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Chapter 19

Terms in this set (43)

Bantu Migrations
1000 BCE - 1100 CE
Bantu speaking people of West Africa moved south and east into the rainforests and towards the Congo River.
Sundiata
(1217-1255) Founder of Mali Empire (West Africa), converted to Islam.
Gold-salt Trade
Gold and salt were the two most important items traded in the West African kingdoms; gold came from the south and salt came from the Sahara desert.
Kinship Groups
Early agricultural and technological development (about 8000 BCE to 3500 BCE) - Small groups of settlers grew into kinship-based villages that practiced both crop cultivation and domestication of animals. Tools and inventions helped villages to stabilize and eventually grow.
Creator God
A god that is responsible for the creation of the physical earth and the plants and animals that live upon it.
Sugar Cane
A plant from which sugar is made.
Stateless society
A society that is based on the authority of kinship groups rather than on a central government; describes a society without a centralized government organization having the supreme power to make and enforce rules, brought rudimentary order.
Mansa Musa
Mali king brought Mali to its peak of power and wealth from 1312 the 1337; he was the most powerful king in west Africa; translates as "king of kings", and he helped promote Islam. Gave away gold on hajji and attracted people to Africa and Islam but empire declined after reign due to economical instability.
Ibn Battuta
Moroccan Muslim scholar, the most widely traveled individual of his time. He wrote a detailed account of his visits to Islamic lands from China to Spain and the western Sudan. Dictated his reminiscences, which became one of the world's most famous travel books, the Rihlah, providing insight
Age groups
Division of work where people are divided by age group and live and progress through life with others of your age (Perticually harsh when EU. would take whole age-sets for slaves) Almost like a "class".
Cotton
Introduced into West Africa by Muslims; cotton fabrics became popular with the ruling elites and the wealthy people by 1100. By 1500, it was the principal textile produced in sub-Saharan Africa.
What was the function of the griot in the sub-Saharan African culture?
They were West African poets, praise singers, and wandering musicians who were considered a repository of oral tradition. Griots form an endogamous caste.
Why were bananas and camels so significant in early African history? What do they represent? How did they change the way people lived?
Camels replaced horses and donkeys as transport animals and quickened pace of communication across the Sahara and helped Islamic merchants cross the desert and established relations. Bananas were significant because the introduction of bananas because it caused migration and population surge.
How were kin-based societies structured? How are they organized politically?
Politically in kin-based societies, early societies did not depend on elaborate bureaucracy and societies governed through family and kinship groups. Village council consisted of male family heads and the chief of a village was from the most prominent family head. Villages chiefs negotiated intervillage affairs. Socially, communities claimed rights to land and no one had private property. Also, the village council allocated land to clan members.
Compare and contrast the Kingdom of Kongo with the Kingdom of Ghana?
The Kingdom of Kongo organized Villages of small states along the Congo River, in which, the small states formed several larger principalities. Also, the kingdom maintained a centralized government with a royal currency system. The Kingdom of Ghana provided gold, ivory, and slaves for traders from north Africa and exchanged for horses, cloth, manufactured goods, and salt. Koumbi-Saleh, the capital city of Ghana, became a thriving commercial center. Ghana kings converted to Islam by the tenth century, but didn't force on others.
Where and how did Islam spread to sub-Saharan Africa? How was it different from north African and southwest Asian Islam?
Largely by trade on both coasts from about the first millenium. A large part of the trade was in slaves until the Europeans took over in the 16th century. There was Islamic influence as far South as the Congo, Angola and Zimbabwe.
What was the role of Mali empire in the Eurasian trade network? How did Mansa Musa influence its development?
The Mali Empire controlled and taxed almost all trade passing through west Africa, and had enormous caravans that linked Mali to north Africa. Besides the capital Niani, they had many other prosperous cities on caravan routes. Mansa Musa, Sundiata's grandnephew, reigned 1312-1337 C.E. and made his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324-1325 with a huge caravan. Upon return to Mali, he built mosques and sent students to study with distinguished Islamic scholars in northern Africa. He also established Islamic schools in Mali.
In what ways was Kilwa a good example of a Swahili city-state?
In the Swahili city-states, chiefs gained power through taxing trade on ports. Ports developed into city-states governed by kings in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The Swahili states dominated east African coast from Mogadishu to Sofala. Kilwa was a good example of busy city-state on the east coast because it exported gold.
What was the important gender and age grades in sub-Saharan African societies?
Women were responsible for child rearing, domestic chores and enjoyed high honor as the source of life while men monopolized public authority. Aristocratic women could influence public affairs and women merchants commonly traded at markets. Sometimes women organized all-female military unit. All this was possible for women because Islam did little to curtail women's opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa.
People assumed responsibilities and tasks appropriate to their age grades. Age group formed tight circles of friends, and later allies.
Discuss the history of slavery in Africa. How did the developments in the slave trade from 1000-1500 set the stage for the Atlantic slave trade to come?
Most slaves were captives of war, debtors, and criminals.The slaves worked as agricultural laborers or were sold in slave markets. Slave trade increased after the eleventh century, and demand for slaves outstripped supply from eastern Europe. There were many slave raids of large states against small states or villages. One example would be the Zanj slave revolt in Mesopotamia in the tenth century.
How did Christianity and Islam supplement native African religions in this period?
Early Christianity in north Africa reached north Africa during the first century C.E.The Christian kingdom of Axum in Ethiopia was created during the fourth century C.E. In Ethiopian Christianity, missionaries translated the Bible and popularized Christianity in Ethiopia. In Africa, they carved churches out of solid rock. But in the thirteenth century, Solomonic dynasty claimed descent from Israelite kings. African Islam appealed strongly to the ruling elite and merchants of sub-Saharan Africa. Converts took their religion seriously; they built mosques and schools and invited experts. Under Islam, women retained more freedoms, and under Christianity and Islam, it supplemented rather than replaced traditional religions.
Why didn't Sub-Saharan Africa embrace trade and economics but posed challenge to North overland travelers?
Geography prohibited trade and economics from S. Africa but heavily cultivated land and used agriculture to increase societies and population.
What was the Bantu migrants principal?
To spread agriculture and herding, which displaced hunting, gathering, and fishing
How were pygimes useful?
They were forest dwellers who passed great knowledge for the environment and helped guide Bantu
Population Growth
Significance of iron metallurgy and bananas.
Chiefdoms
Many districts of Bantu society fell under leadership of powerful Chiefs. Chiefs created kingdoms. Kingdoms of Ife and Bernin for example.
Kingdom of Ghana
Principal state of west Africa at the time of the Muslim's arrival. Situated between Senegal and Niger rivers. Was center of trade for gold.
Kingdom of Kongo
One of the most active areas of political development was the basin of the Congo river. Prosperous state. Most tightly centralized of Bantu kingdoms but still considered decentralized. Portuguese slave traders caused fall.
Koumbi- Saleh
Ghana's capital and principal trading site. Thriving commercial center. Wealthy.
Islam in West Africa
Entered through Trans-Sahara and Swahili Coast Kings of Ghana converted to Islam. Conversion led to improved relations with Muslim merchants. Didn't force Islam on society.
Zimbabwe
Best known kingdom in central and east Africa. Term "dwelling of a chief"
Sex and Gender Roles
Sex determined work roles. Blacksmiths and leather tanners men. Harvested and planted crops
The Zanj Revolt
African slave uprising in the Muslim lands. Zanj referred to black slaves from the Swahili coast. Rebel slave Ali Bin Muhammad organized 15,000 slaves that captured Basra the most important city of Mesopotamia.
The Christian Kingdom of Axum
Christianity est foothold in kingdom of Axum. First axumite converts were probably merchants. Kings of Axum converted.
Malay Sailors
Colonized Madagascar
Swahili Coast
Larger trade network attracted Islam merchants and brought wealth to East Africa
Indian Ocean Trading Network
Silk Roads on water and allowed for heavier trading items
Cowrie Shells
Kingdom of Kongo's currency
Ibn Battuta
Arab traveler who described African societies and cultures in his travel records, providing historians with much information about the Saharan trade
Kilwa
A city-state found on east African coast(Zenj); fishing limited trade from 800-1000; turned to agriculture, increased trade in pottery and stoneware; major trading center by 14th century. Used copper coins to facilitate trade, sacked Portuguese mariners which too increased wealth
Ali Bin Muhammad
led 15,000 slaves and captured Basra (most important Mesopotamian trading port but after establishing state, Abbasid crushed and killed Ali Bin
Religion in Africa
Monotheistic beliefs but worshipped deities and belief was not focused on a theology but explaining the world through morality
Explain the religions that offered salvation in South Africa
Christianity and Islam. Christianity- Egypt and North, foothold in Kingdom of Axum (merchants converted then kings then public) Islam- appealed to ruling elites in South and West due to Muslim merchant relations (Mansa Musa helped spread and Ibn Battuta)
THIS SET IS OFTEN IN FOLDERS WITH...