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Chapter 19Trading Kingdoms of West Africa
A Satellite View
I. North Africa
II. Sub-Saharan Africa
A. West Africa
B. East Africa
C. Central Africa
D. Southern Africa
Ancient African History All Africans were originally foragers Farmers displaced foragers in all areas
except the rain forest and desert Bantus spread from Nigeria/Cameroon
throughout eastern and southern Africa. Mfecane
Migration began about 2000 years ago & took nearly 1500 yrs
Bantu languages have common words for cattle, yam, oil palm, not for cereals.
The Emergence of States in Africa
The Niger River Basin
# Covers 7.5% of the continent.
# Extends over 10 countries.
# 2,600 miles long.
West Africa
Caravan routes linked savanna and North Africa by 800 CE
Trade links between savanna and forestregions
East-west trade along coast
Trans-Saharan Trade Routes
The Sahel
GHANA 300-1076 CE
Sonike People Desert edge Ghana (Warrior King) Koumbi Saleh – Capital City (50,000 people) Wealth/Power came from:
Duties collected on salt and gold tradeTribute from vassal states
No standing army Not very centralized government
EL-BEKRI 1067 CE
“The King of Ghana can put 200,000 warriors in the field, more than 40,000 of them being armed with bow and arrow.”
In 1066, the Normans led by William the Conqueror, invaded England with the largest army ever seen in Europe (10,000-15,000 men).
Fall of Ghana
1076 the capital of fell to the Almoravid Berber jihad , launched from Morocco.
The once great Empire decomposed into a number of small feuding kingdoms.
Mali 900s-1400s
Not desert edge, upper Niger valley Mandingo People Niani-capital city Timbuktu-center of learning Wealth/Power came from:
Duties collected on salt and gold tradeTributes from vassal statesControl of some of gold and salt
producing regions
King Sunjata Keita (ruled ca. 1245-1270) of the Malinke conquered the Sosso and gained control of the trans-Saharan trade routes.
Empire of Mali expanded, reaching its height under the rule of Kankan Musa (ruled ca. 1312-1327).
Standing army Rulers Muslim
Introduction of Islam
Islam arose in Arabia early 7th century Spread to North Africa through conquest from 8th
century Spread further south through traders and voluntary
conversion
Africa was not totally isolated
Contact with North Africa, Europe, Middle East
Trade with Arabia, India, China Settlement of Indonesians
MALI C. 1100-1450 CE
Mansa Musa 1307-1332 key ruler
Mansa Musa 1312-1337From Mali to Mecca 1324 CE
Accompanied by a retinue of 60,000 people There were 600 slaves each of whom carried a bar of
gold weighing about 4 pounds and 300 camels each laden with 300 pounds of gold
Musa stayed in Cairo for a few weeks. He spent and gave away so much gold that the value of the Egyptian currency was depressed for at least 12 years
Fame spreads to Europe as “the richest and most noble king in all the land.”
Great Mosque of Djenne was built in the 13th century by Koy Konboro -- Djenne's first Islamicized ruler. He had his palace destroyed, and the first Great Mosque built in its place. In 1906-1907 the current Great Mosque was rebuilt on the site.
SONGHAY c. 1400-1600
Sunni Ali 1464-1492 Askia Muhammad 1493-1538 City Gao, Timbuktu
IBN BATTUTA c. 1352 CE
“Among the admirable qualities of these people, the following are to be noted:
The complete and general safety one enjoys throughout the land
The small acts of injustice that one finds there; for the Negroes are of all peoples those who most abhor injustice”
Religions in Africa
Christianity Adopted as official Ethiopian religion in 320 CE. Also
practiced in Egypt and Sudan. In other areas, introduced with beginning of exploration
(16th century) or later
Islam in Africa
Islam accepted first by trading people Advantage of literacy, part of international community,
less concerned with agricultural ritual Rulers of Ghana not Muslim but Muslim Rulers of later Sahel states were Muslim
