African’s Government and Religion

African’s Government and Religion Chapter 13 section 2

King’s Authority • In Africa, anyone could approach the king with a complaint. The king would then rule and each person was expected to obey completely. • The kings settled arguments, managed trade and protected their empire. Absolute obedience was expected in return!!!

Ghana’s government • Relied on a council of ministers—group of close advisors. • Later rulers divided it into provinces (like the Roman empire). • Lesser kings would rule these areas. Then beneath them district chiefs oversaw smaller districts (like a group). • Each group included a chief clan.

Kings held tightly to their power—they rode through the countryside seeking reports of injustice or rebellion, but the most important thing that they did was control trade! • Nobody could trade without the permission of the king. Only the king could own gold--he believed that would devalue the gold. • The kingdom was inherited by the sons of the kings sister.

Mali’s Government • Mali’s government was similar to Ghana, but on a larger scale. • There was more people, more land and more trade. Therefore royal officials had more responsibilities. • One supervised fishing on the Niger, one looked after the empire’s forests, oversaw the mining and one managed the money. • Kingdom divided into provinces. • Generals were put in charge—not smaller kings.

Mansa Musa was a king of Mali who rewarded his citizens with gold, land and horses. • He granted military heroes the “National Honor of the Trousers,” because only the king and his family could wear sewn cloths others wore wrapped clothes.

Songhai • Built on the tradition of Ghana and Mali. • He divided the kingdom up into provinces, but never completed because of continual fighting. • Sunni Ali was the founder of the Songhai. He died mysteriously—some say he drowned, some say he was killed by his enemies.

Religion • For centuries many believed that African people did not have a religion, but a member of the Igbo said that they believed in one Creator of all things and that he governs all things especially their death and captivity. • They believe in one supreme god. • They understood the Christian and Muslim idea of a single god but they wanted to continue their own religious practices. • Some people believed they could talk directly to their god, while others thought they had to go through lesser gods.

Each religion served the same basic purpose though—to provide rules for living and help people stay in touch with their history. • When their relatives died they believed that their spirits stayed with them. This led to the belief that their spirits could talk to the supreme god and help solve problems and this led to many Africans honoring their ancestors.

Islam in Africa • People in Africa who practiced the Islam faith may not follow all the practices of the Muslim religion—for instance, women did not cover their faces with a veil however, they did study the Quran zealously. • Mansa Musa allowed different religions, but also worked to make the Islam faith stronger. He made more mosques, set up libraries, and made a pilgrimage to Mecca. On the pilgrimage he made sure that people knew about his kingdom, he also convinced people to come back with him and this further helped spread the Islam faith.

Songhai • Sunni Ali practiced the traditional African religion of his people, but declared himself a Muslim in order to gain the support of his people. • One of his general’s, Muhammad True drove out his family and declared himself king. Muhammad then changed his name to Askia Muhammad. • Askia built the largest empire in medieval West Africa. He had local courts that withheld Muslim laws. He made Timbuktu an important center or Islamic culture and set up 150 schools.

Islam in East Africa • Swahili is a blend of East Africa’s culture and the language spoken there. • Swahili means “people of the coast.” • Their culture and language are a blend of African and Muslim influences. • African influences came from the cultures of the interior while the Muslim influences came from the Arab and Persian settlers.

Islam’s Impact on Africa • People who accepted Islam had definite ideas about right and wrong—sometimes these ideas opposed the more traditional African ways. • Islam helped advance learning in Africa. • Schools drew students from many parts of Africa and introduced the Arabic language. • Architects built mosques

Check for Understanding • What were the African kingdoms that we discussed? • Mali, Ghana and Songhai • Who inherited the throne in Ghana? • The son of the kings sister • How did Mansa Musa reward loyal citizens? • Gold, horses and land

African’s Government and Religion