muslim incursions until the

13th century Ethiopia retained Christianity even with the

increasing pressure from Muslims and a growing Muslim population

Islam spread from here into Somalia

Nubia and EthiopiaPolitics, Culture and Famous People

Fiercely Independent from their neighbors Egypt influenced artGrew out of the Axum Empire

Nubia and EthiopiaGeography, Economics and Trade

the region around the segment of the Nile River that lies in northern Sudan and southernmost Egypt

TradeEthiopia exported gold, ivory etcNubia rich with gold and amethyst

Agricultural

Ghana

GhanaReligion and the Spread of Islam

The animism rulers converted to IslamStill maintained some of their old beliefs

Much of the population did not convert to Islam

GhanaPolitics, Culture and Famous People

Patriarchal government Lead by a council of elders

Power based on trade , wealth (gold), control of conquered areas

Large heterogeneous population (small ethnic core)

Point of contact between north, west, and sub-Saharan

GhanaGeography, Economics and Trade

Slave tradeControlled trans-saharan trade routes

Made the region VERY richTraded: Gold and Salt

Grasslands and forests

Mali

MaliReligion and the Spread of Islam

Muslim EmpireRulers supported Islam

Built Mosques and encouraged prayer5 pillars helped to keep order

Islam spread throughout the area

MaliPolitics, Culture and Famous People

Sundiata: Lion Princeexpanded Mali and created Mali’s political

structureMansa Musa: Most famous of Sundiata

SuccessorsFirst Mali king to pilgrimage to Mecca Clear social divisions under Mansa Sundiata

MaliGeography, Economics and Trade

Agriculturally basedTraded gold (Juula)Tradition of active trade

Traded throughout the empireSpread its territory into Western Africa

Songhay

SonghayReligion and the Spread of Islam

Created a unique brand of IslamA fusion of Islam and local spiritual beliefs

Islam spread through merchants who joined the local communityIntermarriage

Rulers were generally Muslim but the population was generally not Muslims

SonghayPolitics, Culture and Famous People

Sunni Ali: ruthless, tactical commander who expanded the boardersTimbuktu

Women mixed freely in society without veils

SonghayGeography, Economics and Trade

Middle of Niger River ValleyGao became a large city for tradeGot the gold from Western Africa Agriculturally based

Central African States

Central AfricaReligion and the Spread of Islam

Mostly beyond the influence of IslamKongo converted to Christianity

Central AfricaPolitics, Culture and Famous People

Political authority was based on Kingship not KinshipDivine familial ruleDevelopment of bureaucracy

Art: weaving, pottery, blacksmithingDivision of labor between men and womenCentralized authority

Council of states

Central AfricaGeography, Economics and Trade

South of rain forest near Lake VictoriaSharp division of laborAgricultural Traded salt

Source of gold

Swahili States

Swahili StatesReligion and the Spread of Islam

Almost all rulers and merchants were Muslims

Islamicized trading cities developed as a result of contacts with trading partners from Arabia, Persia, India, and China

Islam provided a universal set of ethics and beliefs that made their maritime contacts easier

Swahili StatesPolitics, Culture and Famous People

Shared language Mosques were buildRoyal courts

Swahili StatesGeography, Economics and Trade

Heavily based on long-distance trade with India, Middle East, and the MediterraneanBecame strong due to trade

Swahili cities were important trading ports for trade with the Middle East and Far

Fishing and farming