Warmup
What does “Islam” mean?
“Submission to the will of Allah”
Agenda
Warmup
“Is this in Africa?” Game
PPT & Notes
Test = November 29th (after Thanksgiving)
Homework: Mongol Empire Notes PPT is on my website
Game Time!
Materials = notebook paper, pen/pencil, eyeballs, brains
Number your paper 1 – 10
I’m going to show you a series of 10 images
You will write “Yes” or “No” if you think those images come from Africa or not
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Results! 1) Yes – Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania
2) Yes – Port Louis in Mauritius
3) Yes – Slums
4) Yes - poor woman and child
5) Yes – South African National Soccer Team
6) Yes – McDonalds in Nigeria
7) Yes – Johannesburg, South Africa
8) Yes – child soldier in Somalia
9) Yes – AIDS patients in a hospital
10) Yes – school in Nigeria
Discuss
How many of you said between 1 – 3 of the images were from Africa?
4-7?
8-10?
What surprised you about any of the images?
North and Central African Societies
Hunter-Gatherer Societies
Oldest form of social organization in the world began in Africa
Relied on hunting and gathering for survival
There are still hunter-gatherer societies today Africa South America Asia
Efe
AY-fay
Hunters and gatherers
Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Small nomadic group, all related and own their own grass & brush shelters
Efe women are gathers, men/boys are the hunters
Efe
Group leader is a respected male (father, uncle, father-in-law), but does not act like a chief (does not give orders)
Disagreements are settled through discussion. If conflict is still not resolved one member can decide to leave
Daily life not governed by formal written laws, but logical guidelines
Stateless Societies
Family organization is central to African society
Organized into lineage = believe they are descendants of a common ancestor (including past and future generations)
Strong loyalty to one another
This political system was common in sub-Saharan Africa before the arrival of the Muslims and Europeans
Stateless Societies
South of the Sahara, African groups developed a system of governing based on lineage
Stateless society = lineage groups took the place of rulers but did not have a centralized system of power
Power was balanced so no one family had too much power
Conflicts were resolved by the ruling of the group’s elder leader
Tracing Family Descent
Patrilineal = societies trace their ancestors through their fathers Inheritance passes from father to son
Matrilineal = societies trace their ancestors through their mother Young men inherit land from their mother’s
family
Age Set System Age set = young people within a
region who are born during a certain time period
Each age set passes together through clearly identified life stages, such as warrior or elder
Ceremonies mark the passage of each age set
Duties and roles associated with varying ages
Muslim States
Islam played a major role in North African political history
After Muhammad’s death in 632, Muslims swept across the northwest part of Africa
Muslim theocracies of Africa were established in the North
By 670, Muslims ruled Egypt and Maghrib (Mediterranean coast of Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria)
As Africans converted to Islam, they changed their government structure to Islamic Law (Sharia Law)
Islamic Law
Obligated to follow religious law Helped unify individual states that had ethnic or cultural
differences
Islamic law had been a significant force politically and socially in African history
Berbers (original inhabitants of N. Africa) converted to Islam while still maintaining their loyalties and identities
Two Berber groups (Almoravids and Almohads) united the Maghrib under Muslim rule
Almoravid Reformers Founded in 11th century, lived in
western Sahara
A devout Berber Muslim named Yahya ibn Ibrahim made a hajj to Mecca
On his way home he convinced a Muslim scholar to return with him to teach his people about Islam
His teaching attracted many followers and a strict religious brotherhood (Almoravids) was founded
Almoravid Empire
The Almoravids grew into a powerful fighting force
They conquered across the Sahara Desert and swept up into Spain
Their religious zeal and powerful military helped create an empire during the 11th and 12th centuries
Established their capital at Marrakesh
Eventually Christian rulers pushed the Muslims out of Spain beginning in the 1100s (Reconquista)
Almohads Take Over
In the mid 1100’s the Almohads (Berber Muslims reformers) took power from the Almoravids
Began a militant religious movement
Followed the teachings of Ibn Tumart who denounced other rulers for practicing non-traditional Islam.
Urged his followers to follow the Qur’an and Islamic law
Lasted over a 100 years and united the Maghrib under one rule for the first time
Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
Kingdom of Ghana
People started using camels in trade because they could last longer without water
Kingdom of Ghana began to grow rich from taxing goods that were carried through their region
Kingdom of Ghana
Gold & salt were two most important items The trade across the Sahara Desert between the Arab
merchants and West African Kingdoms were primarily based on the exchange of gold and salt
Gold = two-thirds of the world’s gold supply came from West Africa
Salt = Essential to human life and plentiful in the Sahara desert
Based on the map, which conclusion can best be drawn about this region? A. The Sahara Desert acted as a barrier to trade B. Rivers served as the primary trade routes for the entire region C. The economy of the region was influenced by extensive trade connections D. Goods from the Gulf of Guinea were exchanged directly with Italian cities
Based on the map, which conclusion can best be drawn about this region? A. The Sahara Desert acted as a barrier to trade B. Rivers served as the primary trade routes for the entire region C. The economy of the region was influenced by extensive trade connections D. Goods from the Gulf of Guinea were exchanged directly with Italian cities
Islamic Influence
Islam spread through North Africa by conquest, but south of the Sahara, Islam spread through trade
Muslim merchants and teachers settled in the states south of the Sahara and introduced their faith
Ghanaian rulers converted to Islam By the 11th century, Muslim advisers
were helping the king run the kingdom
Impact of Muslim Expansion into West Africa
The interaction of Muslim traders with the civilization of West Africa had a tremendous impact Expanded the influence of Islamic beliefs Increased trade of gold and salt The rise of the civilizations of Ghana and Mali
West African trade routes were similar to the impact of the Silk Road in Asia Ideas were exchanged as merchants interacted with each other
The expansion of Islam into Africa caused numerous political, economic and social changes Economic example: Sub-Saharan Africa and West Africa was pulled into the
Arab trading zone
Empire of Mali
Wealth was built on gold
New deposits of gold were found so trade routes started to go through Mali
Helped trade gold and salt throughout North & West Africa
Empire of Mali
Mansa Musa = Mali’s most famous ruler Skilled military
leader Expanded empire
to twice the size of Ghana
Mali’s Golden Age Under Mansa Musa
Lead Mali to a “Golden Age” Commissioned great mosques to be built in Timbuktu, Mali’s capital,
and other Mali cities. Muslim scholarship flourished and Timbuktu became a center of
learning Public display of wealth and power enhanced Mali’s reputation and
prestige throughout the world. One conclusion that can be reached from the evidence about Mansa
Musa’s rule of Mali is that complex civilizations existed in West Africa before the arrival of the Europeans.
Muslim Architecture in Africa
• Architecture is the GREATEST example of cultural diffusion in the lands conquered by the Muslims
• When mosques were constructed, Muslim culture was blended with indigenous architectural styles
Djenné Mosque in Mali
Built with mud bricks It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means that it and surrounding homes cannot be changed or remodeled at all
Timbuktu • Mansa Musa built mosques at Timbuktu and made it one of
the most important cities in Africa
“There are in Timbuktu numerous judges, teachers and priests appointed by the king. He greatly honors learning. Many hand-written books imported from Barbary are also sold. There is more profit made from this commerce than from all other merchandise…..”
This passage suggests that Timbuktu was a city that- a. Participated frequently in war b. Emphasized learning and trade c. Protected the human rights of all citizens d. Selected political leaders through democratic elections
Timbuktu • Mansa Musa built mosques at Timbuktu and made it one of
the most important cities in Africa
“There are in Timbuktu numerous judges, teachers and priests appointed by the king. He greatly honors learning. Many hand-written books imported from Barbary are also sold. There is more profit made from this commerce than from all other merchandise…..” This passage suggests that Timbuktu was a city that- a. Participated frequently in war b. Emphasized learning and trade c. Protected the human rights of all citizens d. Selected political leaders through democratic elections
Empire of Songhai
Took over important gold and salt trade routes following the collapse of Mali
Songhai built impressive empire of wealth and learning but lacked modern weapons and were eventually conquered by Morocco
Bantu of West Africa
• The primary reason the Bantu-speaking people of West Africa migrated southward and eastward between 500 BC and AD 1500 was to find land for farming and grazing
Arab Traders become Middlemen
• Once Arab traders reach Imperial China, they become the middlemen in trade between China and Europe
• Who used to be the middlemen in trade?
• Indians