STATES & SOCIETIES OF SUB-SAHARAN STATES & SOCIETIES OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAAFRICA

Identify evidence of the Post-Identify evidence of the Post-Classical themes in the reading on Classical themes in the reading on the west African kingdom of the west African kingdom of Songhai.Songhai.

1. Overall geographic expansion with more specific civilization centers included.

2. Diffusion of religions/philosophies such as Christianity, Buddhism and Islam.

3. Inter-regional economic & cultural exchange linking Africa, Asia & Europe.

4. The restoration of political order.

Early MigrationsEarly Migrations Islamic KingdomsIslamic Kingdoms African SocietyAfrican Society

Bantu migration t/o AfricaBantu migration t/o Africa Spreads languageSpreads language AgricultureAgriculture

Yams, sorghum, Yams, sorghum, milletmillet

Bananas from Bananas from Asia (500CE)Asia (500CE)

• food supplyfood supply populationpopulation

Iron tools Iron tools land for land for farmingfarming

Effects of Early migrationsEffects of Early migrations

Trade routes & Bantu migrations

Political OrganisationPolitical Organisation

Kin-based society (aka called "stateless Kin-based society (aka called "stateless society") society")

family and kinship groups family and kinship groups Village council = male family heads Village council = male family heads Chief = most prominent family head Chief = most prominent family head A group of villages = district A group of villages = district Villages chiefs negotiated inter-village Villages chiefs negotiated inter-village affairsaffairs

ChiefdomsChiefdoms Population Population strained resources & strained resources & conflict conflict Some organize military forces, 1000 Some organize military forces, 1000 C.E. C.E. Powerful chiefs imposed authority & Powerful chiefs imposed authority & conquered other regionsconquered other regions

Masai Chief & Family, Kenya

Kingdom of KongoKingdom of Kongo

Villages formed small states along Villages formed small states along Congo River, c. 1000 C.E. Congo River, c. 1000 C.E.

Small states formed several larger Small states formed several larger principalities, 1200 C.E. principalities, 1200 C.E.

War between states War between states kingdom of kingdom of Kongo Kongo

Highly centralized bureaucracyHighly centralized bureaucracy Divided into 6 provincesDivided into 6 provinces Uniform currency (cowrie shells)Uniform currency (cowrie shells) Lasted to mid-17th centuryLasted to mid-17th century

Developed trade relationship Developed trade relationship w/Portuguesew/Portuguese Slavers undermine kingdom in 17th Slavers undermine kingdom in 17th

centurycentury

Trans-Saharan trade and Islamic states in Trans-Saharan trade and Islamic states in west Africawest Africa

Kingdoms of ancient Africa

After 300 C.E. camels quickened pace of trans-Saharan trade

Islamic merchants crossed desert and established relations

Ghana long established kingdom Dominant empire in W. Africa Koumbi-Saleh capital & one of

many wealthy commercial cities Extensive gold trade

Spread Islam to locals Ex. Kings of Ghana convert to Islam

in 10th century CE

Mansa Musa, Sundiata's Mansa Musa, Sundiata's grandnephew (reigned 1312-1337 grandnephew (reigned 1312-1337 C.E.) C.E.)

Made his pilgrimage to Mecca in Made his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324-1325 with huge caravan 1324-1325 with huge caravan

Upon return to Mali, built mosques Upon return to Mali, built mosques Sent students to study with Sent students to study with

distinguished Islamic scholars in distinguished Islamic scholars in northern Africa northern Africa

Established Islamic schools in MaliEstablished Islamic schools in Mali Decline of Mali due to factions and Decline of Mali due to factions and

military pressure from neighbors military pressure from neighbors and nomads and nomads

The Songhay empire replaced The Songhay empire replaced Mali by the late fifteenth centuryMali by the late fifteenth century

Alliances w/other tribes to gain power Alliances w/other tribes to gain power

Controlled & taxed most trans-SaharanControlled & taxed most trans-Saharan

Mali linked to north Africa w/Mali linked to north Africa w/ caravans caravans

Many prosperous cities on trade routesMany prosperous cities on trade routes ex. Niani, Gao, Timbuktu, Jenne,ex. Niani, Gao, Timbuktu, Jenne,

Muslim, but tolerated other religions Muslim, but tolerated other religions

Seen as benevolent & just rulerSeen as benevolent & just ruler

Extolled by griots as model for great Extolled by griots as model for great African rulerAfrican ruler

Sundiata, Lion Prince of MaliSundiata, Lion Prince of Mali(1230-55 CE)(1230-55 CE)

Mansa Musa, Mali (r. 1312-37)Mansa Musa, Mali (r. 1312-37)

High point of Mali EmpireHigh point of Mali Empire Devout MuslimDevout Muslim

Intolerant of other beliefsIntolerant of other beliefs Following return from Following return from hajj hajj to to

MeccaMecca Built mosques & madrasas to Built mosques & madrasas to

spread Islam t/o Malispread Islam t/o Mali Sent students to study Sent students to study

w/scholarsw/scholars Expanded the empire of MaliExpanded the empire of Mali Mali Empire collapses by 15th Mali Empire collapses by 15th

centurycentury Ineffective central govtIneffective central govt Provinces secedeProvinces secede External threat & pressuresExternal threat & pressures

Succeeded by the Songhay Succeeded by the Songhay EmpireEmpire

Mansa Musa’s world. Stories around his pilgrimage claim his generosity caused a devaluation of gold.

The Indian Ocean trade and Islamic states in east Africa

The Swahili city-states Chiefs power via tax on trade

Control flow of goods @ ports Ports city-states governed by kings

during 11th & 12th centuries Kilwa: dominant city-state on east coast

Built multi-story residences Used common currency Exported gold, ivory Imported textiles, jewels, porcelain Numerous mosques Ravaged by jerk-face Portuguese in

1331

Kilwa (Quiloa in Latin)

ZimbabweZimbabwe

Erected large city (c. 18,000) to Erected large city (c. 18,000) to serve as capitalserve as capital

Rulers controlled flow of gold, Rulers controlled flow of gold, ivory, slaves, etc. to coastivory, slaves, etc. to coast

Benefited from maritime trade in Benefited from maritime trade in Indian Ocean as W. Africa did Indian Ocean as W. Africa did from trans-Saharan tradefrom trans-Saharan trade

Great Zimbabwe