Sub-Saharan AfricaSub-Saharan Africa

Islamization & TradeIslamization & Trade

Islamization of SS AfricaIslamization of SS Africa

► Islam Islam spread into spread into sub-Saharan sub-Saharan East and East and West Africa West Africa beginning in beginning in the 7the 7thth century.century.

Islamic InfluenceIslamic Influence

►Primarily, Islam Primarily, Islam came to Africa came to Africa through through trade trade contactscontacts that had that had already been already been established in established in East Africa by the East Africa by the 400s ce and in 400s ce and in West Africa by the West Africa by the 800s ce. 800s ce.

Islamic Islamic InfluenceInfluence

► Merchants and traders were generally the first to Merchants and traders were generally the first to convert. convert. Why were merchants often the first to Why were merchants often the first to convert?convert?

► Ruling class or upper class often converted to Ruling class or upper class often converted to Islam after the merchants. Islam after the merchants. Why did rulers Why did rulers convert?convert?

► The commoners, if they converted at all, became The commoners, if they converted at all, became Muslims much later.Muslims much later.

ChangesChanges►What changes took What changes took

place in West Africa place in West Africa because of the because of the interaction between interaction between West Africa and the West Africa and the rest of the Islamic rest of the Islamic world?world?

Islamic InfluenceIslamic Influence►Arabic,Middle-Eastern, Arabic,Middle-Eastern,

and Islamic cultural and Islamic cultural influences mixed with influences mixed with African culture African culture

In areas such as:In areas such as:►LanguageLanguage

EducationEducationArchitectureArchitectureJustice system / lawJustice system / lawGender rolesGender rolesSocial classesSocial classes

SlaverySlavery►What were the status of slaves in Africa?What were the status of slaves in Africa?

CONTROLLING TRADE – West CONTROLLING TRADE – West AfricaAfrica►Ruling classes Ruling classes

collected taxes on the collected taxes on the salt and other goods salt and other goods traded in their cities.traded in their cities.

►Governments had a Governments had a monopoly on a monopoly on a variety of trade items variety of trade items including gold including gold nuggets. Therefore nuggets. Therefore they controlled supply they controlled supply and kept prices high. and kept prices high.

CONTROLLING TRADE – East CONTROLLING TRADE – East AfricaAfrica

►What does “Swahili” What does “Swahili” mean?mean?

►Swahili coast port cities Swahili coast port cities were the connection point were the connection point between the Indian Ocean between the Indian Ocean trade network and Central trade network and Central & South Africa.& South Africa.

CONTROLLING TRADE – East CONTROLLING TRADE – East AfricaAfrica

►Each port city took Each port city took advantage of trade in advantage of trade in different ways. different ways.

Some city-states’ Some city-states’ governments had . . .governments had . . . official trade agentsofficial trade agents a monopoly on certain a monopoly on certain

goods (ivory, slaves, goods (ivory, slaves, metals)metals)

taxation or other taxation or other charges on importscharges on imports

Kingdoms and Empires Kingdoms and Empires (AP)(AP)

►West Africa – Ghana, Mali, Songhay, West Africa – Ghana, Mali, Songhay, BeninBenin

►East Africa – Ethiopia (a Christian East Africa – Ethiopia (a Christian kingdom), Kilwa, Zanzibar, and kingdom), Kilwa, Zanzibar, and MogadishuMogadishu

Chapter 8 in the textbook.Chapter 8 in the textbook.