Download great african civilizations

Great Western African Civilizations
(400CE-1600CE)
Background
A lot of our focus thus far in World History class has been the success of the Renaissance, the
Reformations, the Rise of Absolute Monarchs and now Exploration in Europe. Recently we started to
focus on how Europe really got into the swing of exploration of other areas (and even taking over
certain places, for example the Spanish in the “New World”). It was during the Renaissance that Europe
“woke up again!” As you may remember from earlier World History courses (probably your 7th Grade
course), Europe had been marked by two very successful civilizations: Greece & The Roman Empire. It
was after the fall of The Roman Empire around 473 CE when Western Europe really lost themselves and
European civilization started to go backwards as opposed to forward. As a result of the Black Plague and
the “Rebirth” of European Civilization during the Renaissance, when Europe got back into gear. Between
473CE-1450CE, although Europe was marked by an age of Feudalism and “Dark Ages,” other parts of the
world thrived, specifically in Africa, which will be our focus today.
Trade
With the start of our Age of Exploration unit, we discussed the importance of the Silk Road, but
another important trade network existed during this time as well. It was known as the Indian Ocean
Maritime System (IOMS). This system developed along the coast of the Indian Ocean, allowing trade to
flourish and from trade products to move from Africa all the way to China. Not only did trade products
such as silk, gold, ivory, and spices move from place to place, but ideas such as technological
advancements and religions did as well. Another major trading network was the Trans-Saharan trade
route located in North Western Africa. This trade network was known for gold, salt, and Islam.
Ghana
The African Civilization of Ghana (400CE-1000CE) was located in
West Africa along the Niger River. The capital was Timbuktu! With access
to a major river and being located in the midst of the Trans-Saharan trade
Route, Ghana was able to make some serious MONEY from the travelers
with their camel caravans! Although Ghana did not control the trade of
gold, salt, and ivory on this trade route, they were able to tax merchants
and travelers as they traveled through Ghana territory. Pretty good idea,
right? From the collected tax money, Ghana was able to create a large
army and was able to make iron weapons and agricultural tools to
produce more food! Along the Trans-Saharan trade route, a new religion
started to spread. The religion, Islam, was from the modern day Saudi
Arabia and spread into Africa via the Silk Road, IOMS, and Trans-Saharan
trade route.
Camel Caravan
Mali
The Mali Empire (800CE-1450CE) eventually took control of the
Ghana Civilization. The first major leader of Mali was Sundjata (the
Warrior Lion Prince) who was able to conquer Ghana. Mali would become
a centralized empire, with the leader being the one sole person in charge
(sound familiar?). Additionally, Mali leaders continued to tax traders along
the Trans-Saharan trade route, in which gold and salt were the most
traded commodities. In an effort to increase wealth, the Mali Empire
eventually gained control of the gold and salt mines. THEY CONTROLLED IT
ALL! Although Sundjata is known in history as a very powerful leader, his
grand-nephew, Mansa Musa, is even more popular.
Mansa Musa (who ruled from 1312-1337) is known for his
continuation of the Mali Empire, but also his hajj to Mecca. Mansa Musa
had converted to Islam and wanted to make a pilgrimage to Mecca,
something many Muslims do at least once in a lifetime. Mansa Musa
decided to do this in style. He formed an entourage which included
thousands of soldiers, attendants, subjects, and slaves as well as a
hundred camels carrying satchels of gold. Mansa Musa bestowed lavish
gifts on those who hosted him along the way, and during his three-month
visit to Cairo, he distributed so much gold that the metal’s value declined
by as much as 25%! Fun fact: Based on research, Mansa Musa possibly
was the richest man EVER! Once back home, he built mosques, religious
schools and brought in Arabian and North African teachers, including four
descendants of Muhammad himself, to make Islam better known in Mali.
With Mansa Musa’s death, the empire was not the same and it would
decline.
Songhai
Mansa Musa
The Songhai Empire (1000CE-1585CE) would eventually take
control of Mali. The empire used Islam as a way to unify citizens and to
conquer other lands. The empire had several Islamic Universities, many
people spoke Arabic and the law of Islam (Shari’a law) was used to
maintain order. The empire had a HUGE military. The Songhai Empire
however started to decline when trade started to focus more so to the
coast, especially which the addition of Europeans into the trade network.
City of Benin
Benin & Kongo
Once the Europeans (the Portuguese first) started to set sail and
explore the coast of Africa, the Europeans were surprised by how
wonderful the civilizations were. The Europeans, who believed themselves
to the best of the best, were put into their place and realized that they
were behind in development, and made a plan to advance quickly!
The Benin Kingdom located in West Africa was ruled by a powerful
Oba. The capital, the City of Benin, was marked by a grand palace! This
kingdom thrived on a state-run bronze working industry. As Europeans
started to arrive on the Western Coast of Africa, traded flourish between
the people of Benin and the Portuguese. Africans supplied ivory and
pepper while the Europeans supplies items such as guns. Additionally, the
people from Benin wanted to make items that the Europeans would want
to purchase such as Salt Cellars which depicted Europeans. With trade
comes not only products, but ideas that spread. The Portuguese sailors
introduced the people of Benin to Christianity, but many did not convert.
The Kongo was a kingdom located along the West African coast,
south of the Kingdom on Benin. The Kongo was a part of an extensive
trade network, trading items such as ivory, cloth, and metal. The
Portuguese and the Kingdom on Kongo created a trade alliance.
Additionally, the Manicongo converted to Christianity and encouraged
others throughout the kingdom to convert as well. Furthermore, the
leaders of the Kingdom of the Kongo wanted to rid themselves of enemy
prisoners of war. It was not uncommon for civilizations, even before this
time, to sell prisoners of war into slavery. The Portuguese were very willing
to buy slaves. The Kingdom of the Kongo maintained this emerging slave
trade, but eventually became unsuccessful. Soon, the Portuguese traders,
who had more advanced weapons then the Africans at this point, were
capturing people of the Kongo off the streets to sell into slavery, as seen in
“Many of our people . . . desirous of wares of your kingdom . . . seize many of
our people, free men . . . and they often kidnap even noblemen . . . and take
them to be sold to the white men who are in our kingdom . . .
“To avoid such a great evil we passed a law so that any white man . . . should
first inform three of our noblemen and officials of our court . . . who should
investigate if the mentioned goods are captives or free men . . .”
-Excerpt of Letters from Manicongo Afonzo to the King of Portugal, (1526?)
Ivory Salt Cellar
the following primary source:
And the rest is history…