Africa and the Arrival of Islam

African states 600-1450

The Swahili StatesFounded by Bantu settlers in 1st millennium CEIslamic merchants settle in coastal villagesSwahili culture emerges by 13th centuryMajor role in Indian Ocean trade networkTrade raw materials for Indian, Islamic, & Chinese luxuries

Great ZimbabweDominates central Africa from 9th-16th centuriesBuilt massive stone enclosures (zimbabwe)Supplied gold to the Swahili coastDeclined due to internal divisions by the 16th century

Trans-Saharan Trade300 C.E. camels replaced horses and donkeys as transport animalsSpeeds travel across the SaharaTrade in gold, salt, and ivory flourishesIslam arrives in 7th century

Rise of Sudanic StatesTrans-Saharan trade led to the rise of the kingdoms in the SudanCommon characteristicsLed by patriarch or council of eldersBased upon ethnic coreRulers were considered sacredIslam reinforced kingship

Kingdom of Ghana (750-1076)Used territorial expansion to control Trans-Saharan trade routesTrade led urbanizationKings converted to Islam by the 10th centuryDid not force upon othersNomadic raids from the Sahara weakened Ghana in the early 13th centurySalt MinesGold Mines

Kingdom of Mali (1230-1620)Malinke people created an empire in the early 13th centurySundiata the Lion PrinceAgriculture, with the gold trade, was the base of the economyMansa Musas hajj in the 14th century became legendary

Mansa Musas Pilgrimage

Malinke EconomyMost of the people were rural farmersSmall farms owned by familiesA special merchant class, called the juula, controlled tradeSlave trade became common after the Islamic conquest of North AfricaHigh demand for women and childrenEstimated 4.8 million slaves over 700 years

Malinke Society & CultureFormation of the kingdom heightened social differencesSociety was organized according to clansMany societies were matrilinealWomen enjoyed more freedom than most Eurasian culturesPolygamy was common

Malinke CultureLarge portions of the population did not convert to IslamMany converts maintained some of their old beliefsHistory maintained by oral historian called griots

Drawing of a Malinke Griot

Djenne & TimbuktuTimbuktu was famous for its library and universityMadrasa Sankore in TimbuktuDjenne was famous for The Great MosqueLargest adobe building in the world

Songhai Empire (1340-1591)From the early 15th to the late 16th century, Songhai was one of the largest African empires in historyFounded by Sunni Ali and expanded by Askia Muhammad the GreatConquered by Moroccans, with muskets, in 1591

Kingdom of BeninCity-state established by the Edo peoples in the 15th centuryKnown for its bronze and ivory sculpturesPortuguese were impressed by Benin City and the quality of Benins artwork

*Traveling from his capital of Niani on the Upper Niger River to Cairo, Mansa Musa was accompanied by a caravan consisting of 60,000 men.He also brought with him 80 camels loaded with 300 pounds of gold each.