African Empires
Dec 17, 2015
Zimbabwe
Location: South/Southeastern Africa
Started: 1000 A.D. – 1450 A.D.
Cities: ◦Great Zimbabwe◦Sofala
Zimbabwe
Government:Kingdom (feudal system)◦Mutuapa “The Great Conqueror”
Religion:◦Ancestral: Believe the ancestors watched over them with Mwari being the supreme being
Economy: Gold Mining and Trade
Zimbabwe
Acheivements:◦Great Zimbabwe was part of a trade network that reached across the Atlantic Ocean.
◦Kingdom was enclosed with rounded stones and a small gate Very strong and defensible
Aksum (Axum)
Location◦East Africa (Horn)
Start/End◦1000 B.C. to 750 A.D.
Major Cities◦Adulis: The greatest seaport. Connected Egypt, Arabia, Persia, India, and Rome
Aksum (Axum)
Government◦Major Leader: Ezana expanded the empire and converted to Christianity
◦Dynasty with kingsReligion◦Ancestral◦Christian
Economy◦Sea Trade with Egypt, Arabia, Persia, India, and Rome
Aksum (Axum)
Acheivements◦Only African kingdom to develop a written language
◦First African kingdom to create its own coins
◦Created Terrace Farming Growing crops on hills
Swahili
Location◦East Africa
Start/End◦1100 A.D. to 1488 A.D.
Major Cities◦Kilwa: Import city: Brought in manufactured goods while shipping out raw materials
Swahili
Government◦Muslim Empire
Religion◦Islam
Economy◦Based on Imports and Exports
Imported :porcelian, jewels, cotton Exported: Ivory, gold, and salt
Ghana
Government◦Dynasty based on warfare (Ghana means war chief)
Religion◦Ancestral◦Converted to Islam
Economy◦Gold and Salt
Mali
Location◦North West Africa
Start/End◦1235 A.D. to 1353 A.D.
Major Cities◦Walata◦Timbuktu◦Gao◦Koumbi Saleh◦Niani
Mali
Government◦Empire
Ruled by Sundiata Expanded by Mansa Musa
Religion◦Islam
Economy◦Gold and Salt