Objectives

1. Objectives • Student will demonstrate knowledge of civilizations and empires of the Eastern Hemisphere and their interactions through regional trade patterns by: • Describing the east African kingdoms of Axum and Zimbabwe and west African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai in terms of geography, society, economy, and religion • Questions • What were the characteristics of civilization in sub-Saharan Africa during the medieval period

2. East Africa Notes Axum and Zimbabwe Kingdoms

3. Axum (Aksum) • Existed from 1000 B.C.E. – 700 C.E. • Located in Northeast Africa by source of Nile River and Red Sea • Came into power after the fall of Kush • Legend traces founding of Axsum to Queen Sheeba

4. Axum – Accomplishments • Mainly Farmers • Only kingdom to develop a written language, Ge’ez • Center of trade • Seaport Adulis • Caravan trade routes • Traded gold, salt, rhinoceros horns, tortoise shells, ivory, and emeralds. • Imported cloth, glass, copper, olive oil, wine, and iron • Diverse heritage • Blend of traditions • Arab people and Kushites • King Ezana converted to Christianity in 300s C.E. • Dispute with Egypt over the nature of Christ • Impressive stone architecture, including stelae • (huge stone pillars)

6. Decline of Axum • Empire lasted over 800 years • Muslim invaders destroyed Adulis in 710 • Cut of from trade, the kingdom declined • Aksumites fled to Christian lands in Ethiopia • Ethiopian highlands • In Ethiopia depletion of forests and soil erosion led to its final decline

7. Great Zimbabwe • Existed from 1000 – 1450 C.E. • Located between Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers • Close to Indian Ocean • Established by the Shona people • Empire built on gold trade

8. Zimbabwe – Accomplish. • Great Zimbabwe was a major trading center for over 350 years • Located near an important trade route • Leaders taxed traders who traveled along their trade routes • City of Great Zimbabwe was the economic, political, and religious center of its empire

9. Ruins of Great Zimbabwe • Over 60 acres of ruins discovered in 1871 C.E. • Word zimbabwe means “stone enclosure” • Ruins consisted of two complexes of stone buildings that housed royal family • Great enclosure is a massive curving wall up to 36 ft high and 15 ft thick • Construction of Great Zimbabwe may have taken 400 years

10. Decline of Zimbabwe • In 1450 C.E. the city was abandoned for unknown reasons • Possible theories are: • the cattle overate their grasslands • farming wore out the soil • people used up the salt and timber

11. West Africa Notes • Ghana, Mali, and Songhai Empires • Empires arose in the Sahel • The savanna region just below the Sahara desert • All three played an important role in trans-Saharan trade • Gold/Salt • All three empires “converted” to Islam

12. Ghana • Began with the Soninke people • Ghana was their word for “ruler” • Muslim traders gave the area its name • Empire existed from 800 – 1076 C.E. • Located in West Africa near Senegal River

13. Ghana- Characteristics • The Gold-Salt trade is what led to the empire becoming wealthy and powerful • Gold came from the region between the Senegal and Niger rivers • Salt came from the Sahara desert • King was the religious leader, chief judge, and military commander • Controlled trade and army • Controlled surrounding lands as tribute states • Islam spread through trade in sub-Saharan Africa • Rulers converted • Not the entire population • Many still practiced animistic beliefs • Conversion of Islam did lead to spread of Arabic • Encouraged literacy

14. Decline of Ghana • Muslims attacked from North Africa • Muslims retreated, but the gold-salt trade was badly disrupted • Ghana never regained its power

15. Mali • Existed from 1235 – 1400 C.E. • Consisted of much of Ghana’s former territory • Empire extended as far east as the Niger River • New gold deposits led to the rise of the Mali empire

16. Mali - Leaders • Mali’s 1st great leader- Sundiata • Crushed a cruel, unpopular leader • Became emperor • Used military conquest to enlarge empire • Period of peace and prosperity followed • Created an efficient government • Promoted agriculture and re-established the gold-salt trade • Most famous leader- Mansa Musa • Possible grandnephew of Sundiata • Skilled military leader • Expanded empire to twice the size of Ghana • Divided empire into provinces to manage more efficiently • Was a devout Muslim • went on Hajj in 1324 C.E. • Ordered building of mosque in Timbuktu

18. Timbuktu • Capital of Mali Empire • Center of learning and Islam • Attracted Muslim judges, doctors, religious leaders, and scholars to its mosques and universities

19. Decline of Mali • Decline occurred in 1400s • Gold trade shifted eastward again • New gold fields were discovered • Series of weak leaders after Mansa Musa • People under empire’s control began to break away • Ibn Battuta • Traveler and historian • Native of North Africa • Traveled for 27 years throughout Islamic world • Wrote observations of the African empires

20. Songhai • Existed from 1464 – 1591 C.E. • Near the large bend in the Niger River • Near Gao, capital • Broke away from Mali Empire • Gained control of trade routes

21. Songhai – Accomplish. • Two extraordinary rulers • Sunni Ali • Expanded empire through military conquest • Captured Timbuktu • Built professional army • Askia Muhammad • Led revolt to remove Sunni Ali’s son from power • Excellent administrator • Set up efficient tax system

22. Decline of Songhai • Despite wealth, empire lacked modern weapons • Defeated by a Moroccan army in 1591 C.E. with gunpowder and cannons • Ended 1000 year period of African empires

23. Objectives • Student will demonstrate knowledge of civilizations and empires of the Eastern Hemisphere and their interactions through regional trade patterns by: • Describing the east African kingdoms of Axum and Zimbabwe and west African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai in terms of geography, society, economy, and religion • Questions • What were the characteristics of civilization in sub-Saharan Africa during the medieval period