Africa and Asia

• Ibn Battuta• Muslim traveler • Where did he go?

Delhi Sultanate (1211 – 1526)

• Brought Islam to India• Accommodated with

Hindu religion• Lower castes more likely

to convert• Must accept Muslim

authority, but conversions weren’t required• Indian Ocean trade

brought wealth to Delhi Sultanate

• Three major empires: Ghana (700-1100), Mali (1100-1400), and Songhay (1300-1600)- their power was based on control of trade routes (gold and salt)• Developed in the Sahel (where is that?)• Mali converted to Islam through peaceful contacts

with merchants• Conversion does not erase social/ethnic stratifications

but does serve to bond people• Timbuktu was the capital city and center of trade in

the Mali and Songhay empires• Domestication of the Camel had a great impact on

Trans-Saharan trade

Sub-Saharan Africa

• Mansa-Musa- legendary king of Mali- made the hajj in 1324- gave away lots of gold• African leaders embraced Islam (spread by

merchants) before masses• Gradual conversion• Also gain scholarship and intellectual ideas from

Muslims• Increase in wealth from trade increases slavery• West African slave trade existed before Islam, but

expanded over time

Islam in Africa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mansa_musa_in_civ_iv.JPG