Africa’s Government and Religion

Today we are learning about the governments and religions that influenced life

in medieval Africa

Government & Society

• All citizens were allowed to come to a meeting w/ the king to voice complaints.

• Kings – settled arguments– Managed trade– Protected the empire

• Subjects– Had to obey the king completely

Ghana’s GovernmentKing

Council of ministers

(close advis

ors)

Lesser Kings – conquered leaders (governed provinces)

District Chiefs

(governed smaller districts)

Each district had a Chief’s

clan

(group of people

from the same ancestor)

• Kings most important job – control trade– No one traded w/out his

permission– Illegal to own a gold nugget– Only allowed to trade gold dust

• ???? Why not the son????– Royal blood lines were matrilineal

(passed on by mother)– Throne inherited by nephew, not

son

Mali’s Government

• Like Ghana’s but larger– More territory, people, trade

• Royal officials – more responsibilities– Specialized- each was in charge of something dif.

• Generals – oversaw the provinces divided by Sundiata

• Trousers – Military honor– to wear sewn clothes

Songhai’s Government

• Modeled after Ghana & Mali• Sunni Ali – Divided empire into provinces– Never finished what he started– Died mysteriously in 1492

• Muhammad Ture – general, took over– Loyal Muslim• Religion affected the government

Traditional African Religions

Located here

• Olaudah Equiano – Igbo, disagreed with Europeans – he said they did believe in a higher power

• Common Belief - in one supreme god• Communication– Nanti in E. Africa – talk directly to their god– Igbo – only be spoken to through less powerful

gods• Helped people stay in touch w/ their history• Dead relatives spirits stayed in the community

3 Major African Religions Today

Muslim

Christians

Traditional

Islam in Africa

• Ibn Battuta – Arab lawyer from Morocco

• 1325- goes to see the Muslim world– Islam had been spreading

since 600s• Mansa Musa – ruler of

Mali– 1324- made pilgrimage to

Makkah

Mansa Musa

Songhai and Askia Muhammad

• Sunni Ali – declared himself a Muslim to keep support of townspeople, but practiced a traditional religion

• Sunni’s son – refused • Muhammad Ture – general, took over the gov.

when had support of Muslim’s townspeople• Took the name Askia Muhammad – Askia is a

rank in the Songhai army– Honored Muslim laws– Made Timbuktu a center for Islamic culture

Islam in East Africa• Sultan of Mogadishu was honored by Ibn

Battuta visiting• He spoke in both Arabic and Swahili– Swahili – “people of the coast”• The unique culture• The language spoken

• Swahili – exist in East Africa today– Blend of African and Muslim influences– Europeans and Portuguese tried to destroy it– Swahili outlived European rule

Islam’s Impact

• Africans who accepted Islam adopted:– Islamic laws– Ideas of right/wrong– Education– Arabic language– Art/Architecture