The document provides an overview of kingdoms and trading states in Africa from 730 BC to 1591 AD. It discusses the influence of geography on trade and resources, including the Sahara Desert acting as a barrier. Major kingdoms discussed include Nubia, Ghana, Mali, and Songhai in West Africa, which prospered through trade of gold and salt. In East Africa, it describes the kingdoms of Axum and city-states along the Swahili coast that engaged in trade. Family structures, political systems, religions, arts and oral traditions of medieval African societies are also summarized.

1. Chapter 11
Kingdoms and Trading States of
Africa
730 B.C. – A.D. 1591

2. Chapter 11, Section 1
Early Civilizations of Africa

4. Influence of Geography
 40% of the continent is desert
 Most areas get only 10" of rain per year
 Africa is a continent with many climates
 The equator runs through the middle of the
continent (most of Africa is tropical)
 The highlands of East Africa have cool
winters and snowcapped mountains

5. Resources Spread Trade
 Africa’s mineral wealth has spurred trade
for centuries
 Salt, gold, iron and copper were
particularly valuable to early traders
 These brought great wealth and power to
African cities
 This trading linked Africa to other continents

6. Sahara Desert
 Larger than the continental United States
 It is a natural barrier that has caused
great cultural differences between people
north and south of the desert
 Not always considered a desert
 It would dry up due to climatic changes and
this led to people migrating known as
desertification

7. Bantu Migrations
 Migrations for thousands of years led to
many diverse cultures in Africa
 Western African people spoke several
different languages
 The root language of these is called Bantu
 Because of this, we call these migrations
“Bantu Migrations”

8. Nubia Flourishes
 Trading led to contact between Nubia
(present day Sudan) and Egypt
 Trade also led to rivalry between the two
 1500 B.C.  Nubia is under Egyptian
control and stays that way for 500 years
 1100 B.C.  Nubia gains independence
 730 B.C.  Nubia conquers Egypt

9. Meroe Masters Trade
 500 B.C.  Assyrian invaders force
Nubians to move capital to Meroe
 Meroe eventually controlled the Nile’s
north – south and east – west trade routes
 From the Red Sea to North Africa
 Gold, ivory, animal skins, perfume and slaves
were sent on these routes to the
Mediterranean lands and SW Asia

10. Splendor and Decline
 Nubians eventually worship their own gods
 Apedemak: lion – headed warrior god
 Created own system of writing with
alphabet rather than hieroglyphics
 Still not deciphered today
 Nubia declined when King Natakamani
and Queen Amanitere joined forces
 (100 A.D.)

11. Outside Influences
 Phoenicians Build Carthage
 Founded by Phoenicians along Mediterranean
 Carthage came to dominate African trading
 Eventually fell to Rome (3rd Punic War)
 Rome Rules North Africa
 Gained control of North Africa after burning
Carthage to the ground
 Spread Christianity throughout Africa

12. Review
1) The Sahara Desert is larger than which of the
following?
 A North America
 B South America
 C Continental US
 D Atlantic Ocean
2) All of the following were traded along the Nile except?
 A Gold
 B Computers
 C Ivory
 D Slaves

13. Chapter 11, Section 2
Kingdoms of West Africa

14. Trade in the Sahara
 Farming villages began producing a
surplus
 They began trading their surplus of food
for products from other villages
 Eventually, a trade network developed
across the Sahara to villages along the
Mediterranean and into SW Asia

15. Trading Gold for Salt
 Gold and salt dominated the Sahara
trading region
 Gold was available in Ghana, Nigeria and
Senegal
 Salt was very scarce in Africa
 Traders would pay one pound of gold for
one pound of salt

16. Ghana: Land of Gold
 Located in the fertile land between the
Niger and Senegal rivers
 The king controlled the gold-salt trade
routes across West Africa
 King would collect tolls on all goods entering
and exiting his lands
 Gold was so abundant that Ghana was
named “The Land of Gold”

17. Ghana
 Capital was Kumbi Saleh  made up of
two walled towns 6 miles apart
 The king of Ghana presided over
elaborate ceremonies at the capital
 The people viewed their king as a godlike
figure who administered justice and kept
order

18. Islam in Ghana
 Islamic merchants influenced the kingdom
of Ghana with their faith
 The king of Ghana employed Muslims as
counselors and officials
 Eventually, the Muslims were used for military
technologies and ideas about government

19. Kingdom of Mali
 Rose out of decline of Ghana under
Sundiata (he re-establishes trade)
 Kingdom grew larger by seizing gold
producing areas south and east of Ghana
 Also controlled salt producing area at
Taghaza.
 Trade center of the kingdom…Timbuktu
 Greatest leader was Mansa Musa

20. Mansa Musa
 Came to power around 1312
 Brought Mali to the height of its power
 He worked to ensure peace and order
during his reign
 He was a very strict Muslim
 Made the pilgrimage to Mecca
 Followed the Koran
 Promoted religious freedom and tolerance

21. Empire in Songhai
 Mali’s decline led to the rise of Songhai
 It was a prosperous nation whose wealth
was based on trade and agriculture
 Sonni Ali (1446)
 Restored order to areas that declined
 Made Songhai the largest kingdom in West
Africa
 He did not adopt Islam

22. Askia Muhammad
 Further expanded territory of Songhai
 Improved government
 Set up a bureaucracy with departments for
farming, military and treasury
 Under Askia’s rule, Songhai Empire
became the most powerful political system
in West Africa
 He ruled for 35 years

23. Smaller Societies in West Africa
 Hausa
 Built clay walled
cities
 Became important
commercial centers
 Had many women
rulers
 Benin
 People of the rain
forest
 Built large cities
 Most noted for their
bronze and brass work
 Visits from Portuguese
traders leads to
eventual decline

24. Chapter 11, Section 3
Kingdoms and Trading States of
East Africa

25. Axum: Center of Goods and Ideas
 Located Southeast Nubia
 Official religion was Christianity – decision
made by King Ezana
 Traded goods (spices, gems, ivory) from
interior with Middle East and India
 Trade brought much wealth to this kingdom
 Eventually fell to Muslim invaders
 The land is now known as Ethiopia

26. Ethiopia: Christian Outpost
 This region was heavily influenced by the
kingdom of Axum
 Axumite kings often used Ethiopia as a
term to describe their kingdom
 This area was protected by rugged
mountains
 Ethiopia was able to keep independence for
years because of its isolation

27. Ethiopia
 This area was very dedicated to the
Christian faith
 Because of this, they had a distinct culture
which was different than their neighbors
 Example: Churches of Lalibela
 The King of Lalibela directed the building of 11
huge churches during his reign
 They still exist today and show the skill of the
architects from that time

28. East African City States
 Swahili culture developed because of the
successful East African international trade
system
 Traders began settling along the Eastern
coast of Africa in cities like Kilwa
 As more people arrived the culture of Swahili
(“of the coast”) became more and more
prevalent

29. The Great Zimbabwe
 Great Zimbabwe…controlled the trade routes
between Sofala (on the coast) and gold regions
inland
 Zimbabwe…phrase meaning “stone enclosure”
 Built great structures out of stone…walls 30 ft high, 16
ft thick
 Used no mortar…stones were laid perfectly
 Little is known about the government and
decline of Zimbabwe

30. Review
1) Why was Ethiopia able to keep its independence for so
many years?
 A Everyone around them gave them assistance
 B Isolation because of mountains
 C Several rivers flowing through the cities
 D Trading centers along the coast
2) The Swahili culture developed because of which of the
following reasons?
 A Mr. Herthum likes the Swahili culture
 B Greeks gave them guidance
 C Successful East African trading system
 D Western African trade routes

31. Chapter 11, Section 4
Societies in Medieval Africa

32. Family Patterns
 Family was the basic unit of society
 Family life changed depending on the
culture
 Some societies lived with only nuclear
family: parents and children living and
working together
 Others lived with extended families who
worked closely to ensure success of the
group

33. Family Patterns
 Kinship
 Patrilineal – inheritance passed through
father’s side
 Matrilineal – inheritance passed through
mother’s side
 Both of these were used in different societies
 Extended Lineage
 Connects extended family through ancestors
 Still used today

34. Political Patterns
 Power Sharing was often utilized in
smaller medieval African societies
 Power was distributed to multiple people
rather than a central government
 Elders usually made the major decisions
 A chief would sometimes have power but
ultimately the end ruling was done with Power
Sharing

35. Limited Power
 Kingdom of Kongo was a smaller kingdom
flourishing in Central Africa around 1500
A.D.
 This kingdom was different than larger
kingdoms in Western Africa
 Only called for men to fight in times of need
 King was chosen by a group of people
 King’s power was limited

36. Religious Beliefs
 Before Islam and Christianity, religions in
Africa were varied and complex
 Some Africans worshipped many gods like
the Greeks and Romans did
 Before Christianity, Africans believed one
supreme God ruled over all other gods
 1000 A.D.  Christianity and Islam spread
all over Africa
 These religions essentially took over in Africa

37. Creative Arts
 Artists in Africa worked with gold, ivory,
wood, bronze, and cloth
 Created many decorative items
 Woven cloth, inscribed bowls, jewelry
 Art strengthened the bonds within African
communities
 Art was closely tied to religion
 Statues were used in religious ceremonies

38. Literature
 Many African societies preserved their
past through written and oral history
 Ancient Egypt, Nubia, and Axum all had
written records
 Usually written in Arabic
 Oral histories in Africa date back hundreds
of years
 Griots  professional storytellers recited
ancient stories and epics

39. Review
1) What is name of the family pattern in which inheritance
is passed down through the father’s side?
 A Patriarchal
 B Matriarchal
 C Patrilineal
 D Matrilineal
2) Art within Africa was very closely tied to which of the
following?
 A Government
 B Religion
 C Economy
 D Literature