Kingdoms of Africa. Introduction Anthropologists believe humanity first arose in East Africa In ancient times, the rise of Egyptian civilization affected.

Kingdoms of Africa

Introduction• Anthropologists believe humanity first arose in East

Africa• In ancient times, the rise of Egyptian civilization

affected African cultures along the upper Nile• Kush – an early iron-producing center, grew rich

from selling iron products, ivory, ebony, wood, and slaves. (It had once been a part of Egypt called Nubia)• Axum – Located in Ethiopia. Its rise caused the

decline of Kush. King Ezana made Christianity the official religion (330 A.D.). Axum dominated trade in slaves and ivory.

Gold-Salt Trade

• Sahara was never completely cut off from Eurasia• Muslim merchants crossed the Sahara because

of gold and other riches in West Africa• West Africa lacked salt – vital to human survival• Merchants picked up large blocks of salt on their

journey and exchanged them for gold• A thriving trade developed, based on gold-salt

trade• Ideas were exchanged, such as Islamic beliefs

Kingdom of Ghana – 750-1200

Kingdom of Ghana

Ghana• Made iron swords, spears, and lances to subdue neighboring

peoples and to gain control over West Africa’s major trade routes

• Caravans brought salt south to Ghana and returned north with gold

• Power of kings of Ghana rested on their ability to tax all trade passing through the region, especially the gold-salt trade

• Rulers and nobles were further enriched by using captives of war as slaves

• 1076 they were invaded by Muslims from North Africa• Muslims brought Islam to West Africa

Mali Conquers Ghana’s Capital

• In 1240, the people of Mali, under their leader, Sundiata Keita, conquered the old capital of Ghana and established a new empire.

Kingdom of Mali – 1240-1400

Timbuktu

Kingdom of Mali

• Rulers brought both gold and salt mines under their direct control

• Rulers converted to Islam, although most people did not• Mansa Musa – expanded kingdom greatly• Made a religious pilgrimage to Mecca• Brought Muslim scholars and architects back to Mali with him• Muslim scholarship flourished• Timbuktu became an important center of several important

universities and attracted student from Europe, Asia, and Africa

Ibn Battuta –

• Arab traveler that wrote about Mansa Musa and his respect for law and the power of its ruler• Because of his extensive

travels and his records historians know a lot about this time period in Africa and the Middle East• He was like the Marco

Polo of the Muslims

Timbuktu

• Famous trading city• Became an important

center of several important universities• Attracted students from

Europe, Asia, and Africa• Flourished as a center of

Muslim scholarship• Also famous for the Sankore

mosque

Sultan Sunni Ali• In 1464, Sultan Sunni Ali, captured Timbuktu, brought the

upper Niger under his control, and created the larges of West Africa’s three trading kingdoms.

Kingdom of Songhai – 1464-1600

Kingdom of Songhai

• Grew rich from trade across Sahara Desert (salt and gold)• Divided into provinces• Created a navy and soldiers on horseback (cavalry)• expanded its trading networks as far as Europe and

Asia• Continued to flourish as a center of Muslim scholarship and many subjects were Muslim

Kingdom of Benin

• Became famous for their copper and bronze sculptures, which were among the finest of all African artwork• Became involved with the slave trade

Kingdom of Benin

Kingdom of Benin

The Great Zimbabwe

• One of the best known trading kingdoms of South Africa• Great deposits of gold• Traded gold, copper, and ivory from

Africa’s interior with Muslim traders along Africa’s east coast

Towers of the Great Zimbabwe

Other Important Info

• Bantu Migrations• Communities of peoples who lived on subsistence

farming and spoke a common language (Bantu)• Lived throughout West, Central, and southeast Africa

• East African Trading Centers• Muslims from the Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf

settled at ports along the east coast• Merchants grew wealthy from trade here• Eventually, gave rise to mixed African-Arabian culture

known as Swahili

Zimbabwe, Trading Cities, and Migrations.

Mogadishu

MombasaKilwa

Zimbabwe

African Society• In many African societies, lineage was traced through the

mother (matrilineal).• Boys and girls were often separated from the community and

underwent special ceremonies at puberty.• Marriages were arranged by families and grooms paid a dowry

to the bride’s family.• Under Islam, women were limited to running the household

while husbands represented the family outside it.• Slavery• Berber groups in N Africa regularly raided villages south of the

Sahara for captives, but slavery was also common further south and along the east coast• Included prisoners of war, debtors, and some criminals• Slaves worked on farmlands, were soldiers, or were domestic

servants