Sudanic States

1
Sudanic States

• Led by a council of elders.
• Based on an ethnic core and conquered neighboring
  peoples.
• Rulers were sacred individuals separated from
  their subjects by rituals.
• Most important were Mali and Songhay.

2
City and Village

• Regional towns, such as Jenne and Timbuktu had
  scholars, craft specialists, foreign merchants.
• Timbuktu was famous for its library and
  university.
• Military expansion of Mali and Songhay
  contributed to its strength.

3
Songhay

• Niger Valley
• Independent in 7th C. By 1010, rulers were
  Muslims.
• Freedom from Mali and becomes a trading state.
  Takes over central Sudan.
• Islamic and indigenous traditions combined.

4
Political life

• Larger states were ruled by dominant groups.
• Islam provided a universal faith and fixed law
  that served common interests.
• Indigenous patterns persisted.
• Rulers enforced authority through Muslim
  officials. Slaves to the Islamic world.
• Demand for Eunuchs and concubines increased.

5
Coastal Trade

• Swahili on East Coast of Africa
• Bantu-speaking migrants reached and mixed with
  indigenous Africans.
• Spread to Madagascar.
• Bantu, Islam and Swahili emerged in trading
  ports.
• Towns flourished with trade and foreigners.

6
Yoruba and Benin

• Non-Bantu speaking people
• Highly urbanized agriculturists
• Small-city states
• Divine kings and elaborate courts.
• Lineages still controlled provinces.

7
Kongo and Mwene Mutapa

• Lower Congo region
• Agricultural. Skilled in weaving, pottery
  making, blacksmithing and carving.
• Gender division of labor.
• Family-based villages
• Federation of states.
• Large buildings, spreads to Indian Ocean and
  Zimbabwe.