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The African Connection

The African Connection. Early Africa. Diverse – large centralized states (Egypt, Kush, Axum) to stateless societies Bantu migrations (2000 BCE – 1000 CE) spread agriculture & herding Use of iron after 500 BCE Cultivated yams, sorghum, and millet

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The African Connection

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  1. The African Connection

  2. Early Africa Diverse – large centralized states (Egypt, Kush, Axum) to stateless societies • Bantu migrations (2000 BCE – 1000 CE) spread agriculture & herding • Use of iron after 500 BCE • Cultivated yams, sorghum, and millet • Introduction of bananas after 500 CE caused migration and population surge • 3.5 million in 400 BCE to 22 million by 1000 CE

  3. Social and political organization centered around the family – no centralized government • Around 640, Islam spread into the northern part of Africa, bringing with it the unifying forces of religious practices and law • Many African rulers converted & centralized states began to form (Berbers of the Sahara) • Result = Islam mixed with native cultures • Nonviolent spread was very conducive to trade • Islands of Christianity -- Copts in Egypt, Nubia, Axum (Ethiopia)

  4. West African Kingdoms

  5. Formed by the 700s Grew rich from taxing goods that traders carried through their territory Most important asset was gold from the Niger River area that they traded for salt from the Sahara – King had exclusive right to the gold nuggets but……everyone else could have the dust…… By 10th century, Ghana’s ruler and elites converted to Islam By 13th century CE surrounded by Mali………… GHANA

  6. Salt was sometimes more valuable than gold! • People’s bodies need salt to live • In the desert heat, salt is lost through perspiration • Salt was used to preserve food • Salt was brought in large slabs (coins)

  7. Gold-Salt Trade Berbers SALT Camels allowed traders to travel across the Sahara GOLD

  8. MALI • Became larger, more powerful, and richer than Ghana • Wealth based on gold • Sundiata, • Mansa Musa • Timbuktu – world center of trade, education and sophistication

  9. Timbuktu-”Heavenly Clay”

  10. MANSA MUSA’S HAJJ • 1324 – sets off on a journey across the Sahara to Mecca • 100 hundred camels carrying a ton of gold dust and 500 salves, each carrying a 6 pound gold walking stick • Cairo – devalues the Egyptian economy • Put Mali on that map as the “land of gold”……..15th century Portuguese explorers……

  11. East Africa City-States

  12. Swahili civilization of East Africa - blend of Bantu with commercial life of Indian Ocean (Islamic) • Growing demand for East African products • African merchant class developed with towns & kingships • Height of civilization was between 1000 & 1500 CE • Very urban • Politically independent, ruled by king (emir • Sharp class distinctions

  13. Architecture, food, dress, farming, and government reflected combined African and Arabic styles KILWA

  14. Used the monsoon winds to get small boats (Dhows) from the African coast to the Arabian peninsula or India Muslim sailors Wide-spread conversion Arab Traders of the Swahili City-States

  15. Great Zimbabwe

  16. Great Zimbabwe [1200-1450] • Settled between 500 & 1000 CE by Bantu-speaking people called the Shona • Economy based on pastoral agriculture • Expert Iron workers • Discovered gold along the coast – began to trade with merchants from the Indian Ocean coast • State became known – built city between 1000-1300 CE • Abandoned around the year 1450?????? “Zimbabwe” = “stone enclosure”

  17. How Does Islam Adapt in Africa? • Appealed to ruling elite and merchants • Converts took Islam seriously, built mosques and schools • Accommodated African gender relations – women had more freedom than in other parts of the Islamic world • Supplemented rather than replaced traditional relations

  18. Christian African Kingdoms

  19. Christian Egyptians Copts Traded with Byzantine Empire Difference – split with Eastern Orthodox Church Allowed to keep religion by Muslim invaders – “People of the Book” -- tolerance “Islands of Christianity”

  20. Axum > Ethiopia Most important African Christian outpost Cut off, influenced by Jewish & pagan immigrants Dynasty traces origins to marriage of Solomon & Sheba Maintained isolated brand of Christianity

  21. Central African Kingdoms

  22. Kingdom of the Kongo • Villages formed small states along Congo River around 1000 CE • Small states formed principalities, 1200 CE • One becomes strong – maintained strong centralized government, with a currency system • Very effective until 17th century when Portuguese arrive…………..

  23. What role does Africa play in the cross-cultural interactions of this time period? • Formation of trade and religious centers tied to Eurasia • Land and sea trade routes to link AfroEurAsia

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