Societies & Empires of Africa

Societies & Empires of Africa

I. Geographic features • Deserts • Sahara – northern Africa, roughly the size of U.S.A. • Kalahari – southern Africa • Rain forest – dense, humid forest found around the equator • Savannas – grassy plains • Cover 40% of Africa • Dry seasons alternate with rainy seasons Sahara Desert Rain Forest Savanna Kalahari Desert

II. Early Societies • Most African societies based on small social units, the family • Stateless societies – no formal political organization • Diverse local religious traditions • Most family groups had own belief systems • Organized info about the world • Animism– nature & spirits play an important role in daily life • Spirits present in animals, plants, natural forces (wind, fire, etc.) • Record keeping • Few societies had written language, depended on oral tradition – griots(storytellers)

III. The Kingdom of Aksum • Aksum- located south of Egypt, along Red Sea • Was once most powerful kingdom in East Africa, 300-700 C.E. • People decedents from African farmers and migrants from Middle East • Geographic advantages • Well suited for agriculture • Ideal location for trading • Seaport at city of Adulisattracted merchants from African interior, Mediterranean region, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, India

III. Continued… • International trading • Traded salt, rhinoceros horns, ivory, gold • Received cloth, glass, olive oil, wine • First African kingdom south of Sahara to mint own coins • Merchants found it practical for trading • King Ezana • Aksum became not only wealthy trading kingdom, but also strong military power • Reached height under King Ezana, whose reign began about 320 C.E. • Expanded into Arabian peninsula, modern-day Yemen • Defeated northern rival trading kingdom of Kush, 350 C.E. • Gave Aksum complete control of trade in region

III. continued… • Aksum culture • Diverse cultural heritage • Mix of Arab and African descent • Language • Greek was international trading language at the time • Ge’ez- Aksum language, brought by early Arab inhabitants • One of first written languages developed in Africa • Basis of written language in Ethiopia today • Religion • Traditionally believed in one god - Mahrem • King was directly descended from him • Also found aspects of animism • Offered sacrifices, usually of oxen

III. continued… • Trading brought more than just goods, money • Brought new ideas, including Christianity • King Ezana converted, made Christianity official religion • Modern-day Ethiopia still has large population of Christians • Technology & innovations • Created a new method of farming - terrace farming • Step-like ridges (terraces) are dug into the side of mountain slopes • Prevents water from washing down • Dug canals, built holding tanks (cisterns) for water

III. concluded… • Decline of Aksum • Kingdom lasted more than 800 years • Muslim Invaders • 600s, 700s invaders conquered parts of East, North Africa • City of Aksum itself was never conquered • Nearby areas became Muslim, Christian Aksum isolated • Muslims destroyed Aksum’s port city, Adulis, took over Red Sea trade • Cut off from trade, Aksum lost main source of wealth and power • Aksum people retreated inland, settled in what is now northern Ethiopia

IV. Empire of Ghana (800-1200 C.E.) • Arose from trade across savannah region of Africa • Name comes from Soninke people’s word for their ruler • Means “war chief” • By 700s, Ghana’s rulers were rich from taxing merchants and traders • Gold and salt most important • Rulers eventually convert to Islam • Much of population did not convert • Those that did retained many traditional beliefs • Fusion of Islam and animism • Islam helped spread literacy (ability to read and write) through learning to read the Qur’an

IV. Continued… • 1100 – Decline of kingdom • Group from northern African – the Almoravids – seized control of Ghana • Disrupted gold/salt trade • Groups migrated away, merged with other societies

V. Empire of Mali (1235 – 1500 C.E.) • Founded around 1235 by Mande-speaking people • South of Ghana, also a trading kingdom • Mostly based on gold • Sundiata • Mali’s greatest leader • Established strong, bureaucratic government • Promoted agriculture to increase population • Reestablished gold/salt trade after fall of Ghana • After death of Sundiata (1255), many of Mali’s next rulers converted to Islam • Mansa Musa expanded Mali to almost twice the size empire of Ghana had been

V. Continued… • Mansa Musa (continued…) • Helped establish city of Timbuktu as one of the most important trading cities in Africa • Attracted Muslim scholars, doctors, religious leaders from all over • Mosques and universities were well known throughout region

VI. Empire of Songhai (1400 – 1500 C.E.) • Mali declined in 1400s • People once under their control began to break away, form independent kingdoms • Songhai people in east built up army, extended territory to the Niger River • Sunni Ali (ruled 1464-1492) • Muslim leader, built massive professional army • Dominated using skilled horseman, war canoes • Captured two great trading cities during his reign • Timbuktu, Djenne

VI. Continued… • Askia Muhammad • Replaced Sunni Ali’s son after a revolt • Set up tax system, bureaucratic government • Lacked modern weapons • Invaded by north African groups with guns and cannons in 1500s • Collapse of Songhai empire ended a 1,000 year period in which powerful, united kingdoms ruled West Africa

VII. Trading Cities of the East • Like the kingdom of Aksum, cities of eastern coastalAfrica were diverse, due to trade • Bantu-speaking people migrated from west • Merchants and traders came from Arabia, Persia, India • Swahili – new language arose from mix of Arabic and Bantu language • By 1300, more than 35 trading cities along coast • Example: Kilwa • Most powerful, wealthiest coastal city-state • Controlled trade, including gold, from southern Africato Asia • Cities fell to European control in late 1400s

VII. Continued… • Slave trade • Began around 9th century • Arab traders exported slaves from eastern Africa • Sent to Arabia, Persia, India, China • Employed as soldiers, dock/ship workers, domestic workers • Number of slaves was small – 1,000/year • Did not increase much until 1700s, when Europe began trading in slaves

VIII. Great Zimbabwe (1100-1450) • Established sometime around 1000, by the Shona people • Located between Zambezi and Limpopo rivers in modern-day Zimbabwe • Near important trading routes for gold trade • Controlled and taxed traders who travelled routes • 1200s-1400s, became economic, political, and religious center • Abandoned by 1450, reasons unknown • Theory: • Cattle grazing wore out land, salt and timber used up, could not support large population

IX. The Mutapa Empire (1400s-1700s) • Established by a man named Mutota after he left Great Zimbabwe in 1420 • Used military force to dominate surrounding peoples • Initiated a system of tribute to support his army • Was called “mwene mutapa” by those he conquered • Means “conqueror” or “master pillager” • Grew wealthy from gold trade • Eventually, Portuguese would try to conquer the empire • Failed to outright conquer it, but were able to influence politics • Signaled beginning of increasing interference by Europeans in Africa

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Societies & Empires of Africa