African Civilizations and the Spread of Islam

1. African Civilizations and the Spread of Islam Chapter 8

2. Basics • N. Africa Vs Sub-Saharan Africa • N. Africa-Islamic domination • 800-1500 CE • Social, religious (especially spread of Islam, and Tech changes) • Islamization

3. African Societies: Diversity and Similarities • Stateless societies • Kinship groups-lacked political power • Councils of families or farmers • Secret societies • Lacked large building projects, weak defenses, weak trade networks

4. Similarities in African Socities • Bantu Speaking • Animistic religions • Class of diviners or priests • Family lineage • Ancestors-fertility of flocks, harvests • Economics • Sub-Saharan-agricultural and iron-working quickly developed • Trade grows, globally

5. Islam spreads through N Africa • Connected into Med. World since early history • 640-700 Conquests • Conversions • Egalitarianism • In thoery • Social stratification

7. Xian kingdoms of Nubia and Ethiopia • Egypt and Ethiopia-conversions before Islam • Coptics • Axum • Becomes Ethiopia • Jewish and Xian converts • Turn inward following Islamic control of Egypt • Fortified cities, terraced agriculture in Ethiopian highlands

8. Kingdoms of the Grasslands • Known as the Sahel • Mali, Songhay and Hausa states • Merchants, not armies, bring Islam • Ghana-formed by 8th century • Transitional area, gold from the west, salt and dates from sahara • Cross-roads • Camels • By 10th century Ghana=Islamic • Height of power

9. Grasslands con’t • Sudanic States • Patriarchal or council of elders (of a one family) • Conquest states • Rulers were sacred and separated from people • Islam-royals convert, but not all peoples, still use old family lineages

11. Mali and Sundiata • Mali-break away from Ghana 13th century • Kinship with reinforcing ties of Islam (building projects and sermons) • Agricultural based • Sundiata- oral histories about exploits • Created social stratification • Protection of travelers, Ibn Batuta • Local control, but soldiers to protect loyalty • Mansa Musa-Hajj

12. Cities and centers of trade • Commercial interest, craft specialists, foreign traders • Timbuktu-50,000 people • Mosques, universities • Agricultural based-80% • Communal clearing, but family run • Polygamy

13. The Songhay • Traditionally-farmers, fishermen, and herders • Rulers-Islamic, most people were not • Capital-Gao • Sunni Ali and Muhammad the Great • Provincial administrations • Pagan/Muslim clashes • Muslim impact on region

14. Politics and Social life • Islam, although varied in its influence, allows a common religion, and law code as most ruling families have ties to it • Traditional religious practice still important • Women-not seperated, matrilineal • Slavery-Muslim views • Women and Children

15. The Swahili Coast- East Africa • Port cities, Islamicized, but Bantu and Swahili language and customs remain • Islam-Key to trade contacts all the way to China • Ivory, gold, iron and slaves • Separated Muslim Families • Flourished from the 13th-15th centuries, even having direct contact with China • Over 30 port cities down the coast line

16. The mixing of Cultures • Although Islam is part of ruling and merchant classes, and also a foundation of law, limited conversions outside of these groups • Swahili-Bantu language with Arabic words • Swahili language and culture dominate even once the Portuguese arrive in 1500’s

17. Central Africa-Plains and forrests • Complex agrarian societies • Herding also involved • City-states-Benin and the Kongo • Royal authority (divine authority)-Zimbabwe • No Writing system developed • Oral traditions • Art, building, and statecraft still developed

18. Arts in Central and West Africa • Nok-terra-cotta • Life like bronze and terra-cotta sculptures • Benin-Bronze casting