Africa

world history

Why were the Bantu migrations important to the development of societies in Sub-Saharan Africa? How did these migrations occur?

Introduction of crops like bananas, into new areas.
Change from stone to iron tools
Huge increase in food production

Trace the rise and fall of the three empires/kingdoms of West Africa.
Ghana
Mali
Songhai

Ghana
Rise in early 7th century
Fall in 2nd millenia, fall lead to the rise of the Mali Empire
Mali
Rise in early 13th century, started as a small kingdom around the Niger River area
Late 16th century, constant invasion from the likes of the Songhai and Bamana empires lead to the slow disintegration of the Mali Empire.
Songhai
Rise occurred in 14th century, from multiple military excursions of King Sunni Ali.
Decline came from internal political problems, and also from the uncontrollable growth of its borders while changes in the environment occurred leading to drought and disease.

What strengths and weakness did all three have in common?

All three relied on the trans-saharan trade routes
Outstanding amounts of gold, copper and other natural resources.
But, had constant problems of military leadership.

Analyze the influence of Islam and Islamic culture on east and west Africa?
What was the importance

It firstly appealed to elite rulers and merchants which was large source of spreading
Spread to lower class peoples
A syncretic religion adapting to traditional African beliefs
Women

Describe the city-states of East Africa.

Complex societies as well as well defined social classes
Resembled Eurasian societies
Small States
Aristocrats
Religious elites
Kin Based Societies

How did long distance trade affect the social and political transformation of East Africa from a region of chiefs and villages to a region of city-states?

Long-distance trade led to the development of towns and villages
Also the sudden increase of local and regional trade
Creation and integration of much stronger army
Increase in population

What are the origins and characteristics of Swahili culture? Why is Swahili a people, a language, and a culture?

Swahili people originate from Bantu inhabitants
Coast of Southeast Africa, in Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique.
Swahili language
Swahili culture has a Bantu core and has also borrowed from foreign influences.

Did the people of East Africa develop technologies, especially construction technologies, on their own or was all innovation and invention the result of outside influences?

East Africa was a huge exporter of precious metals and minerals
Most major technological developments started from outside influences
Southern, Northern, and Western Africa.

What was the relationship of the East African city-states to each other and to the IOB?

Controlled trade between interior countries of Africa
Also held control of trade between nation surrounding Indian Ocean
This all happened while also trading with other countries
Persia, India, China, and Arabia

Describe the importance of trade and control of trade routes to the states of East and West Africa?

Constant competition between city-states over trade
Major impact on West and East African economy
Transferring of goods and services from surplus areas to places where it was scarce.

What factors brought about the collapse of the states of East and west Africa?

The slave trade, brought civil unrest within empires
Colonialism is another direct cause, also leading to slavery

Describe the political situation in East and West Africa AFTER the collapse of the empires/kingdoms and city-states respectively.

Large advancing of British onto African land
Slave capturing throughout east and west
Military control of trade posts in West Africa
Then came the French shortly after
Colonization of larger western states (Nigeria, Senegal, and etc.)

Analyze diversity in Africa in the following areas:
Language
Occupation/lifestyle
Political structures

Language
Numerous languages
Based on Bantu
Many dialects
Arabic and variations
Ge’ez
Swahili
Occupation/lifestyle
Royals and aristocrats
Subsistence farmers
Wealthy merchant
Skilled craftspeople
hunter/gatherer
Nomads
Urban dwellers
Religious elites
Political structures
Empires, kingdoms and
Complex societies
Well-defined social class
Resemble Eurasian societies

What was the African view of land ownership?

Basic unit
Several extended families
Leadership :male heads of families
Cooperatively govern village life
Distributed the land
Divided the harvests

Define the term griot. What is the importance of these individuals to Africa life?

Oral tradition in sub-saharan africa
Griot = storyteller
Kept the collective story of the community
Family lineage
Lives of the great and bad
Passed stories through music
“When a griot dies, it was like a library being burned”

Describe the role of women in Africa.

Honored as mothers
More opportunities given compared to Eurasian women
Occasionally help positions of authority
Merchants & artisans
Sometimes even military roles
Domestic chores, and caring for children

What are age grades or sets? How are these important in African life?

Developed in Sudan
Method for bonds to be made across families
Assigning of appropriate tasks and jobs

What are the characteristics of African basic religion?

Chief God
Evolved into one male creator god
created universe, then ignored it
manifestation differed across Africa
Lesser gods
Associated with nature
Actively participated in human activities
Ancestors
Advocates
Protected humans from evil spirits
Good & evil spirits & witches
Rituals
Appease gods, spirits, and ancestors
Win or re-gain their goodwill

How did Christianity and Islam reach Africa?

Spread of Islam
Linked to trade
Spread to lower class; somewhat
Appeals to ruling elites and merchants
Syncretic Islam + traditional African beliefs

Spread of Christianity
Through foreign peoples
Appeared first in Egypt and North Africa
Alexandria, Egypt
Most prominent center of Christian culture in North Africa

What caused differences in the practice of Christianity and Islam in Africa compared to the practice of these religions elsewhere?

Syncretic Islam
The recognition of traditional African beliefs
Tolerance of traditional African beliefs
The mixing of syncretic Islam and traditional African beliefs

Define syncretism.

The practice of combining different religions, cultures, and/or beliefs

How did the practice of Islam by African women differ from other Islamic regions?

-Honored as mothers; matrilineal genealogies
-More opportunities than Eurasian women
-Sometimes held positions of authority
-Merchants and artisans
-Occasionally military roles

What was the significance of Great Zimbabwe? How did it participate in IOB trade from an inland location?

-a medieval African city known for its large circular wall and tower. It was part of a wealthy African trading empire that controlled much of the East African coast from the 11th to the 15th centuries C.E.
-The city-states traded with inland kingdoms like Great Zimbabwe to obtain gold, ivory, and iron. These materials were then sold to places like India, Southeast Asia, and China. These were Africaʼs exports in the Indian Ocean Trade.

Describe African concept of slavery and the East African slave trade in the IOB.

Slaves = wealth
Slavery not a permanent state
Who
Prisoners of war
Criminals
Debtors
Important part of IOB long distance trade
Slaves = important east african export
Slave raiding
Increase in slave linked to sugar production
Slave revolts: Zanj Revolt in Persia