African Civilization and Spread of Islam

African Civilization and Spread of Islam  In 1324 Mansa Musa leads a caravan of camels and slaves through the Sahara on his hajj  He gives away so much gold that the metal itself loses value; this symbolizes the wealth in Africa  Islam reaches Mali through route of trading routes (Mediterranean to Middle East to Africa)  During the Roman Empire, smaller civilizations aren’t very relevant in worldly trading; during the Byzantine and Islamic expansion smaller kingdoms become included 1. Social Changes 2. Technological Changes 3. Religious Changes African Societies: Diversity and Similiarities  Share language and beliefs  “State” societies and “stateless” societies Stateless Societies:  societies based around kinship and local families rather than strong, centralized political power  governments were made up of “council of elders”  local families rule rather than a king  no need to tax to support a king, a bureaucracy, and a military  stateless societies work in Africa because dissidence merely leads to formation of new societies  problems with stateless societies are: 1. lack of organization for building projects 2. lack of a military to resist external pressures 3. lack of a substantial trading network  long distance trade Common Elements within African Societies  language and religion (even though Africa speaks different languages, they share a linguistic base; animism)  linguistic base is provided by the Bantu peoples  animistic beliefs are central to African people  worship natural forces as “gods” who need to be worshipped  Africans believe in a diety whose power is expressed through “lesser gods”  Natural disaster and illness are forms of evil which is produced by witchcraft  Overall, religions produced a “cosmology”  an understanding of how the universe works that guides ethics and behaviors  Northern African economy is different than Sub-Sahara because of trading on the Mediterranean  In SS Africa, the staple of their economy lies on trading (local) agriculture Arrival of Islam in North Africa  In between 640-700 Muhammad’s followers sweep across North Africa  “Ifriqiya”  Muslims conquer Spain and move into France but are stopped short of Pyrenees by Charles Martel  After the Abbasid dissolution, the “Almohadis” and the “Almoravids” move south into Africa and back into Spain  Islam is accepted in Africa there is an idea of all Muslims being equal in the eyes of Allah  egalitarianist religion  @ the local level, ethnic distinctions divide believers. The fine for killing a man is 2X that of killing a woman.  Disparity between Quranic preaching and practical application  leads to reformist groups that emphasize Muhammad’s original preachings The Christian Kingdoms: Nubia and Ethiopia (Axum)  Christianity has a pretty strong root in Africa as well; Ethiopia and Egypt (coptics)  When the Muslim armies conquer Egypt, many Christians keep their faith and establish new kingdoms Kingdoms of the Grasslands:  As Islam enters North Africa, it sends merchants throughout the Sahara  Merchants spread influences on 3 coasts: 1. Atlantic Ocean 2. Indian Ocean 3. Sahel  Sahel is necessary for livelihood of camels; need an arid environment to prevent disease  Ghana emerges around 200 CE  rise to prominence through trading gold and salt  Around 900 Ghana reaches its economic and military height; it falls because 1076 the Almoravids invade and indirectly cause its decline Sudanic States:  Sudanic states typically have a patriarch as their leader  Have a “core” area ppl with same linguistic or ethnic makeup  Most were conquest states; meaning they rely on military support, on taxes, and on tribute  Majority of the Sudanic rulers convert to Islam in 900’s Empire of Mali and Sundiata “Lion Prince”  Geographically between Senegal and Niger Rivers  Mali breaks away from Ghana  Mali rulers support Islam through building mosques, attending public prayer, and supporting Islamic preachers  Mali’s economic base trade and agriculture  Malinke expansion is credited to Sundiata “Lion Prince” revered because he overcomes a bad childhood and unifies N.W. Africa  Divides Mali into 16 “clans”  Creates loyalty and creates security on trading routes through garrisons  important because allows Malinke trading to survive  Sundiata’s most famous is successor is Mansa Musa  famous for his 1324 hajj which brings Muslim attention to Africa Songhay Kingdom: ?????????