Africa (3)MTRA. MARCELA ALVAREZ PÉREZ

• West Africa

– South of the Savannah, coast of the Guinean region

– No large political organizations: affected by the problems of the Sudanese hegemonies

• Migration: permanent phenomenon of African societies

• Refuge in the jungle

Between Niger River and the Coast: Yoruba, Benin and Nupe

• Yoruba: only black people that tended to join in large cities

• Benín: linked to the Yoruba

• Nupe: Conversion to Islam, Kingdom vassal to its neighbors

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• Kanem Bornu:

– Lake Chad: encounter of caravans coming from the east and west of the Sudan

– Nomads influence black peoples: political organization

– Conversion to Islam : prosperity dependant on relationship to Arab world slave market

• After two centuries of resistance commerce taken by Hausa States

– Decadence accelerated by interruption of slavery: colonization

• Hausa Sates

– No attempts to unify institutions/domain al Hausa states by a common law

– Balance of power: periodic war 4

• Peuls & Tekruris

– Ancient Peul migrations: Sudanese region

• 5 places were they establish important hegemonies:

– Futa Toro

– Futa Djalon

– Masina and Liptako

– Hausa Kingdom

• Developed fiscal and administrative structure that functioned up to 1888 (colonization)

• Autonomous administration under other governments/assimilation

• Conversion to Islam defeat of Haussa armies Peul Emirates born

• 5th establishment north of Cameroon

– Adamaua: disintegrated for a while until 1901 that the British set Adama’s 4th son as Emir of the British Adamaua

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• Important Individuals–Hamadú Sekú

–Hadj Omar

–Samori•Hadj Omar and Samori: not anti-colonial

resistance movements

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East Africa

• Christian kingdoms of the waterfalls

– 3 Christian kingdoms of Nubia: Nobatas, Dongola & Aloa

• Attempts of invasion for centuries: Christendom survives until 1317 in Dongola and 1504 in Soba

– After raids from Egypt in 641 & 652: King of Dongola signs treaty that will last for 6 centuries

• 1167 Saladin takes Egypt: opponents y refugees arrive at Nubia

– Raids, occupation and islamization of Nubia

• Crusades Christians organize their own resistance

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• Contact between western Christendom and cataract kingdoms until 1315– Aloa: 1500

• Reasons for their long survival: – Strong military position in the Ethiopian Highlands

– Distance

– Military courage of the nubian and axumite peoples

– Christians linked to the Patriarch of Alexandria: compromise between Muslims and the Coptic Church

• Muslim kingdoms of the region– End of 15th century : Fung & Kordofan

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Ethiopia

• 10th to 12th centuries: Zaue Dynasty— King Lalibela (b. 13th C.)

– 1210 sends embassy to Cairo, donations for convents, conversions to Christianity, moves the capital from Axum to Lalibela

• 1270 New Dynasty: Solomonic restoration; new historical period written chronicles by demand

• Nomad city and Emperor with a large army and church

– King chosen by God, Lion of Judah—sacred

• Control over succession

– Nomadic to ensure authority

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• Battles against the Muslims 1314-1429

• Religious reforms: delegation to Florence Synod (1439), embassy to Portugal

• “Preste Juan”: legend of a Christian King in the East

– 1487: Joao II sends emissaries directions to India; embassy established in the court of Ethiopia in 1494

• Empress Helena negotiates and asks for support against Islam

– Vasco de Gama opens maritime route: mission sent in 1520-1526

• From 1527 they will fight the Muslims for 15 years

• 1541: Stefano de Gama organizes expedition and expell the Muslims Portuguese will stay in the region

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• East Coast

– Known to Greek sailors

– Commercial cities under the authority of different chiefs

– Country of Zendj: Zanzibar (Coast of the Zendj)

• Migrations, mixed with local peoples

– Extension of the use of iron:

• Expansion of techniques linked to population development

– Use of metals in East Africa coincides with expansion of Arab population and commerce

• Iron, ivory, Damascus swords, slaves

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• Sofala, Manisa (Mombasa), Zeila (Djibuti), Maqdichu (Mogadisho)

– Arab merchants settle and found commercial warehouses

– Arab, Persian migrations conflicts in their place of origin

• Commerce with India, Malaysia and China

– 1415: African ambassadors arrive at Beijing

– After 1500: Chinese policy changes and turns inwards by 1525 commercial relationships are over

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South Africa

• Portuguese expeditions: Cape of Good Hope towards Indian Ocean

– 3 civilizations south of the Equator:

– Congo civilizations on the Atlantic coast

– Zendj

• Failed attempts to destroy/ substitute arab commerce

– Monomotapa (Lord of the Mines)

• Oral tradition

• Between South Atlantic and Indian Ocean

– Under populated regions

– Prosperous cities: migration—adaptability

– Ancient non-black peoples18

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• Bantu peoples, Hamites, Ethiopians• Kitwara– Kitwara: most ancient state in the region– Important ruins in the region: group of civilizations

• Hegemonies of the lower Congo valley and Angola– Small hegemonies on the coast and interior

– “Kingdom” of Congo: bantu people of the Bakongos, founded at the beginning of the 15th century

– Manicongo: important position linked to the Portuguese

– Small population, slow and pacific evolution: migrations, fusion and division of groups

– Great battles and domination: arrival of fire arms and slavery

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