Eastern Hemisphere African Empires Eastern Hemisphere in the Middle Ages

Europe Asia

India Africa Background: During the Medieval Period several major trade 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

Spices Traded *MARITIME Routes in Blue 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 Goods, Technology, Ideas

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 • 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 in sub-Saharan West and East 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 • 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 Great Zimbabwe- stone houses

-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 Zimbabwe Video – 3 min • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_NiqasKWm 8&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_saf ety_mode=1&safe=active

• A student project but very informative  Abdalla video West African Kingdoms Videos Ghana, 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 Ghana - 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. Salt mines https://www.youtu be.com/watch?v=m Mali Z1eQ99Triw

-Mandika people -Participated in gold trade -Expanded to northern and western coast of Atlantic ocean. -Size of western Europe -Accepted Islam and spread it Timbuktu – Islamic center. Songhai - Took over weak Mali - Millions speak language - Traditions are passed down - Islam dominant West African Kingdoms- Ghana, Mali, Songhai What geographical featuresempires were they near? Location relative to Niger River and the Sahara Desert Two important goods? gold and salt to trans-Saharan trade What 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_mo de=true&persist_safety_m ode=1&safe=active Video Notes Timbuktu Mansa 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. https://www.youtu be.com/watch?v=j Salt vnU0v6hcUo

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 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