African Beliefs & New Ideas

SSWH 6 d

How did the movement of people and ideas affect early African societies?

SSWH 6 dAnalyze the process of religious syncretism as a blending of traditional African beliefs with new ideas from Islam and Christianity.

African Beliefs• Animism: belief in spirits playing an important

role in regulating daily life.• Majority of Africans remained loyal and

followed animism• Africans believe in god, Mahrem p.13• Believed kings were chosen because they

were supposed to be related to Mahrem• Along with believing in spirits, Africans also

honored the dead by making sacrifices

Islam• Traders from Persia and Arabia settled in most port

cities & as trade increased so did influence on African kingdoms

• Trade increased between these groups because the Muslims brought constant business p. 348

• Many African rulers convert to Islam as a smart business move – to keep business with the Muslim traders

• Believing in Islam meant studying the Qur’an, this encouraged the spread of literacy

• Many African cities began to build mosques because of Muslim influence

• business owners who followed Islam started gaining status and power: government officials, and as wealthier merchants

• those that did not follow Islam begin to lose status within the communities

• Islam will continue to spread because of trade and conquering (the desire to gain more land and power)

Christianity• Through missionary work, some areas within Africa

will become followers of Christianity• Followers of African animism, traditional beliefs,

find a commonality with Christianity – they both believe in one god. p. 754-755

• Christian communities do not prosper as well as Muslim communities because most Christian communities were inland and not on the coast.

• Eventually, Christian communities will prosper and spread towards the coast.

Religious Mixer

What are the 3 main ingredients in the African belief system that are mixed together resulting in religious syncretism?

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