Medieval AfricaSection Two: Government and Religion

Gov’t and Society: Ruler and Subjects Key Facts

Kings settled argumentsManaged tradeProtected argumentsExpected obedience in return

Growth caused new formsCentral authority was keyRulers and people benefited

Merchants received favors Kings received taxes Local rulers got some power = kings received loyalty Kingdoms grew richer and area extended

Government

Ghana’s Government

Mali’s Government

Songhai’s Government

GovernmentGhana’s Government

Ghana’s pyramid of powerKings relied on help from a council of ministers (advisers)Empire divided into provinces

Governed by lesser kingsDistrict chiefs oversaw smaller districtsEach district included a chief’s clan

. Maintaining powerLocal rulers sent sons to the royal courtThey sought reports of injustice/rebellionControlled trade

Had to have king’s permissionOnly king owned gold nuggets

Kingdom went to king’s nephew

Mali’s Government

Songhai’s Government

GovernmentGhana’s Government

Mali’s Government

1. Dividing powerMali was much bigger than GhanaFishing, forests, farming and money all by different officialsGenerals were in charge of the provinces

2. Mansa MusaRewarded citizens with gold, land and horsesGranted heroes rewardsSew clothes

Songhai’s Government

GovernmentGhana’s Government

Mali’s Government

Songhai’s Government

Built on traditions of Ghana and MaliNever fully implemented as Sunni Ali was fightingNew leader focused on his religion to guide government

Gov’t and Society: Religion Key Facts

Traditional African Religions (traditional African religions shared certain beliefs and provided a guide for living together)

Background One creator/ supreme god Understood Christianity and Muslim idea of one god Wanted to continue their own practice

Purpose Provided rules for living Helped people stay in touch with history Believed that spirits stayed with the community

ReligionMali

Songhai

East

ReligionMali Mali and Mansa Musa

Allowed different religionsWorked to make Islam stronger

Built mosquesLibraries provided information from Muslim world

Long journey to Makkah (Mecca)Thousands of peopleConvinced people from Islam to travel back to MaliHelped spread Islam

Songhai

East

ReligionMali

Songhai Songhai and Askia MuhammadSunni Ali

Practiced the traditional religion of Songhai peopleDeclared himself Muslim to keep support

Askai MuhammadLargest empire in medieval West AfricaKept local courts but used Muslim lawsTimbuktu became a center of Islamic culture

East

ReligionMali

Songhai

East SwahiliPeople of the coastDemonstrates

Unique culture of East AfricaAnd the language spoken thereBlend of African and Muslim influences

Islam’s effect

What are three things that Islam influenced throughout the African kingdoms?

Islam in Africa (Islam played an important role in medieval Africa, but long-help African beliefs and customs still remained strong.)

D. Islam’s Impact on Africa Islamic laws and ideas about right and wrong Advanced learning Arabic Language Art and buildings (mosques)

Islam’s effect

Laws

Art

architecture

government

How did having a central authority rest with a single person benefit:King IndividualsThe kingdom?

How is the model of government reflected in modern government?

government

How did having a central authority rest with a single person benefit:King- Individuals- pay

grants favors to subjects taxes to the king are loyal

The kingdom- loyalty and a balance system

How is the model of government reflected in modern government?

Activity on government

Pick ONE option:

1. Poster- Draw a poster that shows the arrangement of Ghana’s

government- Included kings to clans

2. Report- Write a paper/paragraph that explains the arrangement of

Ghana’s government from kings to clans

- Kings- advisors- lesser kings- district chiefs- clans

**Answer the following questions on BOTH:

Why did the African people change their systems of power/government?

How did Islam change Africa’s society?