Medieval African Kingdoms and Empires

(Yes, Timbuktu is a real place.)

Early Sub-Saharan HistorySpread of iron and Bantu language groups.

Bantu Migration

I. Bantu PeoplesA. “Bantu” is a language group which developed in sub-Saharan west Africa

1. agricultural societies with iron making technology (use of the iron plow)2. some mining for gold and other minerals

B. Generally lived in small communities with kinship ties acting as primary governance

Bantu Migration

1. “stateless society”– villages run by male family heads acting as a council2. occasional presence of one selected chieftain3. still, generally less patriarchal than many other agricultural societies

C. Migration period (1000 BCE to 500 CE)1. rising population requires movement to new regions2. Bantu-speaking people move south and east

African Trading Systems

African Trade Systems

II. African Trading SystemsA. The Trans-Saharan trade network – across the Sahara (east-west and north-south)

1. From Sub-Saharan Africa – gold, kola nuts, slaves, agricultural goods2. From North Africa/Arabia – salt, cloth, metalware, goods from other civilizations, dates

B. Indian Ocean trade along the Eastern Coast of Africa

1. From the interior of Africa – ivory, gold, iron, slaves, exotic animals, wood2. From Arabic traders – cotton, silk, porcelain (from Arabic, Chinese, and Indian Sources)

Major West African EmpiresGhana, Mali, Songhai

Kingdom of Ghana300 CE to 1200 CE

Kingdom of Ghana

III. Major Western African Empires – mixture of Islamic and native cultures

A. Kingdom of Ghana (ca. 300 – 1200 CE)1. Rise to Power:

a. Wealth gained by the Soninke tribe through taxation on goods traveling through the Trans-Saharan trade network b. Powerful and large army took over neighboring villages and groups – gaining tribute from them, too

2. Culturea. Capital City – Koumbi Salehb. Government

1. Absolute Monarchy – king had total power and vast wealth2. Large, well-trained army

Kingdom of Ghana

c. Religion1. Originally polytheistic2. Contact with Muslim traders caused many Ghanians (including the elites) to convert to Islam in the 900s CE

d. Social Classes – very similar to other traditional societies

1.King and Nobles2. Commoners

a. Merchantsb. Artisans and Farmers

e. Art/Technology1. Very skilled iron workers2. Thick, well-made city walls

f. Writing – Arabic script by 900s CE

Kingdom of Ghana

g. Economy1. agriculture2. Powerful Trading Empire

a. Trans-Saharan Trade Network – Ghana located in prime spot between North and Sub-Saharan Africa (trade via caravans of traders and camels)b. Sold – gold, iron, ivory, ostrich feathers, slaves, leatherc. Bought – salt, metal goods, textiles, horses

*. Silent Trade System – Ghanaian merchants set goods out on a large rug and did not say a word. Traveling merchants exchanged their goods for Ghana’s goods

Kingdom of Ghana

3. Causes of Falla. Raids from Almoravid Armies (from Spain and Morocco) in the late 11th century CE

1. Interruption of Trans-Saharan trade routes2. Some territory taken from Ghana by Almoravids

b. Groups under Ghana’s control begin to revolt and break away from Ghana’s control

Kingdom of Mali1200 CE to 1400 CE

Kingdom of Mali

B. Kingdom of Mali (ca. 1200 – 1400 CE)1. Rise to Power

a. Forms from a portion of Ghana’s empire by Malinke peoples b. Economics – the king reaps benefits via taxes

1. Agricultural productivity of its peoples2. Restoration and control of the Trans-Saharan trade

Kingdom of Mali

c. Powerful army took over neighboring villages and groups – gaining tribute from them too (much of old Ghana Empire controlled by Mali at its height)

2. Society of Malia. Urban Life – especially in Djenne and Timbuktu

1. centers of trade2. centers of Islamic worship and study

b. Village Life – mostly traditional and agricultural

Kingdom of Mali

3. Government - Monarchy4. Religion

a. Islam – mostly practiced by nobility and merchantsb. Traditional African (polytheistic) beliefs –practiced by commoners

5. Art/Technologya. elaborate mud/brick mosquesb. Griots – storytellers (like bards)

Kingdom of Mali

9. Famous Leadersa. Sundiata Kieta (possible r. 1235 – 1260 CE) – semi-mythical founder of the Kingdom of Mali (story passed down through oral traditions/tales)b. Mansa Musa (r. 1312 – 1337 CE) – Mali’s most famous ruler

1. Made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 CE– he supposedly gave away so much gold that the value of gold dropped!

*. Mali and Mansa Musa develop reputations as being very wealthy throughout the Eurasia

Kingdom of Mali

10. Causes of Fall

a. Attacks by Berbers from the north and other peoples to the south

b. this leads to internal rebellions

Kingdom of Songhai1300 CE to 1600 CE

Kingdom of Songhai

C. Kingdom of Songhai (ca. 1300 – 1600 CE)1. Rise to Power

a. Small Songhai kingdom existed as early as 7th century CEb. This kingdom is ruled by Mali for a whilec. A great leader, Sunni Ali led conquests of lands belonging to Mali – even capturing Djenne and Timbuktu

*. This kingdom gained control of the Trans-Saharan trade

Kingdom of Songhai

d. Other Cultural Elements1. Religion – Islam2. Economy/Trade – pretty much the same as Mali

2. Causes of Falla. defeat at the hands of a Muslim army from Morocco – equipped with muskets

Kingdom of Kongo1200 CE – 1600 CE

Kingdom of the Kongo

D. Kongo (ca. 1200 – 1600 CE)1. Capital City – Mbanza

a. Fortress for the king – huge stone wallsb. very high population

2. Governmenta. Central Government - King

1. was elected from a royal family2. not an absolute ruler

Kingdom of the Kongo

b. Local Government – hereditary, village chiefs3. Religion

a. Traditional African (polytheism)b. Only some people practice Islam by 1500 CE

4. Social Classesa. King and Nobilityb. Commoners – Farmers, fishermen, merchants/artisans

*. People lived with extended family, traced along female line (matrilineal and matrilocal)

Kingdom of the Kongo

5. Writing - none

6. Art/Technology/Trade

a. Cowrie Shells used as currency

b. Little long distance trade (just interior to the coast)

Swahili City-States

The Swahili Coast

IV. Eastern Coastal Africa (the Swahili Coast)A. A brief Chronology of Development and Settlement

1. By 500s CE – Bantu peoples along the Eastern coast of Africa were trading with peoples from Arabian Peninsula and South Asia2. By 900s CE – Arab and Persian settlement along the Eastern coast of Africa (they begin to control the trade there)

The Swahili Coast

3. By 1200s – 1300s CE – Development of major East African city-states that gained wealth and power through monopolizing various trade goods

a. Kilwab. Malindic. Zanzibard. Mombasae. Sofala

The Swahili Coast

B. Blending of Cultures1. Many Bantu merchants convert to Islam via influence from Muslim traders2. Development of Swahili Language and Culture – mixture of Arabic, Persian and Bantu influences