23. Axum
King Ezana
In the The most distinctive
feature of the Axumites was
their religion. Around 330 CE,
the king converted to
Christianity, which was brought
to Axum by Syrians. The king
made Christianity the official
religion of Axum.
By 2000 BCE, the area south of Egypt, called Nubia, had developed extensive trade.
Nubians traded ivory, ebony, frankincense, and leopard skin
Nubia was controlled by Egypt until around 1000 BCE
In 750 BCE, the Kush conquered Egypt, but were overwhelmed by the Assyrians less than a hundred years later, in 663 BCE
The Kush were still using bronze and stone, while the Assyrians used iron spears and swords
After the Assyrians conquered Egypt, the Kushites returned to their land in Nubia
Kush economics were based on farming and trade.
They built a capital city in Meroe, which became a trading center.
Meroe had a large supply of iron ore; the Kush were able to make the iron weapons they had seen on the Assyrians
Export: iron, ivory, ebony,
import: jewelry, silver, luxury goods
South of the Kush was Ethiopia, where the Axum were located.
Originally started as an Arab colony, Axum emerged as an independent state that combined African and Arabic cultures.
Axum was prosperous because of it’s prime location on the Red Sea, which allowed them to trade between India, the Mediterranean, and southern Africa.
Like the Kush, they exported ivory, spices, and slaves. They imported textiles, metal goods, wine and olive oil
Axum competed with the Kush for control of the ivory trade.
fourth century CE, King Ezana, the Axumite ruler, invaded Kush and conquered it.
330 ce. Christanity brough by Syrians
In 641, Arab forces took control of Egypt. By the 700s, the entire coast of North Africa was under Arab rule.
The kings of Ghana governed without laws, instead they used a well-trained army to enforce their wishes
Kings based their wealth on the gold and iron trade
The Ghana kingdom was rich in both iron and gold
They had trained blacksmiths to turn the iron into weapons and tools
The heartland of Ghana was one of the richest gold-producing areas of all of Africa, making it the center of an enormous trade empire
Muslim merchants from North Africa brought textiles, metal goods, horses, and salt, which they exchanged for iron and gold.
Ghana also exported ivory, ostrich feathers, hides, and slaves
Many of the trade goods were carried by the Berbers, nomadic peoples whose camel caravans became known as “fleets across the desert”.
Ghana collapsed in the 1100s, weakened by wars and the competition from other trading societies.
Mali was established by Sundiata Keita, who defeated the Ghanians
Mali’s greatest trading center was Timbuktu. Mali built it’s wealth and power on the gold and salt trade.
Most of Mali’s citizens were farmers, living in villages with local rulers, who sent tax revenues to the Mali Kings.
Mansa Musa ruled Mali from 1312 to 1337.
Mansa Musa embarked on a pilgrimage to Makkah, accompanied by a huge caravan. He gave away lavish gold gifts, causing the value of gold to drop.
Musa also imported scholars and books into his kingdom
He also built the Sankore mosque in Timbuktu.
Mali was divided by civil war, which weakened the state
.
the river flooded regularly, providing a rich soil for farming and herding.
1009 CE Dia Kossoi converted to Islam and established the Dia Dynasty.
The Sunni dynasty began in 1464, established by Sunni Ali. Ali expanded the Songhai empire. Ali was a great military commander who led his army on conquests. Ali conquered Timbuktu and Jenne, two major trading cities.
The Songhai reached their height under the rule of Muhammad Ture, a military commander who overthrew the son of Sunni Ali and seized power in 1493.
Muhammad Ture divided the empire into provinces and used the navy and army to maintain peace and security.
Songhai prospered from salt and gold trading
At the end of the 16th century, the Sultan of Morocco invaded and occupied a large section of the Songhai empire.
Under the Sultan’s rule, Songhai became a dangerous, insecure place, with increasing poverty, violence, and distress.
