Medieval Africa

Medieval Africa

Mali & Axum

Influence of Geography

• Sahara – the largest desert in the world• Only of many geographic features that have played a

major role in the development of Africa• Tropical rain forest runs along the equator• The Savannas – grass land - moving north and south of

this band are the continents largest and most populated regions

• Cataracts – rivers with water falls • Geographic features of Africa – barriers or highways to

easy movement of people goods and ideas

Resources Spur Trade

• Africa’s mineral wealth has spurred trade across the continent:

• Salt• Gold• Iron• Copper• Trade expanded greatly by the advent of a new form

of transportation:• AD 200 “Ships of the desert”

Bantu• 2500 B.C.

Desertification• Migration of farmers

1000BCE-1000CE• Bantu language• Spread culture

(farming, ironworking and domestication of animals) to southern Africa

Outside Influences Affect North Africa

• Early civilizations had strong ties to the regions across the Mediterranean and Red Sea

• Phoenicia build Carthage • A great North African power • Founded by Phoenician traders as a port on the Mediterranean• Phoenicia came to dominate western Mediterranean trade• 800 BC – 146 BC forged an empire that stretched from present-

day Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco to southern Europe• Eventually led to a series of wars against Rome – called the Punic

Wars

Carthaginian Empire

African Kingdoms

Trade in the Sahara 800-1600 AD

• Villages near rivers and Lake Chad produce a surplus

• Surplus – produce more than they needed

• Trade routes linking savanna to forest lands in south then across Sahara

West Africa

• Caravans crossed Sahara trading:• Leather goods• Kola Nuts• Cotton Cloth• Slaves

North Africa

• Arabs and Berbers traded:• Silk• Metal• Beads• Horses• Slaves

2 Commodities

• Gold and Salt dominated Saharan trade• Gold widely available in:• Ghana• Nigeria• Senegal• 500-1600 – eight tons of gold removed from

these areas

• Salt • Important in diet• Preservative• Sahara abundant in salt

MAP

Ghana

• Niger and Senegal Rivers • Soninke People• Kumbi Saleh Capital• Islam became an

influence

Muslim Influence in Ghana

• Muslim merchants brought with them their Islamic faith

• King employed Muslims as counselors and officials

• Incorporated Muslim military technology• As well as ideas about government, written

language, coinage, and business methods• Slow to converts

Ancient Ghana

Mali• Sundiata- 1235Ce• Mandinka People• Founded Mali “Where the king dwells.”• Mansa Musa 1312• Greatest Ruler • Converts to Islam 1324 Hajj• Promotes Islamic education• Brings back scholars, architects, and teachers• University at Timbuktu

EAST AFRICA - Axum• Modern day Ethiopia to Eritrea• 100 B.C.E to 1 C.E. • Trade with Rome and Persia • From Red Sea port of Adulis• Capital of Empire• Triangular trade with Africa, India,

Mediterranean World• 350 CE King Ezana• Adulis Capital

• Markets of Adulis:• Iron• Spices• Precious Stones• Cotton

• Axum converts to Christianity in 300 C.E.• King Ezanza makes Christianity the official

religion• Eventually –isolated from Europe • Empire weakens – civil wars

Ethiopia• King Lalibela early 1200s• Building of 11 remarkable churches• Carved from Mountains• Holy Lands• Jewish tradition• Queen Sheba