Africa, Part IB

(Information from Student Created Concept Maps)

 

Terms to know:

Age Set System: A set of young people that are born during a certain/specific time period.
Lineage: A religious belief in which descendants are common ancestors.
Matrilineal: A social system in which decent/inheritance rights are passed through the female side
                 of the family.
Patrilineal: A social system in which decent/inheritance rights are passed through the male side of
                 the family.
Stateless Society: Power is shared between many families.
Swahili: An Arabic influenced language that is spoken in eastern/central Africa.

 

Ghana:

Time: From 700-1076 A.D.
Located: West Africa
Trade: Major traders of gold and salt
Achievements/Accomplishments: At least 2/3 of gold supply found there, main trade city for gold
                                                   and salt.
Ruler: Had a king that acted as a religious leader, chief judge and military commander.
Religion: Many rich people converted to Islam while commoners still followed the animistic
              traditions.
Downfall: Invaded and conquered by North African Muslims.

 

Mali:

Time: From 1235 - 1400
Located: West Africa, South of Ghana
Trade: Traded gold which allowed them to gain extreme wealth and power and salt.
Achievements/Accomplishments: Large empire that attracted many high ranking people.  Was
                                                   also an important center of trade and commerce.
Ruler: Country divided into provinces which were ruled separately:
            - Mansa Musa: Military success caused empire to grow to be two times the size of
                                     Ghana.
            - Sun data: Many military victories followed by peace and prosperity.
Religion: Muslim due to Arab influence.
Downfall: The gold trade shifted eastward causing Mali to loose their great wealth and power
                and their great leader, Battula, left.  His successors lacked the ability to govern
                properly.

 

Songhai:

Time: From Mid 1400 - 1591
Located: Central region of West Africa on Niger River (present day Mali)
Trade: Exported gold and imported salt
Achievements/Accomplishments: Captured Timbuktu and Djenne.  Had different ministers to run
                                                   the army and navy.
Ruler: Askia Muhammad and Sunni Ali
Religion: Muslim/Islam
Downfall: In 1591 when Moroccans conquered with gunpowder cannons and Sonhai lacked
               modern weapons.

 

Benin:

Time: 1300's
Located: South West of Ife near delta of Niger River
Trade: Ivory, slaves, pepper, leopard skins -- merchants traded with Portuguese
Achievements/Accomplishments: Large kingdom with walls, sculpted brass heads and copper
                                                   figures, strong army.
Ruler: Ewuare - based his rights to rule on claims of descent from first king of Ife.
Religion: Animist and Islam
Downfall: Europeans took over their land.

 

Zimbabwe:

Time: 1200 - 1450
Located: South East Africa
Trade: Gold
Achievements/Accomplishments: High walls to impress visitors and no soldiers could climb.
                                                   Housed royal palace.  Population of 10,000.
Ruler: Demanded tributes from travelers.
Religion: Animist and Islam.
Downfall: Area could not support such a large population so the natural resources were used up
               and the city became abandoned.

 

Mutapa:

Time: 1420
Trade: Gold, salt and luxury items.
Achievements/Accomplishments: Mined gold and traded with coastal cities.
Ruler: Mutota - founded Mutapa, conquered Shona people and modern day Zimbabwe.
Religion: Animist
Downfall: Portuguese

 

Igbo:

Time: As early as the first century
Location: West and Central Africa
Religion: Paid tribute to the dead
Ruler/leader: Stateless society in which elders rule.

 

Almoravids:

Location: Present day Morocco area
Religion: Islamic
Achievements/Accomplishments: Over ran West Africa empire of Ghana.  By 1076 captured parts of South Spain.
Ruler/Leader: Allan Ibn Yasin
Downfall: Leader killed in battle, got taken over by the Almohads.

 

Almohads:

Time: Mid 1100's
Location: Morocco
Religion: Islamic
Achievements: Conquered Almoravids
Leader: Ibn Turmart
Downfall: Declined and broke up into individuals

 

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