Chapter 15: Societies & Empires in Africa

• 800-1500

• Throughout history different groups of Africans have found different ways to organize themselves to meet their political, economic, & social needs.

• In the varied regions of Africa, climate & topography influenced how each community developed.

How did Geography & Climate influence development in Africa?

• Great variety– Climate– Topography– Landforms

North & Central African Societies: Hunter-Gatherer

• formed close-knit family groups

• Oldest in world• Still around • Provide clues

about ancient times

Hunter-Gatherer Societies

• Semi-nomadic• Few

possessions, distinctive hunting techniques

“Stateless” Societies• Power not centralized• Based on lineage groups

not individual ruler– Family groups based

on a common ancestor

– Living members– Past generations– Future generations– Strong loyalty

• balance authority among lineages of equal power

• may be– patri-lineal – matri-lineal

• Men usually hold positions of authority

Muslim States

• Islam spread across N. Africa-

• Rulers converted• Government

based on Islamic Law (Sharia)

• Muslim rulers relied on religious scholars as government advisors

Berbers• Desert, mountain dwellers• Indigenous to N. Africa• Accepted Islam• Maintained Berber Identity• Almoravids & Almohads found empires that united N. Africa

(Maghrib)

Impact of Berber Rule

• Spread N. African culture

• Stability &order• Unity through

Islamic teaching

• North/South Trade flourished

West African Civilizations

• While Berbers built empires in N. Africa, three powerful empire flourished in West Africa in the Sahel-the savanna region just south of the Sahara

• Grew strong by controlling trade

Empire of Ghana

• Around 200 AD, trade across Sahara was infrequent

• Berbers began to use camels

• Travel great distance without water

• Taxed trade-grew wealthy

Gold-Salt Trade

• Arab & Berber traders crossed desert loaded w/salt, cloth, weapons, manufactured goods

• African traders brought gold north

• Merchants met in trade cities, exchanged goods, officials collected tax & ensured fair weights and provided protection from bandits

Land of Gold

• By 800, Ghana was an empire• King controlled trade, large

army, demanded taxes and gifts from chiefs of surrounding lands.

• King controlled supply of gold, kept price high

• King was religious leader, judge, military commander

• Head of government bureaucracy

Islamic Influences

• Islam spread through trade• Ghana’s rulers/elites

converted to Islam• Common people kept

traditional beliefs/practices • Islam spread literacy• Ghana lost power when

Almoravids disrupted gold-salt trade

Empire of Mali

• By 1235 the kingdom of Mali had emerged.

• Its founders were Mande-speaking people, who lived south of Ghana.

• Mali’s wealth was also built on gold.

Sundiata Conquers an Empire

• A powerful king named Sundiata ruled Mali from around 1230-1255 AD. He became known as a mansa, or emperor.

• He led the people in conquering and expanding his kingdom to be as great as Ghana had been.

Mansa Musa Expands Mali (1312-1337)

• Greatest king of Mali• developed gold/salt

trade-kingdom became very powerful & rich

• Made hajj to Mecca-upon return built many mosques in Timbuktu

• Attracted Muslim judges, doctors, religious leaders scholars

Ibn Battuta: 1352• Muslim legal scholar • Traveled throughout

Muslim world -27 years• Wrote a journal • Praised the people of

Mali for their study of Qur’an

• Criticized lack of strict practice (women did not veil)

• Within 50 years, gold trade shifted to new fields in East

• Mali weakened

Empire of Songhai

• As Mali declined, Songhai east built an army & extended territory-gained control of trade routes. Gao was the capital.

Songhai’s Powerful Leaders

• Sunni Ali– Built a professional

army

• Askia Muhammad– Set up good

government

Other Peoples of West Africa: Hausa

• Hausa City-States

Other Peoples of West Africa: Yoruba

Other Peoples of West Africa: Benin

Eastern City-States & Southern Empires

• In the 3rd century, Aksum traded extensively. From Red Sea it traded with Arabia, Persia, India & Rome

• Muslims cut them off from their port so they moved their capital south

• Other cities on East coast were thriving from Indian Ocean trade

East Coast Trade Cities

Kilwa

Portuguese Conquest

Islamic Influences

Enslavement of Africans

Southern Africa & Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe

Mutapa Empire