kingdoms of sub Saharan Africa

1. BELL WORK 12/7
• Give two examples of the impact of Muslims on the
developing world (around 600-1450 CE):

2. AFRICAN KINGDOMS

3. BANTU
• 1. By 1000, most migration was complete
• 2. Spread: advanced metal working
(metallurgy), cultivation, herding
• Direct impact: population growth=need
to move again

4. BANANAS (BANTU)
• Bananas are a big deal!
1. Brought by Asian sailors
2. Easily grown in Southern Africa (Madagascar)
3. Impact settlement and diet

5. KIN BASED SOCIETIES (BANTU)
1 Self run- no hierarchy or bureaucracy (…)
• male heads of family formed a council
• Village chief= one picked to represent outside of village
2. Ethnic loyalties, best for small scale
• As populations grew, governing bodies
evolved=development of kingdoms/chiefdoms

6. BENIN ART IFE ART

7. KINGDOM OF KONGO (BANTU)
1.Most centralized of the Bantu
• king and officials, governors
2. Strong military/unified villages
3. Common currency
4. Location will be appealing to Europeans later…

8. ISLAMIC KINGDOMS: LAND AND SEA

9. GHANA (WEST)
1. Took advantage of the gold demand in
Europe (control and tax)
2. Need for large army to protect from invasion/gold supply
Ivory
Slaves for N.
Horses
Cloth
Small manufactured
goods
SALT

10. • 4. Islam: was supported by kings and spread rapidly, but
not required
• 5. Demise: weakened by invasions, eventually taken by
Mali empire

11. MALI EMPIRE (WEST)
1. Started by Sundiata (r 1230-1255)
• centralized
2. Built strong ties with Muslim traders
• Supported but didn’t force Islam
3. Continued/grew the gold trade

12. 4. Mansa Musa (grand nephew of Sundiata) 1312-1337
• Muslim- made pilgrimage to Mecca- became a legend
• Strongly promoted Islam through schools and architecture
• Expanded empire with territories
Captured from Songhay (Timbuktu
And Gao-major cities)
5. After Mansa Musa- fell to Songhay
• internal conflict and
external threats

13. SWAHILI (BANTU/EAST)
1. Relied on maritime trade
2. Wealth through trade (gold, shells, slaves, skins-pottery,
glass, textiles)
• Cities/architecture evolved
• Conversion to Islam (alliances)

14. 3. Kilwa (city state): king
• Traded gold/ivory/slaves from interior
For luxury items from the east
4. Zimbabwe (city state/kingdom)
• Taxes/gold/ivory/slaves moved through and led to wealth

15. HTTP://IBNBATTUTA.BERKELEY.EDU/
CERATE A CHART ON NB PAPER:
• Chapters 1, 4, 12
• Analyze his findings from each of these trips:
• A description he gives of the location
• A description of an interaction he was with a specific
person