African Civilizations and the Spread of Islam

1. 8 African Civilizations and the Spread of Islam

2. African Civilizations and Islam • African Societies: Diversity and Similarities • Kingdoms of the Grasslands • The Swahili Coast of East Africa • Peoples of the Forest and Plains

3. African Civilizations and Islam

4. African Societies:Diversity and Similarities • Political forms vary • Different religions

5. Societies With and Without States • Kinship fundamental • Secret societies

6. Common Elements in African Societies • Bantu migration • One language base • Animism • Cosmology • Ethical code • Lineage important in relation with god

7. The Arrival of Islam in North Africa • Part of Mediterranean • Arrival of Islam • Spain, by 711 • Berber Almoravids • Western Sahara • Assist conversion • Almohads • Succeed Berbers, 12th century

8. The Christian Kingdoms: Nubia and Ethiopia • Copts • Egyptian Christians • Welcome Muslims • Spread to Nubia (Kush) • Ethiopia • Heirs to Axum • King Lalibela

9. Kingdoms of the Grasslands • Caravans across Sahara • Sahel (grasslands) • Transfer point

10. Sudanic States • Rulers sacred • Islam • From 900s • Supports state

11. The Empire of Mali and Sundiata, the “Lion Prince” • Malinke peoples from Ghana • Agriculture, gold trade • Sundiata (d.1260) • Mansa (ruler) • Expanded state

12. The Empire of Mali and Sundiata, the “Lion Prince” • Mansa Kankan Musa • Pilgrimage to Mecca • Brings back Ishal al-Sahili • Architect from Muslim Spain • Beaten clay architecture

13. Empires of the Western Sudan

14. City Dwellers and Villagers • Jenne, Timbuktu • Thrive with expansion of Mali, Songhay • Mandinka juula • Merchants • Farmers the majority

15. The Songhay Kingdom • Middle Niger valley • Independent by 700 • Muslim by 1010 • Capital at Gao • Sunni Ali (1464-1492) • Expanded territory • Successors: askia

16. The Songhay Kingdom • Defeated by Morocco, 1591 • Hausa states, northern Nigeria • Kano becomes Muslim center

17. Political and Social Life in the Sudanic States • Fusion of Muslim, indigenous traditions

18. The Swahili Coast

19. The Swahili Coast of East Africa • Trading ports • Muslim influence strong • Rest of population remains traditional

20. The Coastal Trading Ports • Mogadishu, Mombasa, Malindi, Kilwa, Pate, Zanzibar • Madagascar • Southeast Asian immigrants • Bring bananas, coconuts

21. The Coastal Trading Ports • Blended culture • Bantu, Islamic • Swahili • Spreads along coast • Trade with Asia

22. The Mixture of Cultures on the Swahili Coast • Islam unifies • Along with Swahili

23. Peoples of the Forest and Plains • Artists and Kings: Yoruba and Benin • Nok culture, 500 B.C.E. and 200 C.E. • Nigerian forests • Agriculture, iron tools • Hiatus, 200-1000 C.E.

24. Peoples of the Forest and Plains • Yoruba • Urbanized agriculturalists • Small city-states • Divine kings • Ile-Ife • Holy • Notable portrait heads

25. Peoples of the Forest and Plains • Edo • Benin, 14th century • Ewuare

26. Central African Kingdoms • Bantu close to Cape Horn by 1200 • Form states • Katanga • Luba peoples • Divine kingship • Hereditary bureaucracy

27. The Kingdoms of the Kongo and Mwene Mutapa • Kongo • Along lower Congo • By late 15th century • Agricultural • Pronounced gender division of labor • Women farm, run household • Men clear forest, hunt, trade

28. The Kingdoms of the Kongo and Mwene Mutapa • Kongo • Mbanza Kongo • Capital • Federation of 8 states

29. The Kingdoms of the Kongo and Mwene Mutapa • Shona language group • Zimbabwe (stone courts) • By 9th century • Great Zimbabwe • Mwene Mutapa • Control of gold sources

30. Global Connections: Internal Developments and Global Contacts • Spread of Islam • Brings sub-Saharan Africa into contact with other world regions • Yet some trends develop outside of the region of greatest Muslim influence • Portuguese bring new contacts