Eastern Hemisphere African Empires

Eastern Hemisphere in the Middle Ages

Asia

Africa

Europe

India

Background: During the Medieval Period several majortrade routes developed in the Eastern Hemisphere. These trading routes developed among Europe, Africa, & Asia.

Major trade routes (1000 to 1500 AD/ CE)

· Silk Roads across Asia to the Mediterranean Basin

· Maritime (ocean) routes across the Indian Ocean

· Trans-Saharan routes across North Africa

· Northern European links with the Black Sea

· Western European Sea and River trade

· South China Sea and Lands of Southeast Asia

Silk Roads across Asia to the Mediterranean Basin

Maritime (ocean) routes across the Indian Ocean

*MARITIME Routes in BlueSpices Traded

Trans-Saharan routes across North Africa

Gold and Salt Traded

Northern European links with the Black Sea

Modern Day

Western European Sea and River trade

South China Sea and Lands of Southwest Asia

What is important about the trade routes? Regional trade networks and long-distance trade routes in the Eastern Hemisphere helped or aided the diffusion and exchange of technology, goods, ideas, and culture between Europe, Africa and Asia.

Goods, Technology, Ideas

Goods• Textiles-India, China, the Middle East, and later Europe

• Spices- lands around the Indian Ocean

• Porcelain- China and Persia

• Amber- Baltic Regions (Northern Europe)

• Gold- West Africa

What technology is being adapted? Where from?• Paper- from China through the Muslim world to Byzantium and

Western Europe

• Waterwheels- (Rome, China) and windmills (NW Europe, Middle East)

• Navigation – Compass from China, lateen sail from Indian Ocean

What religions are being spread?• Buddhism from China to Korea and Japan

• Hinduism and Buddhism from India to S.E. Asia

• Islam into West Africa, Central and Southeast Asia

Other ideas? Printing and paper money from China

African civilizations developed insub-Saharan West and East Africa

• Ghana, Mali, and Songhai in West Africa

• Axum in East Africa

• Zimbabwe in Southern Africa

States and Empires that flourished in Africa during the Medieval Period:

• Ghana, Mali, and Songhai in West Africa

• Axum in East Africa• Zimbabwe in Southern Africa

What influenced these African Empires the most? Trade brought important economic, cultural and religious influences to African civilizations from other parts of the Eastern Hemisphere.

Axum• Location? Near the Ethiopian Highlands

and the Nile River• Unique? Christian kingdom

Zimbabwe• Location relative to the Zambezi

and Limpopo Rivers• On coast of the Indian Ocean• City of Great Zimbabwe as capital of a

prosperous (rich) empire

-1100 CE -near important trade routes-Land was great for farming-raised cattle -gold and ivory -taxed traders-Religion is important part of society-religious center- ancestry worship

Great Zimbabwe- stone houses

Zimbabwe Video – 3 min• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_NiqasKWm

8&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

• A student project but very informative

West African Kingdoms VideosGhana, Mali and Songhai• 1. Ghana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADOSXAUS8us

• 2. Mali https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHZI8d6_RUM

• 3. Songhai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPihZ_k1NXw

Abdallavideo

- 300 CE- Used iron- Taxed traders- Arab traders brought Islam and set up trading posts.- Arab traders risk traveling to West Africa for gold in

exchange for salt.

Ghana

Mali-Mandika people-Participated in gold trade-Expanded to northern and western coast of Atlantic ocean.-Size of western Europe-Accepted Islam and spread itTimbuktu – Islamic center.

Salt mines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ1eQ99Triw

Songhai- Took over weak Mali- Millions speak language- Traditions are passed down- Islam dominant

West African Kingdoms- Ghana, Mali, Songhai empires What geographical features were they near?

Location relative to Niger River and the Sahara DesertTwo important goods? gold and salt to trans-Saharan tradeWhat was the major city? Timbuktu

West African Kingdoms

• City of Timbuktu as center of trade and learning

• Video on Timbuktu:• http://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=d6wKaIEzxGo&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

TimbuktuMansa Musa- gave away gold, lots to Cairo. He used his wealth to spread Islam. Built Mosques and brought Muslim scholars Became the Islamic center of trade.

Video Notes

Salt

The 14th century the city of Timbuktu in West Africa was five times bigger than the city of London, and was the richest city in the world.

Mansa Musa, was the emperor of the 14th century Mali Empire. • His procession reportedly included 60,000 men, including 12,000 slaves

who each carried 4 lb of gold bars and heralds dressed in silks who bore gold staffs, organized horses, and handled bags.

• The animals included 80 camels which each carried 50–300 lb of gold dust. Musa gave the gold to the poor he met along his route. Musa not only gave to the cities he passed on the way to Mecca, including Cairo and Medina, but also traded gold for souvenirs.

• It was reported that he built a mosque every Friday. At the time of his death in 1331, Mansa Musa was worth the equivalent of 400 billion dollars(?). At that time Mali Empire was producing more than half the

ld’ l f l d ld

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvnU0v6hcUo

What other things influenced West African Kingdoms?Role of animism and Islam

Animism – spirits in animals, plant, natural forces, that play in important role in regulating daily life