This chapter discusses early African societies from 1500 BCE to 1500 CE. It covers the Bantu migrations throughout central and southern Africa and the establishment of kingdoms in West Africa like Ghana and Mali based on trans-Saharan trade. It also discusses the development of Christian Ethiopia and the city-states of East Africa engaged in the Indian Ocean trade network. Major topics include the rise and fall of empires in Africa, the spread of Islam, and cultural exchanges within and beyond the continent.

1. Connections: A World History
Second Edition
Chapter
Connections: A World History, Second Edition
Edward H. Judge • John W. Langdon
Early African
Societies,
1500 B.C.E–1500 C.E.
13

2. Figure of a Sacred KingFigure of a Sacred King

3. Bantu Homeland/Trans-Saharan Trade Area/EastBantu Homeland/Trans-Saharan Trade Area/East
African City-StatesAfrican City-States

4. Early African Societies,
1500 B.C.E. – 1500 C.E.
A. Africa Before Islam
B. Islamic Africa and Spain: Commercial and Cultur
C. Trade Across the Sahara
D. West African Kingdoms: Ghana and Mali
E. Ethiopia’s Christian Kingdom
F. The City-States of East Africa
G. The Bantu Connection: Central and Southern Afr

5. Africa Before IslamAfrica Before Islam

6. Africa Before IslamAfrica Before Islam
A. Early African History
B. The Bantu Migrations: Cohesion in
Diversity
1. Bantu migrations
2. Bantu society
3. Islamic connections

7. FOUNDATION MAP 13.1 Early Africa, IncludingFOUNDATION MAP 13.1 Early Africa, Including
Bantu Migrations and Trade Routes, 1500 B.C.E. –Bantu Migrations and Trade Routes, 1500 B.C.E. –
1500 C.E.1500 C.E.

8. Africa Before IslamAfrica Before Islam
C. Regional Cultural Adaptations
1. Geography and climate

9. The San people of the Kalahari.The San people of the Kalahari.

10. Africa Before IslamAfrica Before Islam
D. Clans and Kingdoms
1. Clans
2. Polygamy
D. African Traditional Religion
1. African polytheism

11. An Akuba wooden doll from Ghana, a classic AfricanAn Akuba wooden doll from Ghana, a classic African
fertility symbol.fertility symbol.

12. Africa Before IslamAfrica Before Islam
F. Early African Culture
1. Religion and culture

13. Grass-skirted masks represent the spirits ofGrass-skirted masks represent the spirits of
ancestors among the Kuba people of the Congo.ancestors among the Kuba people of the Congo.

14. Islamic Africa and Spain:Islamic Africa and Spain:
Commercial and Cultural NetworksCommercial and Cultural Networks

15. Islamic Africa and Spain:Islamic Africa and Spain:
Commercial and Cultural NetworksCommercial and Cultural Networks
A. Islamic North Africa
1. Isolation
2. Arab invasion

16. MAP 13.2 Islamic North Africa and Iberia, 910MAP 13.2 Islamic North Africa and Iberia, 910

17. Islamic Africa and Spain:Islamic Africa and Spain:
Commercial and Cultural NetworksCommercial and Cultural Networks
B. Cosmopolitan Umayyad Spain
1. Islamic conquest
2. Cultural blending
3. Cultural achievements
4. The Caliphate of Córdoba

18. The Court of the Lions at the Alhambra in Granada,The Court of the Lions at the Alhambra in Granada,
Spain.Spain.

19. Islamic Africa and Spain:Islamic Africa and Spain:
Commercial and Cultural NetworksCommercial and Cultural Networks
C. Fatimid Egypt
1. The Shi’ite Fatimids
2. Fatimid rule
3. Decline and defeat

20. Al-Azhar Mosque, Cairo.Al-Azhar Mosque, Cairo.

21. Trade Across the SaharaTrade Across the Sahara

22. Trade Across the SaharaTrade Across the Sahara
A. Early Saharan Trade
1. Camels and trade
B. Islam’s Interaction with West Africa
1. Commercial and cultural networks
2. Consequences of trans-Saharan trade

23. West African Kingdoms:West African Kingdoms:
Ghana and MaliGhana and Mali

24. West African Kingdoms:West African Kingdoms:
Ghana and MaliGhana and Mali
A. The Conversion of Ghana
1. Gold, salt, and Islam
2. The Almoravids and the conversion of
Ghana
3. Decline

25. MAP 13.3 West Africa, 800–1400MAP 13.3 West Africa, 800–1400

26. Kumbi.Kumbi.

27. West African Kingdoms:West African Kingdoms:
Ghana and MaliGhana and Mali
B. Islamic Mali, 1200 – 1450
1. Mali emerges as Ghana’s successor
2. Mansa Musa

28. Mansa Musa on pilgrimage.Mansa Musa on pilgrimage.

29. Ethiopia’s Christian KingdomEthiopia’s Christian Kingdom

30. Ethiopia’s Christian KingdomEthiopia’s Christian Kingdom
A. Christian Ethiopia
1. Conversion
2. Commerce
3. Resistance to Islamic expansion

31. MAP 13.4 City-States of East Africa, 1500MAP 13.4 City-States of East Africa, 1500

32. The City-States of East AfricaThe City-States of East Africa

33. The City-States of East AfricaThe City-States of East Africa
A. Development of a Bantu-Arab Culture
1. Settlement and cultural blending
2. The Indian Ocean community

34. An Arab dhow.An Arab dhow.

35. The City-States of East AfricaThe City-States of East Africa
B. East and West Africa Compared
1. Economic divergence
2. Slavery

36. The Bantu Connection:The Bantu Connection:
Central and Southern AfricaCentral and Southern Africa

37. The Bantu Connection:The Bantu Connection:
Central and Southern AfricaCentral and Southern Africa
A. The Bantu Influence
1. Central Africa
2. Southern Africa
B. Great Zimbabwe

38. Great Zimbabwe.Great Zimbabwe.

39. Key Dates and DevelopmentsKey Dates and Developments