Societies & Empires of Africa

I. Geographic features

• Deserts• Sahara – northern

Africa, roughly the size of U.S.A.

• Kalahari – southern Africa

• Rain forest – dense, humid forest found around the equator

• Savannas – grassy plains• Cover 40% of Africa• Dry seasons alternate

with rainy seasons

Sahara Desert

Kalahari Desert

Rain Forest

Savanna

II. Early Societies

Most African societies based on small social units, the family Stateless societies – no formal political organization

Diverse local religious traditions Most family groups had own belief systems

Organized info about the world Animism – nature & spirits play an important role in daily

life Spirits present in animals, plants, natural forces (wind,

fire, etc.)

Record keeping Few societies had written language, depended on oral

tradition – griots (storytellers)

III. The Kingdom of Aksum

Aksum - located south of Egypt, along Red Sea• Was once most powerful kingdom in East Africa,

300-700 C.E.• People decedents from African farmers and migrants from Middle East

Geographic advantages• Well suited for agriculture• Ideal location for trading• Seaport at city of Adulis

attracted merchants from African interior, Mediterranean region, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, India

III. Continued…

International trading Traded salt, rhinoceros horns, ivory, gold Received cloth, glass, olive oil, wine First African kingdom south of Sahara to

mint own coins Merchants found it practical for trading

King Ezana Aksum became not only wealthy trading kingdom, but

also strong military power Reached height under King Ezana, whose reign began

about 320 C.E. Expanded into Arabian peninsula, modern-day Yemen Defeated northern rival trading kingdom of Kush, 350 C.E. Gave Aksum complete control of trade in region

III. continued…

Aksum culture Diverse cultural heritage

Mix of Arab and African descent Language

Greek was international trading language at the time

Ge’ez - Aksum language, brought by early Arab inhabitants One of first written languages developed in Africa Basis of written language in Ethiopia today

Religion Traditionally believed in one god - Mahrem

King was directly descended from him Also found aspects of animism Offered sacrifices, usually of oxen

III. continued…

Trading brought more than just goods, money Brought new ideas, including Christianity King Ezana converted, made Christianity official

religion Modern-day Ethiopia still has large population of Christians

Technology & innovations Created a new method of farming - terrace farming

Step-like ridges (terraces) are dug into the side of mountain slopes Prevents water from washing down

Dug canals, built holding tanks (cisterns) for water

III. concluded…

Decline of Aksum Kingdom lasted more than 800 years Muslim Invaders

600s, 700s invaders conquered parts of East, North Africa City of Aksum itself was never conquered

Nearby areas became Muslim, Christian Aksum isolated Muslims destroyed Aksum’s port city, Adulis, took over

Red Sea trade Cut off from trade, Aksum lost main source of wealth and

power Aksum people retreated inland, settled in what is now

northern Ethiopia

IV. Empire of Ghana (800-1200 C.E.)

Arose from trade across savannah region of AfricaName comes from Soninke people’s word

for their ruler Means “war chief”

By 700s, Ghana’s rulers were rich from taxing merchants and traders Gold and salt most important

Rulers eventually convert to Islam Much of population did not convert Those that did retained many traditional beliefs

Fusion of Islam and animism Islam helped spread literacy (ability to read and write)

through learning to read the Qur’an

IV. Continued…

1100 – Decline of kingdom Group from northern African – the Almoravids –

seized control of Ghana Disrupted gold/salt trade Groups migrated away, merged with other societies

V. Empire of Mali (1235 – 1500 C.E.)

Founded around 1235 by Mande-speaking peopleSouth of Ghana, also a trading kingdom

Mostly based on goldSundiata

Mali’s greatest leader Established strong, bureaucratic government Promoted agriculture to increase population Reestablished gold/salt trade after fall of Ghana

After death of Sundiata (1255), many of Mali’s next rulers converted to Islam Mansa Musa expanded Mali to almost twice the size

empire of Ghana had been

V. Continued…

Mansa Musa (continued…) Helped establish city of Timbuktu as one of the most

important trading cities in Africa Attracted Muslim scholars, doctors, religious leaders

from all over Mosques and universities were well known

throughout region

VI. Empire of Songhai (1400 – 1500 C.E.)

Mali declined in 1400s People once under their control began to break

away, form independent kingdomsSonghai people in east built up army,

extended territory to the Niger River Sunni Ali (ruled 1464-1492)

Muslim leader, built massive professional army Dominated using skilled horseman, war canoes

Captured two great trading cities during his reign Timbuktu, Djenne

VI. Continued…

Askia Muhammad Replaced Sunni Ali’s son after a revolt Set up tax system, bureaucratic government Lacked modern weapons

Invaded by north African groups with guns and cannons in 1500s

Collapse of Songhai empire ended a 1,000 year period in which powerful, united kingdoms ruled West Africa

VII. Trading Cities of the East

Like the kingdom of Aksum, cities of eastern coastalAfrica were diverse, due to trade Bantu-speaking people migrated from west Merchants and traders came from Arabia, Persia, India

Swahili – new language arose from mix of Arabic and Bantu language

By 1300, more than 35 trading cities along coast Example: Kilwa

Most powerful, wealthiest coastal city-state Controlled trade, including gold, from southern Africa

to Asia Cities fell to European control in late 1400s

VII. Continued…

Slave trade Began around 9th century Arab traders exported slaves from eastern Africa Sent to Arabia, Persia, India, China

Employed as soldiers, dock/ship workers, domestic workers

Number of slaves was small – 1,000/year Did not increase much until 1700s, when Europe

began trading in slaves

VIII. Great Zimbabwe (1100-1450)

Established sometime around 1000, by the Shona people Located between Zambezi and Limpopo rivers in

modern-day Zimbabwe Near important trading routes for gold trade Controlled and taxed traders who travelled routes 1200s-1400s, became economic, political, and religious

centerAbandoned by 1450, reasons unknown

Theory: Cattle grazing wore out land, salt and timber used

up, could not support large population

IX. The Mutapa Empire (1400s-1700s)

Established by a man named Mutota after he left Great Zimbabwe in 1420

Used military force to dominate surrounding peoples Initiated a system of tribute to support his army

Was called “mwene mutapa” by those he conquered Means “conqueror” or “master pillager”

Grew wealthy from gold trade Eventually, Portuguese would try to conquer the

empire Failed to outright conquer it, but were able to influence

politics Signaled beginning of increasing interference by

Europeans in Africa

Great Zimbabwe

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Songhai Empire

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