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Societies and Empires of Africa

Chapter 15 – 800-1500. Societies and Empires of Africa. Section 1 North And Central African Societies. Early Societies. Like most, they began as hunter-gatherers Some remain that way today Typically a respected male served as the leader

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Societies and Empires of Africa

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  1. Chapter 15 – 800-1500 Societies and Empires of Africa

  2. Section 1North And Central African Societies

  3. Early Societies • Like most, they began as hunter-gatherers • Some remain that way today • Typically a respected male served as the leader • Loose structure – people could come and go from groups easily

  4. Stateless Societies • Social/Political groups are arranged by lineage • Stateless society refers to the groups that had a group of representatives from each lineage • Conflicts are discussed and negotiated

  5. Tracing Family Descent • Lineagedetermines how society passes on possessions • Patrilinealtrace their ancestors through their fathers, women become part of the new family when married • Matrilinealtrace their ancestors through their mothers, but the menstill held the power

  6. Muslim States • As Islam grew, many North African’s were converted • Maghribregion became primarily Muslim • Many converted rulers used Muslim lawto govern

  7. Almoravids/Almohads • Muslims reformers in the 11thcentury • Became strict in their beliefs after they made their hajj, created a brotherhood • Spread Islam by the sword quickly after • In the mid 1100s, the Almohadsshifted to a more strictinterpretation of Islam

  8. Section 2West African Civilizations

  9. Ghana: Origins • Camelsmade the Sahara more navigable • 10 days without water @ 60 miles/day • By 700, the region of Ghana in the Sahelwas growing rich by taxing traders that moved through the region • Most trade centered on goldand salt

  10. Islamic Influences • Spread through the Sahara by trade • Ghana’s rulers had become Muslim by 1100 • Conversion to Islam meant having to learn Arabic, creating a much more literatepopulace • The Almoravidswill attack and leave Ghana too weak to recover

  11. Mali: Origins • New deposits of gold were found further east, diminishing Ghana’s power • In 1235, Mali emerged, started by a group that had lived just south of Ghana • Wealth still built on gold

  12. Sundiata and Mansa Musa • Sundiatawill take power from an unpopular leader and established peaceand prosperitywith his wise leadership • Mansa Musawill grow the empire further and use a bureaucracyto govern

  13. Songhai: Origins • As Mali declined (1400s), the Songhai grew • Took control of important trade routes • Two great leaders • Sunni Ali – expanded the empire • Askia Muhammad– replaced Sunni Alis son • Taxes, delegated responsibility • Eventually fell because of primitive weapons

  14. Other Groups of the West: Hausa • Named because of their language • Survived as middle-men of the traders • Constant power struggles between the city-states prevented them from uniting under one central government/expanding

  15. The Yoruba • Spoke a common languagebut were not united • Leaders were descendants of the first ruler (sent by the creator of man) • Thrived on their artistryand crafts

  16. Benin • Grew on the Niger Riverdelta • Similar to Yoruba • Lived in the forests • Ruler was a descendant of the first king • Were one of the first African groups to trade with the Europeans

  17. Section 3East and South

  18. East Coast Trade Cities • Locationmade tradethe primary economy • As Arabic speaking people blended with the Bantulanguage, Swahiliwas created • Traders brought Asian finished goods and took African raw materials • The city of Kilwabecame the wealthiest city-state in the region

  19. Islamic Influences • Most East African cities had Muslim rulers and ruling class while the average people had their traditional religions • Arab Muslims will increase the African slave trade • Relatively few sold and used for home/military duties (not plantations)

  20. Great Zimbabwe • Developed in the south as a result of the gold trade around 1000 • Taxed neighbors and controlled trade routes to become the economic, political, and religious center of the South • Around 1450, Great Zimbabwe was abandonedfor unknown reasons

  21. Mutapa Empire • Legend says it was started just north of Great Zimbabwe around the same time Great Zimbabwe was abandoned • They will continue to thrive on the gold trade • When the Portuguesecouldn’t beat them, they settled for controlling their leaders

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