State Building in Africa PDF

State Building in Africa Development of Western African Agriculture Bantu: "people" The Bantu begin agriculture & the domestication of cattle c. 3500 BCE Cultivation of sorghum, yams, over time increasingly diverse crops The Bantu learn iron metal working c. 500 BCE Increase agricultural output Ba...

State Building in Africa Development of Western African Agriculture Bantu: "people" The Bantu begin agriculture & the domestication of cattle c. 3500 BCE Cultivation of sorghum, yams, over time increasingly diverse crops The Bantu learn iron metal working c. 500 BCE Increase agricultural output Bantu Religions Evidence of early monotheism Deistic views as well (reason and nature proves God's existence as opposed to revelation and scripture) Animistic, prayed to spirits e.g. ancestor spirits Great variations among populations among religious beliefs Over time descendant populations would begin to convert to Islam (c. 10th century) and Christianity (c. 15th century) Bantu Migrations, 2000 BCE -1000 CE - Migration throughout sub-Saharan regions Population pressures Over 500 variations of original Bantu language 90 million speakers - By 1000 BCE, occupied most of Africa south of the equator Effects of Early African Migrations Bantu-speaking peoples settle south of Equator Agriculture, herding, iron metallurgy, language spreads with Bantu migrations Cultivation of Bananas Domesticated in southeast Asia Malay sailors colonize Madagascar, 300-500 CE Introduce bananas (and chickens) Well-adapted to African climate, encourages migration into forested regions & spreads throughout much of Sub-Saharan Africa Food supply increases with this key crop Kin-Based Societies Stateless, segmented societies No elaborate hierarchies, bureaucracies  Higher government authorities rare Ruled by elders Average population of village: 100 Villages resolve disputes in ad hoc manner Kinship Groups Extended families, clans, live in villages Idea of private property less prevalent Land held communally Harvests distributed by elders Sex and Gender Relations Men work with specialized skills Tanning, iron work Heavy labor Both sexes work in agriculture Male rule more common, but some expanded roles for women Merchants, some military activity Islamic norms slow to penetrate African society Age grades From early agricultural period, Sudan Peer groups of single age cohort Crosses lines of family and kinship Chiefdoms Population pressures after 1000 CE increase competition, disputes Small chiefdoms appear - a group of villages, overrule kin-based groups Powerful chiefs form militaries - Small kingdoms form in West Africa Ife, Benin Islamic Kingdoms and Empires Islam spreads to west Africa Trans-Saharan caravans - gold/salt trade - land based trade - Sufi missionaries will follow - Coastal east Africa through maritime trade - Sufi missionaries will follow Profound influence after 8th century Empires & Islam in West Africa West African Empires Ghana: 11th - 13th century (height) Mali: 13th - 15th century Songhay: 1464 - 1591 Kings of Ghana convert 10th c. - Positive impact on trade, relations with north Africa Synthesized Islam with local traditions Trans-Saharan Trade and Islamic States in West Africa (The Gold-Salt Trade) - Introduction of Arabian camels revolutionizes trade 70-90 days to cross Sahara - Arabs & Africans establish trading communities Koumbi-Saleh Gao Jenne Timbuktu The Kingdom of Ghana Not related to modern State of Ghana Developed 4th- 5th c. CE Protection against camel-driving raiders Center of African gold trade Imported from south to Ghana Also sold ivory, slaves - Bought: horses, cloth, small artisan goods, & salt Koumbi-Saleh Capital of Kingdom of Ghana Principal trading center High point 9th-12th centuries Population 15,000-20,000 - Military, cultural center Sundiata - The Lion Prince of Mali (r. 1230-1255) As Ghana kingdom expands north, it is vulnerable to attacks by nomads of the Sahara Causes the collapse of the Ghana Empire Empire of Mali extends over Kingdom of Ghana Neighboring kingdoms as well - Sundiata created a large army, made alliances with local rulers, gained a reputation in battle Took greater advantage of trans-Saharan trade Nominally Muslim, but did not force conversions Mansa Musa (r. 1312-1337) Grandson of Sundiata Fervent Muslim Performed the Hajj in 1324-25 (huge caravan thousands of soldiers, attendants, subjects, & slaves) Constructed numerous mosques Supported Muslim scholars and schools Brought teachers to W Africa from N Africa (some were descendants of Muhammed) Gave away so much gold that its value decreased 25% Empire declines after his rule Songhai Empire (1464 - 1591) Sunni Ali (r. 1464-1493) created effective army, navy Overthrew the declining Mali Empire Based in Gao Brought Timbuktu and Jenne under his authority - Navy patrolled the Niger River - Built an elaborate administrative force - Appointed governors to oversee provinces Musket-bearing Moroccan army destroys Songhay forces, - regional eity-states exert local control Ghana, Mali, & Songhai Empires - Rulers were all Muslim Rulers valued Islam as a cultural foundation for cooperation with Muslim merchants and the Islamic states of North Africa Rulers did not abandon traditional religious practices - Sunni Ali consulted pagan fortune tellers and magicians Emperors built mosques, schools to teach the Quran, and an Islamic university was built at Timbuktu - Arabs traded salt, textiles, and metal goods for gold and slaves from Africans The Indian Ocean Trade and Islamic States in East Africa - East coast maritime trade weak until 2nd century Bantu peoples populate coast - Swahili ("coasters") engage in trade with Arabs Swahili (as a language) is a form of Bantu, influenced by Arabic - 10th century trade increases The Swahili City-States - Great wealth, 11th-12th centuries CE Development of city-states Architecture moved from wood/mud to coral, stone - Chinese silk, porcelain imported Kilwa - City-state on east African coast - Part of Indian Ocean trade network - Fishing, limited trade, 800-1000 CE Turn to agriculture, increased trade in pottery and stoneware - Major trading center by 14th century Exporting over a ton of gold per year by 15th century CE Zimbabwe - Southern Africa - "dwelling of the chief' - Stone complex called "Great Zimbabwe" built early 13th century CE, capital - Population 18,000 in late 15th century Managed trade between internal and coastal regions - Rich in valuable minerals: gold, platinum, diamonds Islam in East Africa - Ruling elites in east Africa accept Islam without forcing general population to convert Often retained pagan religious traditions and practices Islam serves as social glue with other merchants, states Islamic African Society and Cultural Development Kingdoms, empires, city-states have well-defined classes Ruling elites Merchant class Religious authorities Bureaucrats Military Peasant class Slaves Other areas in sub-Saharan Africa continue to use traditional kin-based groups Slavery Practiced since ancient times Most slaves Debtors Criminals Prisoners of War Born into it - Suspected witches - Used principally in agricultural labor Slave possession a status symbol Slave Trading Increased trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean trade stimulates slave trade, 9th c. CE Africa replaces Eastern Europe as principal source of slaves Creates internal African slave trade More powerful states attack smaller kinship-based groups 10,000-20,000 slaves per year Kingdom of Kongo - Central Africa - Basin of the Congo (Zaire) river Conglomeration of several village alliances Participated actively in trade networks Most centralized rule of the early Bantu kingdoms Royal currency: cowries - Monarch ruled 14th-17th century until undermined—by Portuguese slave traders The Kingdom of Kongo - Relations with Portuguese beginning 1483 King Nzinga Mbemba (Alfonso I, r. 1506-1542) converts to Christianity Useful connection with Portuguese interests Merchant & diplomatic reasons (like W. Africans with N. African Muslims) Portuguese bring advisors, soldiers, tailors, shoemakers, mason, miners, and priests to Kongo Christianity supports monarchical rule (kings liked this) But zealous convert, attempts to convert population at large Slave Raiding in Kongo - Initial Portuguese attempt to capture slaves failed  Soon discovered it is easier to trade weapons for slaves (ivory and copper too) provided by African traders - Kongo kings appeal without success to slow, but not eliminate, slave trade Relations deteriorate, Portuguese attack Kongo and decapitate king in 1665 - leads to the end of the kingdom - Slave market develops in Ndongo The Kingdom of Ndongo (Angola) Ndongo gains wealth and independence from Kongo by means of Portuguese slave trade - But Portuguese influence resisted by Queen Nzinga (r. 1623-1663) Posed as male King, with male concubines in female dress attending her - Nzinga establishes temporary alliance with Dutch in unsuccessful attempt to expel Portuguese Early Christianity in North Africa 18 century: popular in Egypt, north Africa Initially weak in sub-Saharan Africa The Christian Kingdom of Axum, 4th c. CE Ethiopia Merchants, then kings convert Bible translated into Ethiopian Isolated by Dar-Al Islam (begins in 7th c. and from the European Renaissance (13th - 15th c. - different Christian customs/beliefs) Mix of Christian & traditional African beliefs " Massive churches carved out of solid rock Ethiopian Christianity Axum ends in the 10th c. but Christianity remains Isolation from other Christian areas until 16th century - Independent development Strong African influence Spirit world amulets