States and Societies of Sub-Saharan Africa - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

States and Societies of Sub-Saharan AfricaSlide2

Before We Begin

May be helpful to review Chapter 3 to refresh your thinking about Africa.

Period of 1000-1500 CE is often a time frame used in the essay portion of the national exam, as there are numerous comparison/contrast or changes and continuities question possibilities.Slide3

Effects of Early African Migrations

African migrations began around 3000 BCE with the intermittent and incremental Bantu migration and were generally complete by 1000 CE as Bantu-speaking people came to occupy most of Africa south of the equator.Slide4

Effects of Early African Migrations

Agriculture and Population Growth

Bantu peoples established agricultural societies and displaced indigenous hunters and gatherers in almost all parts of Africa.

Grew yams, millet, and sorghum.

Indian ocean merchants eventually bring taro, chicken, and bananas to places like Madagascar.

Bananas enriched diets and led to population growth.Slide5

Effects of Early African Migrations

African Political Organization

Though kin-based societies survived in much of sub-Saharan Africa until the mid-nineteenth century, after the first millennium regional states and kingdoms became increasingly prominent.

By 1000 CE, African migration slowed and Bantu societies governed themselves mostly through family and kinship groups rather than relying on elaborate bureaucracies. (Village Chiefs, etc…)Slide6

Effects of Early African Migrations

African Political Organization after 1000 CE

Population growth made it difficult to maintain kin-based societies

Bantu communities began to formally organize militaries and governments

City States formed in West Africa

Ife and Benin in West Africa

Kingdom of

Kongo

Most tightly centralized and prosperous Bantu Kingdom

Trading hub

King and officials administered judicial, political, and military affairs

Ruled for nearly 400 years.Slide7

Islamic Kingdoms and Empires

Merchants brought Islam to sub-Saharan Africa – over land along the camel routes to west Africa and across the sea lanes to east Africa.

Islam would profoundly influence religious, cultural, political, social, and economic development throughout the continent.Slide8

Islamic Kingdoms and Empires

Trans-Saharan Trade and Islamic States in West Africa

Camels – Important to trade because prior to their introduction and the development of the saddle the Sahara was almost impossible to trade across.Slide9

Islamic Kingdoms and Empires

Islamic States in West Africa

Ghana developed as a strong regional state during the fourth and fifth centuries CE as a result of trade.

By the late eighth century CE Muslim merchants arrived and Ghana became a trading hub, which led to increased wealth and power in Ghana

Ghana controlled trade and taxes on gold used in trade, allowing Ghanaian kings to build financial wealth and strong militaries to protect their empires.

Ghanaian Kings adopted Islam, but did not force it on their citizens

Ghana collapsed under perpetual attack from northern nomadic invaders.Slide10

Islamic Kingdoms and Empires

Islamic States in West Africa

Mali

Emerges as Ghana collapses around 1230 CE.

Their legendary “lion” prince

Sundiata

expanded the Mali kingdom to encompass Ghana, Niger, Senegal, Mauritania, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.

Benefited from trans-Saharan trade.

Became strong Islamic realm under Mansa Musa (nephew of

Sundiata

)

Established mosques and Islamic schools throughout Mali after 1325.

Overrun by the Songhai empire in fifteenth centurySlide11

Islamic Kingdoms and Empires

The Indian Ocean Trade and Islamic States in East Africa

Wealth generated by the Indian Ocean trade financed the coastal city-states and interior kingdoms of east Africa.

Tenth Century CE – Islamic merchants began regular, sustained interaction with the indigenous Bantu people in eastern Africa.

The coastal dwellers formed the basis of the new Swahili culture.Slide12

Islamic Kingdoms and Empires

The Indian Ocean Trade and Islamic States in East Africa

Swahili – Refers to the people who lived along the east African coast. Over time they developed a unique language and culture that mixed Bantu and Arabic traditions.

Swahili traded gold, slaves, and ivory from the African interior for textiles brought to Africa from Persia, India, and China by Muslim merchants

Trading economy lead to great material wealth for Swahili coastal city statesSlide13

Islamic Kingdoms and Empires

Islam States in East Africa

Zimbabwe – Central African Kingdom influenced by the wealth from east African trade

Became increasing wealthy, complex, and organized society by the fifteenth century.

Controlled and taxed trade between the interior and the coast and organized the flow of gold, slaves, and local products.

As in West Africa, wealthy merchants converted to Islam while holding onto some traditional beliefs.

Gave them legitimacy and recognition from Islamic states

in Asia.Slide14

African Society and Cultural Development

The diversity of African society by the eleventh century C.E. makes generalities difficult.

There are some social forms and cultural patterns which appear widely, however.Slide15

African Society and Cultural Development

Social Classes

Societies in kingdoms, empires, and city states like Mali resembled the social structures in the settled, agricultural lands of Eurasia.

In the smaller states and kin-based societies, however, kinship, sex and gender expectations, and age groupings determined social position.

Slaves and slave trading – Source of wealth as it led to greater agricultural production.

Eventually larger African societies began raiding other smaller societies and selling them into slavery in the Islamic World… This laid the foundation for the Atlantic Slave Trade.Slide16

African Society and Cultural Development

African Religion

Varied greatly among the peoples of sub-Saharan Africa

Traditional African Beliefs

Practical rather than theological

Focused on morality and ethics

Mostly monotheistic recognizing a divine male force generally regarded as omniscient and omnipotent

Diviners consulted oracles for answers to life’s questions / problems.

Some adopted Christianity and Islam, but maintained some of their traditional beliefs (

syncretic

faith)