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Change and Continuity Over Time Essay Topic: Religion in Sub-Saharan Africa from 1450 to the present Beginning Trans-Saharan trade (gold, salt) brought Islamic ideas into sub-Saharan Africa from North Africa. Songhai Empire was a major Islamic state (Timbuktu, Sunni Ali). Portuguese merchants in Kongo introduced Roman Catholicism. Slave trade also introduced Christianity to other sub-Saharan African countries like Angola, where there was a large amount of slaves being sent out. Syncretism during this time blended in African beliefs in spirits and magic. A significant syncretic cult was the Antonian movement. Middle End Slave trade ended in the 1860s, but Decolonization was aided by the Europeans continued to convert Africans weakened economic power of Europe, and into Christianity because of the "scramble" by the 1960s most of the African countries for Africa. were independent. Many mission schools were established in However, Africans still continued to these colonies (the "white man's burden"). believe in the religions they converted to, as many felt it became a part of them. Muslims used the creation of these new cities in the colonies to help spread Islam Syncretism coexists with these world further inland. religions today. Though syncretism was still presents, policies like assimilation made it difficult for Africans to incorporate their own beliefs into the religion they were converted to. Changes: rise of Islam, introduction of Christianity, syncretism Continuities: Christianity in Ethiopia, which had existed before this time period, and continued to be the major religion in Ethiopia despite the surrounding Islamic influence due to its tolerance of other religions. The traditional practice of animism/other indigenous religions, which survived (though was weakened at points) due to decentralization, and because rival tribes in the same country would ignore the other tribe and practice their own religion. THESIS: From 1450 to the present, sub-Saharan African religious beliefs and practices changed with the rise of Islam and Christianity and the methods used to convert people to those religions because of trade, colonization, and decolonization, while continuities included Christianity in Ethiopia and belief in animism due to the decentralization of Africa.