African Kingdoms The Post- Classical Era

Objective: To understand and analyze the effects of African trading kingdoms

on the Post- Classical Era.

Ms. Costa

Early Civilizations of Africa:

Great Rift Valley Nile Valley ( Ancient

Egypt) Desertification- Bantu

Migrations Kingdom of Nubia Great Zimbabwe North Africa- Carthage Trade & Camel

Caravans Introduction of Islam

600

Civilizations on the Nile:

Ancient Egypt • Flooding of the Nile-

silt for farming • 5,000 BC people begin

farming- scattered villages

• Ruled by kings & queens (pharaohs = Gods)

• Large burial tombs & pyramids for afterlife

• Use of hieroglyphics • Skill in paper-making,

architecture, medicine and astronomy

Ancient Nubia

• 6000 BC hunting and fishing communities South of Egypt along Nile

• 3100 BC start of kingdoms

• Greatest city Napata- 724 conquered Egypt rule for 60 yrs.

• Later kingdom established South of Nubia

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp6P_hBnF1s&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL06DEB820AFD029A5

North African Trading Powers Rise and Fall of Carthage

• 800 BC Phoenicians establish Carthage (Tunisia)

• Powerful city-state of N. Africa

• Textiles, metals, slaves, & food

• Dominate Med. Trade 500 BC-200BC

• War with Rome- lose and fall to Roman Empire 146

Roman and Islamic Influences

• Cities grew up in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia under Roman Empire

• Spread of Christianity • Roman roads• Fall of Rome 476 AD

compete for control of N. Africa

• 600s Arab traders took Egypt and N. Africa- spread of Islam

• N. Africans spread Islam to W. Africa

The Roman Empire

Gold for Salt:

Dominate trans-Saharan trade

Plentiful gold in Ghana, Nigeria & Senegal (Savanna of W. Africa)

North Africa wants gold to make coins (Have Salt)

City of Taghaza salt blocks used to build houses

Salt is going South Gold is going North West Africans trade for

salt- necessity for diets Control of gold supply

=wealthy trade kingdoms

Ghana: “Land of Gold” (700-1000)

Sonike people Between Niger &

Senegal Rivers Use of Iron Lavish court set up Dominate gold/salt

trade Go-between for

North African traders & gold and ivory producers of South

Import: cloth, broaches, copper & salt Export: Gold Trade with Berbers from N. Africa

Ghana: Trade & Islam Ghana’s kings grew

rich- tax on imports/exports

Islam: though in contact with Muslim traders, Ghana kept traditional religion

Tolerant and welcome Muslims

1050 Almoravids- campaign to spread Islam/ invasions

Mali: “Where the King Dwells”(1200-1450)

Mandinke people Famous for weaving, mining,

and architecture Sundiata- founder Takes over old empire-

encompass parts of Ghana Greatest leader Mansa Musa

1312 (takes salt mines to the North)

MM Enlarges empire- Adopts Islam

Assembly of Kings- legal code Timbuktu- center of

scholarship/ wealth Ibn Batutta “There is

complete security in their country.”

Trade: Gold, Salt, cloth, books & Copper :

The Emperor’s Hajj: 1324 sets out for

Mecca with caravan Pass through Cairo Egyptians in Awe –

shows wealth of kingdom

New trading ties Return with Muslim

scholars, artists, writers, teachers & architects

Building of mosques in Gao & Timbuktu

Decline – after MM dies his successor are weak

Songhai: 1300s Founded by Sonni-Ali –

bring trading cities under his control

Great military leader – takes over Timbuktu

Gao = capital Largest empire Asika Muhammad- military

and administration (height of kingdom under him)

Asika makes pilgrimage brings Muslim scholars to Timbuktu

1400 Timbuktu center of learning

1586 invasions from North

Education: Uniform weights & measures, banking and credit

Other Kingdoms of West Africa: Benin

Rose in forests of Guniea near Equator

1300 kingdoms emerge

King is political and religious leader (Ewuare)

3 mile long wall around city

Palace with bronze

The Hausa: 1300 walled cities of clay Thriving commercial

centers Merchants trade with

Arabs and Berbers Develop a written

language based on Arabic

Hausa rulers- some are women

Gain control of Saharan trade routes

East African Trading Kingdoms:

The Post Classical Age

East African Kingdoms Trade with Middle East, Persia, India, China E. African coast good harbors and cities City-States: a large town that has its own government

& usually controls the surrounding countryside Trade at coastal and inland cities – Malindi, Mombasa,

Zanzibar, Mozambique, Mogadishu, Sofala & Kilwa Traders brought slaves, ivory, gold, and animal skins

from interior of Africa to coast Other trade use trade winds to sail across Indian

Ocean using monsoons Arabs bring Islam to E. Africa Development of Swahili (Arab blended with local

lang.)

The Kingdom of Axum:

• Christian missionaries 1st introduce Christianity to Ethiopia AD 300

• AD 500 Spread to Nubia • Kingdom of Axum grew

as Arab & African traders settle on Red Sea

• 600 decline bc Arabs• 1200 re-mergence of

Christian stronghold King Lalaibela

• 11 Rock churches

The Kingdom of

AXUM

BBC: THE LOST KINGDOM OF AXUM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkEvbZZ1FuU&feature=related

The Great Kingdom of Zimbabwe: • Inland & South from E.

African City States • Located near Limpopo • Connect to I.O. Trade • Height 1300- rulers

organized large kingdom/Cntrl gold mines

• Zimbabwe = “great stone house”

• Today stone buildings, city walls, fortresses, and homes still stand

• Archeologists found porcelain from China, beads from India

• 1500s power struggle decline

Sources:

• BBC Lost Kingdoms of Africa • Google Images