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How are decisions made by the Efe and other hunter-gatherer societies?
Decisions are made by families as a whole, and they settle disagreements through communicating with each other.
What are the differences between matrilineal and patrilineal?
In a matrilineal lineage, kinship ties and inheritance are traced through the mother’s side, whereas in a patrilineal lineage, kinship ties and inheritance are traced through the father’s side.
How do age-set systems work?
An age-set system enables young people to form relationships with members outside of their lineage. An age-set is a group of young people who all live in the same region who are all around a similar age. The members of an age-set all pass through life stages and ceremonies together.
Describe the impact of Islamic Law on North Africa.
Islam does not separate personal and religious life, so Islamic law is in charge of most areas of life. Islamic law helped to bring order to Muslim states and it helped to unite all Muslim states together. Some states in North Africa are still influenced by Islamic law today.
What did the Almoravids do?
The Almoravid Dynasty was founded in the 11th century, and it began when a Berber Muslim made hajj, and convinced a Muslim scholar (Abd Allah Ibn Yasin) to teach his people about Islam. Ibn Yasin founded a religious brotherhood called the Almoravids and led them into battle in an effort to spread Islam. The Almoravids were able to conquer Morocco - where they founded Marrakech, and they also conquered Ghana in 1076 and also parts of Spain.
What did the Almohads do?
The Almohads were originally a religious movement in the Atlas Mountains who were led by Abd al-Mumin. The Almohads officially took over Morocco and ended the Almoravids by 1148. They kept Marrakech as the capital and conquered more of southern Spain, now ruling from Marrakech to Tripoli. The Almohad Dynasty successfully united the Maghrib, but only lasted around 100 years.
Describe the Kingdom of Ghana.
Ghana became wealthy through trade, and they made a lot of their money from taxing goods/traders. The most important items at the time were gold and salt, and the king of Ghana collected gold nuggets and large pieces of salt as his tax, which limited the supply of the materials and kept its value up. Ghana had a large army and officially became an empire by the year 800.
Describe the Kingdom of Mali.
Mali first emerged in 1235, and it became wealthy through the gold-salt trade. Sundiata was the founder of Mali and he overtook Ghana through military conquest. He founded a new capital at Niani and re-introduced the gold-salt trade. A second great ruler of the Kingdom of Mali was Mansa Musa, who generated a large army and was widely considered the wealthiest man to ever live. Mali was a very wealthy kingdom, but eventually it fell due to weak successors.
Describe the Kingdom of Songhai.
The kingdom of Songhai controlled very important trade routes, and after fighting for control, they made Gao their capital. Sunni Ali was the ruler of the kingdom of Songhai in 1464 and he vastly expanded the empire - including capturing Timbuktu. After Sunni Ali died his son succeeded him but not for long, because a major revolt was formed by angry Muslims. Askia Muhammad was the leader of the revolt and ended up replacing Sunni Ali’s son. But eventually the Songhai Empire fell to Moroccan troops due to their lack of modern weapons.
Describe the Hausa City-States.
Hausa city-states first emerged from 1000-1200 in modern day Nigeria. They all shared the Hausa language, were relatively independent, had walls around them, and had populations of roughly 50,000 people. These city states all depended on farming and had relatively similar central governments. City states profited by supplying caravans and some were involved in the selling of enslaved people. The Hausa were a group of people who developed many small city-states and ruled them from their capitals. Trading city-states like Zazzu and Kano became very wealthy and powerful.
Describe the Yoruba.
People who spoke Yoruba lived in small city-states in modern day Benin and Nigeria. The city-states joined together to form a larger Yoruba kingdom. Yoruba kings were both leaders religiously and politically, and they all regarded the king of Ife as the highest authority spiritually. The most powerful states were Ife and Oyo. They were gifted artists and produced many beautiful goods.
Describe the Benin.
The kingdom of Benin was located in the forest, and the first king of Benin was in the 1300s. Benin was turned into a major state through a powerful army. The palace of Benin was very beautiful. They controlled the land between the Niger river, and in the 1480’s Portuguese trading ships began to sail into Benin. Known for Benin Bronzes, and the ruler was called oba.
What is Swahili?
Swahili is a language and culture that was developed on the East Coast of Africa that is a mix of Arabic and Bantu.
Describe Kilwa.
Kilwa was a city-state located on the East African coast right along the monsoon winds. Because it was located along the monsoon winds, all the trading ships had to pass through Kilwa during their journey between India and Africa. Kilwa taxed all of these ships, which made Kilwa very wealthy. Overall, Kilwa was very beautiful and wealthy. It was also very architecturally advanced. Kilwa was very diverse in terms of people.
What impact did the Portuguese have on the Swahili City-States?
Portuguese ships began looking for a sea route to India in 1488 because they wanted access to Indian spices. While on their journey, they decided to take over wealthy city-states in East Africa as well. The Portuguese conquered Mombasa, Sofala, and Kilwa. They did this by cutting off vital trade routes and cutting off ocean access eventually leading to its decline. The Portuguese also tried, and failed, to conquer the Mutapa empire. But after they failed they got involved in Mutapa politics.
What impact did Islam have on East Africa?
Islam was introduced to the East African coast through trade, and as a result a Muslim sultan was the governor of many cities. But many people who lived on the East coast of Africa continued practicing their original beliefs. Islam was also africanized/merged with the current culture of east Africa. Islam gave East Africans religious value but also access to new trade routes and opportunities. It also brought literacy (due to the need to read the Quran). It allowed them to write books and accounts of their location and culture.
Describe the Great Enclosure.
The great enclosure was where the ruler of Great Zimbabwe’s wife lived. It was a symbol of wealth and power. Outside the great enclosure was a bustling valley filled with lots of people and livestock.
1.1 What was life like for hunter-gatherers in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Hunter-gathering societies are the oldest form of social organization. They were nomadic, so they owned very few things and they moved around a lot. They lived in small groups organized by family. The women were the gatherers, and the men were the hunters. There was a respected male in the family who would serve as the leader, but not the chief. There were no written laws, and every family made their own decisions. They agreed upon norms.
1.2. Describe the key characteristics of stateless societies.
Stateless societies don’t have a central government. Lineages balance the power. People are put into lineages based on their ancestral history. Lineages include the past, present, and future members. A society selects one type of lineage, matrilineal (ancestral history is passed down through the mother) or patrilineal (ancestral history is passed down through the father). There was also an Age-Set system. In an age-set system, people were grouped together with others of a similar age. They passed through certain rites of passage together.
1.3 Explain how Islam spread in North Africa and what impact it had.
Islam is spread to North Africa when North Africa gets conquered (no forced conversion though) by the Umayyads. Islam also gets spread through trade. Islamic law regulates all aspects of society, and it unifies a very diverse world. In addition, Berbers converted to Islam and created two very powerful empires. These two empires were the Almoravids and the Almohads.
2.1 What role did trade have on the rise of West African kingdoms?
The main major resources in West Africa were gold and salt. Both resources were very valuable and expensive. If an empire controlled the gold and salt trade, then they could tax all of the traders and goods being transported through their empire. These taxes would make them wealthy, and eventually powerful. Wealth would enable them to become powerful because then they could pay for a large and strong army. An example of trade helping to develop an empire is the Ghana empire.
2.2 Describe the historical significance of Mansa Musa.
Mali was the second great trading empire in West Africa, and Mansa Musa was the most powerful ruler in Mali. He was able to expand Mali to twice the size of Ghana through military conquest. Mansa Musa also established bureaucracy. He became internationally known when he went on hajj. On his hajj, Mansa Musa gave generously to all people, and he bought books and recruited scholars. Some historians believe that Mansa Musa was the richest person to ever live.
3.1 Explain the reasons for and the impact of cultural diffusion in East Africa.
Ocean trade helped to stimulate the spread of far away beliefs and direct contact between different cultures. Also, the Monsoon Winds forced international traders to stay in one place for longer, and traders often had two homes, one in India and one in Kilwa (for example). Cultural diffusion on the Swahili Coast was shown in the language (Swahili - mix of Arabic and Bantu) and religion (Islam mixed with traditional African beliefs).
3.2 Describe the rise and fall of empires in Southern Africa. (Great Zimbabwe and the Mutapa Empire)
Great Zimbabwe originally rose because of its great location. It was right along international trade routes and at one point they taxed 50% on passing goods. No one really knows why Great Zimbabwe fell, but most historians believe it was due to overcrowding and a couple environmental factors including cattle sickness. Next the Mutapa Empire rose, and it also rose because it had a really good location and climate. Additionally, trade greatly helped the development of the Mutapa Empire. The Mutapa Empire eventually fell due to Portuguese interference.
