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Life on the Margins of Islam
African Societies
Diverse Land: •10s of geographies•100s of tribes•100s of languages→political unity rare
Sahara
Sudan / Sahel
Congo Rainforest
~the savanna coastline~
Bantu Migration Sedentary tribal
group Experience
population pressure→ Migration
Spreading:AgricultureLanguage
Ethiopia
Bantu
Bantu Impact Proliferation of agriculture →
States arisePopulation boomsPolitical organization → more complex Iron technology increasingly usefulLong distance trade becomes possible
Stateless societies pushed to periphery Increased interaction among cultures
States Form in 3 Regions
Ethiopia
Sudan
C. African Forests
Swahili Coast
(E. Africa)
…but along came Islam
Ethiopia
Sudan(West Africa)
C. African Forests
Swahili Coast
(E. Africa)
Islamic North Africa
Traditional Society Kinship = central to social & political life
Stateless: societies with government based on family & community not taxes & centrality
Animism = religion of many natural spirits w/ rituals for ancestors & land
Women enjoy freedomsClearly defined roles but economic
contributors, source of lineage, free to socialize
Early States
Influenced by location on periphery of Mediterranean
Agriculture & Christianity in:
Nubia Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Sudanic West Africa Home of: Ghana, Mali, Songhay Empires
Strategically located to profit from trade
Islamic empire = dawn of new international trade
Muslims introduce camel → trans-Saharan trade easier
Sudanic West Africa Empires:
Territorial core w/ subordinate tributaries
Highly bureaucratic political administration
Emphasized justice & crime punishment Trading states
80% of population = farmersGold (goes North) for salt, horses, cloth,
manufactured goods
Sudanic West Africa - Mali Sundiata
Founder
Mansa MusaFamous hajj brought attention of Islamic
world to Mali
Social & Political Blending Islam ↔ slow conversions
Foothold mainly w/ ruler, elites, merchantsRulers = Muslim (probably for alliances)
but provide leadership of animistic ritualsSharia:
common laws & expectations for merchants
does not apply to women Tradition of slavery expands under
Muslim trade networks
Swahili East Coast Home of: Mogadishu, Kilwa, Sofala
Strategically located to profit from trade
Islamic empire intensifies Indian Ocean trade
Monsoons provide seasonal transportation route
to Arabia
to S Asia
to SE Asia
Swahili East Coast City-states trading goods from central
Africa to Arabs, Indians, MalayPort cities cosmopolitan, but unified by
SwahiliIvory, gold, iron, slaves to coast for silks &
porcelain Highly urbanized, wealthy, luxurious Kilwa
“One of the most beautiful & well-constructed towns in the world”
Central Africa Home of: Benin, Kongo, Zimbabwe
Strategically located to profit from trade
Source of goods traded in East & West Africa
No direct contact with Muslims
C. African Forests
Central Africa Kongo
Agricultural with highly divided gender roles
Extremely well-organized government
ZimbabweComplex stone structures
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