Early East Africa

The Kingdom of Aksum

Rise of AksumSouth of Kush on Red Sea

Located on a Coastal plain

Spoke Ge’ez 1 of 1st written languages of Africa

AksumRich farmland

Grew wheat and barley

Controlled Red Sea trade Strong navy Traders from inland brought gold, ivory, and slaves Used money

By 300 C.E. Aksum grew wealthy

King Ezana Conquered the Kush in 350 C.E.Converted to Christianity

Made it official religion

Decline

600s C.E. Muslims begin to invade

700s Muslims conquer territory around Aksum Including Aksum’s port city of Adulis

People of Aksum retreated to Ethiopian Highlands

Rise of Ethiopia

1100s C.E. remainders of Aksum est. new Kingdom

1150 - Zagwe Dynasty

Kingdom of Ethiopia

~1150 Zagwe Dynasty

King Lalibela built the churches carved from rock

1270 –1974 Solomonid Dynasty

Fought religious wars to conquer Islamic and Jewish territory (Beta Israel and Muslim Kingdom of Adal)

Eastern Africa City-StatesThe Indian Ocean Monsoons blow from the

southwest from April to October and from the northeast from October to April.

Trade network developed B/w India and East Africa

Ports become wealthy MogadishuMombasaKilwaSofala

TradeFrom India/China

Glassware Porcelain Silk cotton

From Africa Coconut oil Copper Leopard skins Ivory Gold Slaves

SwahiliBlending of African and Islamic

CultureEx:

Language: Bantu + Arabic = Swahili

Architecture

Great Zimbabwe Interior of Africa

~1100sMiddleman of

AfricaLocated between

gold mines/ivory hunters

And

Port cities

Great Zimbabwe Minimal info from

archeological digs

Disappeared about 1400

Replaced by the Mutapa Empire (to the North) in 1400s

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Ghana~3rd Century CEbecome wealthy off taxing the trade of gold for saltIslam adopted ~ 10th Century

Fall of Ghana

Invaded and weakened - 1076 CE

By 13th Century overrun

Mali tttt

• Founded by Sundiata, leader of a tribe who broke away from Ghana

• Economic foundation was agriculture, as well as gold mines

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Mansa Musa Ruler of Mali known for his HajjBrought the attention of the world to Mali

Architecture and Timbuktu

Islamic Architects come to Mali and create unique style

Timbuktu becomes a great city of 50,000+ with a famous Mosque, University and Library

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SonghaySonghay became independent ~7th Century Gold discovered in western forests = powerful SonghaySunni Ali est. Empire (late 15th century)Muhammad The Great expands empire

Invaded and defeated by a Moroccan Army (that had Muskets) in 1591

Empire splinters and collapses

Legacy of Islam in West Africa