Empires of Africa

BackgroundNile River Valley saw Africa’s first complex societies. Rome’s rival Carthage operated out of North Africa. Christianity spread in 300s, then Islam beginning in 650. Why did only North and East Africa have close contacts with the larger world?

The Sahara Desert acted like a natural barrier until the domestication of the camel.

Bantu MigrationsBantu: Group of people that shared similar language/cultural traits. Spread in three distinct processes:

Planting of first crops Development of metallurgy Spread of Bantu languages

Impact of MigrationsCarried culture/language with them. Interaction with inhabitants. Agricultural practices. Working with iron.

The Aksumite KingdomLink to King Solomon of Israel. Saw its height in the 4th-7th centuries CE. Traded gold, copper, olive oil, utensils, and spices from its port in Adulis. Converted to Christianity in 4th century CE.

Influenced development of religious art, music, and literature.

Aksum’s Fall and ReturnWith the rise/spread of Islam, Aksum was cut-off from Christian world in 700 CE. The Solomonic Dynasty returned in 1270 under Yekuno Amlaq. During the rule of Zera Yaqob (1434-1468), Aksum defeated smaller kingdoms and achieved political and church reforms.

Ghana EmpireEvolved from a federation of kingdoms around 300 CE.

Height between 700 and 1075 CE. 1st empire in western Sudan. These kingdoms grew out of intersection of major trade routes.

Ghana’s rulers charged taxes on goods that traveled on their routes. $$$ gained enabled them to have large army. Decline began in 1076,

The Mali EmpireDeveloped in the 1200s. Fought for independence under Sundiata, a warrior-prince. Combined many Malinke realms to make the Mali Empire.

Many Malinke people held traditional African beliefs, rulers and government officials were Muslims. Mansa Musa brought the Mali empire to relevance.

Mansa MusaTrade and gold reserves made Mali’s rulers some of the wealthiest people in history. Mansa Musa made the hajj to Mecca in 1324. Served as a great demonstration of his wealth, attracted more business and visits from Islamic scholars. Timbuktu became an important Islamic center.

The Songhai Empire

Increased in size and strength in the mid-1300s. Took over Saharan trade routes once held by the Mali. Established capital at Gao in central Mali.

Songhai experienced their height under ruler Askia Muhammad. He encouraged subjects to adopt Islam and restored Timbuktu as a religious center.