COT : African Trade with COT : African Trade with EurasiaEurasia

West and EastWest and East

Ghana-SonghaiGhana-Songhai

Axum-Swahili city-statesAxum-Swahili city-states

Africa During the Post classical Africa During the Post classical PeriodPeriod

From statelessSocieties to Empires theDesire for Sudanic GoldPermeated theperiod, the ArabSlave trade willAlso begin thisPeriod and Continue throughThe 20th century

East Coast beginsAs Christian Kingdom ofAxum estMediterranean And Red SeaTrade with RomeLater ByzantineOnly to move Inward once Muslim invadersCome in and Integrate into Coastal (Swahili)City-states

African Kingdom Similarities and African Kingdom Similarities and DifferencesDifferences

Common Elements in Common Elements in African SocietiesAfrican Societies

Bantu migration(ends 1000 C.E)Bantu migration(ends 1000 C.E) AnimismAnimism lineage important in relation lineage important in relation

with god (matrilineal)with god (matrilineal) Women elevated in society Women elevated in society

(bridewealth)(bridewealth)

The Arrival of Islam in North The Arrival of Islam in North AfricaAfrica

Arrival of Islam (Spain, by 711)Arrival of Islam (Spain, by 711) Berber AlmoravidsBerber Almoravids AlmohadsAlmohads succeed Berbers, 12th succeed Berbers, 12th

centurycentury Kingdom of mali est. 13thKingdom of mali est. 13thhh ce ce

providing 2/3 of World’s goldproviding 2/3 of World’s gold

The Christian The Christian Kingdoms: Nubia Kingdoms: Nubia and Ethiopiaand EthiopiaCoptsCopts

Egyptian ChristiansEgyptian Christians spread to Nubia spread to Nubia

(Kush)(Kush) Ethiopia-interior Ethiopia-interior migration after migration after Muslim expansionMuslim expansion

Empires of AfricaEmpires of Africa Kingdoms of the Kingdoms of the

GrasslandsGrasslands CaravansCaravans Sahel - transfer pointSahel - transfer point

Sudanic StatesSudanic States Rulers sacredRulers sacred IslamIslam

The Empire of Mali The Empire of Mali Malinke peoples from Malinke peoples from

GhanaGhana Agriculture, gold tradeAgriculture, gold trade Sundiata (d.1260)Sundiata (d.1260)

the “Lion Prince”the “Lion Prince” mansamansa (ruler) (ruler) expanded stateexpanded state

MansaMansa Kankan Kankan MusaMusa pilgrimage pilgrimage Ishal al-Sahili (Sp. Ishal al-Sahili (Sp.

Architect) Architect) beaten clay architecturebeaten clay architecture Established city of Established city of

Timbuktu (Islamic Timbuktu (Islamic Scholarship flourishes)Scholarship flourishes)

Empires of the Western Sudan

African KingdomsAfrican Kingdoms

City Dwellers City Dwellers and Villagersand Villagers

Jenne, TimbuktuJenne, Timbuktu

thrive with thrive with expansionexpansion

Some merchantsSome merchants Religious Religious

diffusion?diffusion? Majority farmersMajority farmers

The Songhay Kingdom The Songhay Kingdom (Capital: Gao)(Capital: Gao)

Middle Niger valleyMiddle Niger valley Independent by 700Independent by 700 Muslim by 1010Muslim by 1010 Sunni Ali (1464-1492)Sunni Ali (1464-1492) Hausa states, northern Hausa states, northern

NigeriaNigeria Muslim centerMuslim center

Political and Social Life in Political and Social Life in the Sudanic Statesthe Sudanic States

Fusion of traditionsFusion of traditions

Swahili Swahili CoastCoast

The Swahili Coast of East The Swahili Coast of East AfricaAfrica

Trading portsTrading ports Muslim influenceMuslim influence Cultural diffusion and synthesisCultural diffusion and synthesis

The Coastal Trading Ports The Coastal Trading Ports (*Mogadishu*(*Mogadishu*, Mombasa, , Mombasa, Malindi, Kilwa, Pate, Zanzibar)Malindi, Kilwa, Pate, Zanzibar) Don’t need to know, just be familiarDon’t need to know, just be familiar

MadagascarMadagascar SEA importsSEA imports

Blended culture (Bantu-Arabic-India)Blended culture (Bantu-Arabic-India)

The Swahili Coast

Swahili Coast (cont’d)Swahili Coast (cont’d) The Mixture of Cultures on the The Mixture of Cultures on the

Swahili CoastSwahili Coast Islam unifiesIslam unifies

Other CharacteristicsOther Characteristics Egalitarian/homogenous to Egalitarian/homogenous to

cosmopolitan/diversecosmopolitan/diverse

Key Exports & Imports (interior Key Exports & Imports (interior African goods for exterior Eurasian African goods for exterior Eurasian good)good)

Two distinct “trading seasons”Two distinct “trading seasons”

Connection to China?Connection to China? When did this exchange with China end?When did this exchange with China end?

COT Africa Trade 600-1450COT Africa Trade 600-1450

Changes ContinuitiesMali and SonghaiExpanded trade past Mediterranean worldSwahili city-statesRole of Indian Ocean tradeRole of IslamMansa Musa’s HajjTimbuktu and Jene JeneGold and Salt trade increased with Europe’s insatiable demandCamel caravanaseri’s increase due to the increased global demand for African goods (Gold, animal skins, ivory,)Soldiers cleared land for planting rice, yams, beans and to raise cattle, sheep and goatsMali became productive farming regionRainforest Kingdoms like Benin and Kongo provide woven fabrics and wood, ivory and metal art for trade)Africans who were the link (middlemen) between foreign traders and iInland Africans brought: gold, copper, & ivory Arab traders brought: porcelain, spices & fabricsMet in coastal city-states ( Mombasa, Sofala, Kilwa)Use of the Arab Dhow to utilize seasonal monsoon winds

Camel CaravansTrans-Saharan tadeUse of Nile and red sea for trade (coptic Christianity still in East Africa modern Ethiopia)Animism still predominantWomen still important economically ( cattle raisers, matrilineal, bridewealth)Stateless societies persist which engage in tradeGold and Sal trade continueRegional trade still exists amongst African stateless societies (although now increasingly interconnected with global trade)Geography still serves to hinder many merchants’Use of iron metallurgy still important for agriculture and safe tradeBantu still a commonly spoken family of languages for merchants.Dumb barter still utilized (although replaced in many areas by Muslim regulations on trade)

From 600-1450 African trade intensified across the Sahara and Indian From 600-1450 African trade intensified across the Sahara and Indian Ocean aided and abetted by the growth of the Muslim territories, it Ocean aided and abetted by the growth of the Muslim territories, it

enhanced trade regulations through the enforcement of Sharia, Koran enhanced trade regulations through the enforcement of Sharia, Koran and hadith, however, the commodities of gold, salt, iron and ivory and hadith, however, the commodities of gold, salt, iron and ivory

remain staples for the economies of African stateless societies.remain staples for the economies of African stateless societies.