Africa During the Post classical Period

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Africa During the Post classical Period
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African Kingdom Similarities and Differences

• Common Elements in African Societies
• Bantu migration
• Animism
• lineage important in relation with god
• The Arrival of Islam in North Africa
• Arrival of Islam (Spain, by 711)
• Berber Almoravids
• Almohads
• succeed Berbers, 12th century

• The Christian Kingdoms Nubia and EthiopiaCopts
• Egyptian Christians
• spread to Nubia (Kush)
• Ethiopia

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Empires of Africa

• Kingdoms of the Grasslands
• Caravans
• Sahel - transfer point
• Sudanic States
• Rulers sacred
• Islam
• The Empire of Mali
• Malinke peoples from Ghana
• Agriculture, gold trade
• Sundiata (d.1260)
• the Lion Prince
• mansa (ruler)
• expanded state

• Mansa Kankan Musa
• pilgrimage
• Ishal al-Sahili (Sp. Architect)
• beaten clay architecture

Empires of the Western Sudan
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African Kingdoms

• The Songhay Kingdom (Capital Gao)
• Middle Niger valley
• Independent by 700
• Muslim by 1010
• Sunni Ali (1464-1492)
• Hausa states, northern Nigeria
• Muslim center
• Political and Social Life in the Sudanic States
• Fusion of traditions

• City Dwellers and Villagers
• Jenne, Timbuktu
• thrive with expansion
• Some merchants
• Religious diffusion?
• Majority farmers

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Swahili Coast

• The Swahili Coast of East Africa
• Trading ports
• Muslim influence
• Cultural diffusion and synthesis
• The Coastal Trading Ports (Mogadishu, Mombasa,
  Malindi, Kilwa, Pate, Zanzibar)
• Dont need to know, just be familiar
• Madagascar
• SEA imports
• Blended culture

The Swahili Coast
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Swahili Coast (contd)

• The Mixture of Cultures on the Swahili Coast
• Islam unifies
• Other Characteristics
• Egalitarian/homogenous to cosmopolitan/diverse
• Key Exports Imports
• Two distinct trading seasons
• Connection to China?
• When did this exchange with China end?

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Africa During the Post classical Period
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African Kingdom Similarities and Differences

• Common Elements in African Societies
• Bantu migration
• one language base
• Animism
• cosmology
• ethical code
• lineage important in relation with god
• The Arrival of Islam in North Africa
• Part of Mediterranean
• Arrival of Islam (Spain, by 711)
• Berber Almoravids
• western Sahara, assist conversionAlmohads
• succeed Berbers, 12th century

• The Christian Kingdoms Nubia and EthiopiaCopts
• Egyptian Christians
• welcome Muslims
• spread to Nubia (Kush)
• Ethiopia
• heirs to Axum
• King Lalibela

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Empires of Africa

• II. Kingdoms of the Grasslands
• Caravans across Sahara
• Sahel (grasslands)
• transfer point
• A. Sudanic States
• Rulers sacred
• Islam
• from 900s
• supports state
• B. The Empire of Mali and Sundiata, the Lion
  Prince
• Malinke peoples from Ghana
• Agriculture, gold trade
• Sundiata (d.1260)
• mansa (ruler)
• expanded state

• Mansa Kankan Musa
• pilgrimage to Mecca
• Floods land with gold
• brings back Ishal al-Sahili
• architect from Muslim Spain
• beaten clay architecture

Empires of the Western Sudan
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African Kingdoms

• The Songhay Kingdom (Capital Gao)
• Middle Niger valley
• Independent by 700
• Muslim by 1010
• Sunni Ali (1464-1492)
• expanded territory
• successors askia
• Defeated by Morocco, 1591
• Hausa states, northern Nigeria
• Kano becomes Muslim center
• E. Political and Social Life in the Sudanic
  States
• Fusion of Muslim, indigenous traditions

• City Dwellers and Villagers
• Jenne, Timbuktu
• thrive with expansion of Mali, SonghayMandinka
  juula
• Some merchants
• Religious diffusion?
• Farmers the majority

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Swahili Coast

• The Swahili Coast of East Africa
• Trading ports
• Muslim influence strong
• Rest of population remains traditional
• Significangt cultural diffusion and synthesis
• The Coastal Trading Ports (Mogadishu, Mombasa,
  Malindi, Kilwa, Pate, Zanzibar)
• Dont need to know, just be familiar
• Madagascar
• southeast Asian immigrants, bring bananas,
  coconuts
• Blended culture
• Bantu, Islamic
• Swahili
• spreads along coast
• trade with Asia

The Swahili Coast
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Swahili Coast (contd)

• The Mixture of Cultures on the Swahili Coast
• Islam unifies along with Swahili
• Other Characteristics
• Egalitarian and homogenous to cosmopolitan and
  diverse
• Key Exports
• Ivory, gold, iron, slaves, exotic animals
• Key Imports
• Textiles, Silks, porcelain (China and India)
• When during the year did this take place?
• Two distinct trading seasons
• What was the connection between the Swahili Coast
  and China?
• When did this exchange with China end?