Global History Regents Review Notes - Early Africa

Benin (1440-1897)

Located south of Savanna in rain forests of the Guinea coast

Created farming villages

Traded pepper, ivory, and slaves

Oba = King

the political and religious leader

Queen mother and council of hereditary chiefs also have power

Capital city (Benin City) was surrounded by a 3-mile wall

Develop unique style for representing the human face and form

Depict warriors, queen mothers and oba

Bantu Migration

West African farmers and herders migrate to the south and east from 1000BC and 1000AD

Speak variety of languages that come from BANTU

People that migratde across Africa adapted to many climates and diversity of cultures

Slavery

More rights than American slaves, used for labor, if very good at skill could be educated

Ghana (750 - 1076) 

Located in V made by the Niger and Senegal rivers

Ding control gold/salt trade routes across West Africa

Kumbi Saleh – capital made up of two separate walled towns

First town had royal place and complex dome buildings Second town had Muslim merchants Center of trade

Muslim merchants settle in communities throughout kingdom and slowly brought Islamic faith into Ghana

Palace decorated with brass plaques and sculptures

Muslims employed as counselors and officials → absorb Muslim military technology and ideas about government, written language, coinage, business methods, styles of architecture

Few city dwellers adopt Islam

1050 – Almoravids launch campaign to spread their form of Islam, overwhelmed Ghana

Taken over by Mali

Mali (1235-1600)

Mansas = king

Expand influence over both the gold-mining regions to the south and the salt supplies of Taghaza

Expanded borders westward toward Atlantic and northward

Work to ensure peace and order

Convert to Islam

System of justice based on Quran but there were some aspects not adapted (e.g.: Mali women didn’t wear veils and were not limited to house)

1324 – Mansa Musa makes hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)

Show devotion to Islam

Create new diplomatic and economic ties w/ other Muslim states

Mansa Musa - greatest emperor who came into throne in 1312 and had a 25-year reign

Timbuktu

Wealthy trade city

Songhi

Located in bend of the Niger River in present-day Niger

–  1464-1492 – Sonni Ali use his powerful army to create largest state

o    Brought trade routs and wealthy cities under control

Brought trade routs and wealthy cities under control

Did not adopt Islamic religion

Askia Muhammad

Set up Muslim dynasty

o    Expanded territory and improve government

Set up bureaucracy w/ separate departments for farming, army, and treasury

Made pilgrimage to Mecca

Built mosques and schools for study of the Quran

1568 – fights over succession lead to civil war

Morocco sent armies to seize West African gold mines, used gunpowder to defeat Songhi

Ibn Battuta

Visited Mali during Mansa Musa’s reign

Axum

350 – King Ezana of Axum conquered ancient Nile kingdom of Nubia

Located southeast of Nubia, extend from mountains of present-day Ethiopia to Red Sea

Peoples of Axum came from farmers and traders who brought Jewish religious traditions through Arabia

Merging of cultures → new religion, Geez

200BC – 400AD – regulated triangular trade network between Africa and India

Traders bring ivory, animal hides, rhino horns, gold from interior of Africa

Iron, spices, precious stones, cotton cloth from India

300’s – King Ezana converts to Christianity

At first, Christianity strengthen ties btwn Axum, North Africa, and Mediterranean

But other neighbors not Christian → isolated from trade network by distance and religion

Civil war and economic decline → decline of Axum

Great Zimbabwe

Located south and inland from coastal city-states

Large walls, great palace, cone-shaped towers

Known as “great stone buildings”

Succession of Bantu-speaking people

Settled between 900-1500

Brought new farming skills, iron, mining methods

Produced enough food to support growing population because land was fertile

–  Early settlers raised cattle

–  Built stone enclosures to protect livestock

Improve building methods, large walls and palaces

1300 – reaches height

Gold resources, create profitable commercial links w/ coastal cities

Part of trade network that went across Indian Ocean

Center for manufacturing

Ruler was god-king

Share authority with queen mother and 9 queens each with own court

Central bureaucracy below king rule inner ring of provinces

–  Governors had authority in distant villages

Governors had authority in distant villages

1500 – decline

Over farming

o    Civil war and decrease trade

Civil war and decrease trade

Portuguese

Slash and Burn Agriculture

Clear forests with iron axes and hoes and burn remains using ash for fertilizer

When land later loses fertility, move on but go back to it later

–  Allowed more crops to be grown

–  Allowed more crops to be grown

Allowed more crops to be grown

Early Africa