African Civilizations

• Culturally, the term African makes about as much sense as “Eurasian”

• White racism and Afrocentrism continue to make understanding African history a challenge.

• Social and governmental arrangements can be discerned

Map of Africa

NOK Culture

• Centered in Nigeria• Bronze Metallurgy; then Iron• Terra Cotta Sculpture• Social arrangements and language spread

by ongoing Bantu Migration—spread to central and south Africa

Bantu Migration

West Africa—3 Empires

• Ghana (ca. 300-1100))• Mali (1230-1415)• Songhay (1450-1591)

West African Empires

Ghana

• Established by Sonike people

• Kumbi Saleh was capital city

• Kingship was a matrilineal, hereditary monarchy

• King was also chief judge

• Local Chieftans paid tribute to central government

• Salt, Gold, Copper, and Slave trade provide economic foundation

Collapse of Ghana

• Internal divisions• Religious divisions—Almoravids (Berbers)

converted to Islam and waged war against its Infidel (non-Muslim) government.

Mali

• A hegemonic state• Linguistic and cultural divisions (Senegal),

(Mande), (Gao)• Founded by Sundjata (1230-1255), who

introduced cultivation and weaving of cotton.

• Mansa Musa (1312-1337) was greatest ruler

Mansa Musa

• Devoted Muslim• Pilgrimage to Mecca• Timbuktu was leading

commercial and intellectual center

Catalan Atlas

Mali Art

Songhay

• Sonni Ali (1464-1492) made Songhay a true empire; he expelled the Berbers

• Askia Muhammed (1493-1528) conquered Mali and expanded empire; relied on Muslim bureaucrats to Islamicize his empire

Zimbabwe (1300-1500)

• Vast State in Southern Africa• No Muslim influence• European Racism blinded European

scholars to its existence—physical remains of civilization were said to be work of Whites who had entered continent.

Great Zimbabwe—Capital City

Great Zimbabwe Map

Features of Capital

• 1800 Acres of highly developed area• 18,000 inhabitants• Pottery from China found among remains

of city

Islam in Africa

• Came to North Africa in 650• Spread through Mali to west Africa• Spread into Ethiopia around 1000• Religious unity/division• Writing (Arabic)• Education

DJENNE MOSQUE (West Africa)

European Contact W/ Sub-Saharan Africa

• Initially, the Europeans incorporated Africa commerce into its nexus of trade

• “Discovery” of Americas led Europeans to exploit and expand Africa’s slave trade and to rely on Africa for laborers.