Chapter 8 Guiding Questions
African Societies: Diversity and Similarities
1. Describe the nature of stateless societies that governed large parts of Africa. (p.175)
 Instead of a central ruler, stateless societies were organized around kinship groups and
lacked the concentration of political power we normally see associated with the state.
Authority and power within this form of government was held by a council of families or by
the community. There was no need to tax the population since the taxes did not have to
support rulers, bureaucrats, armies, or nobles.
2. What were the disadvantages faced by these stateless societies? (p.175)
 They found it hard to stand up to outside pressures because they lacked unity and
organization. Mobilization for war was difficult. Large scale building projects and long
distance trade were also hard to establish.
3. How did African cultures share similarities with respect to language, religion, and thought?
(p.175) (LONG ANSWER)
 Language: Many cultures throughout Africa shared Bantu-based languages due to the mass
migration of Bantu-speaking peoples over the centuries. Even though these languages were
different, they shared similar structure and vocabulary which allowed communication.
 Religion: Much of Africa (particularly sub-Saharan) practiced animism. They believed in
elaborate forms of rituals and worship to influence the actions of their gods. The belief in
evil spirits and illnesses which led to a class of priests or witchdoctors to arise in most
societies that combated or interpreted the motives of these evil forces. Most importantly,
the religion provided a view of how the universe worked and a guide for ethics and
behavior.
 Thought: Veneration of deceased ancestors was widely practiced. Ancestors were viewed as
a direct link between the living and the spirit world.
4. How were the economies of North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa different? (p. 175)
 North Africa was fully involved in Mediterranean and Arab trading zones, therefore it was
more advanced and profitable. Consequently, it was also more diverse.
 Sub-Saharan trade differed from region to region. Agriculture and ironworking dominated
trade in this area, but there were some cases of international trade between the eastern
coast of Africa (Swahili coast) and the Arab trading regions of the Indian ocean.
5. What European battle brought an end to the Muslim advance in the West? Who was the leader
responsible for this victory? (p. 176)
 Battle of Poitiers in 732 C.E. or Battle of Tours. Charles Martel (a.k.a. Charles the Hammer)
led the Franks against Umayyad forces.
6. What attractions did Islam bring to northern Africa? (p.176) (This should sound like a broken
record)
 The concept that all members of the umma, or body of believers, are equal was appealing to
the masses. The Islamic tradition of giving the ruler both statewide and religious control was
appealing to many African kings, therefore they adopted it. Remember, the reality is that
there was equality within the eyes of God, but inequality within the world.
7. What was the main problem Ethiopia faced with regards to maintaining Christianity as its
primary religion? (p.176-177)
 Ethiopia was the most important Christian outpost. It was cut off from the rest of
Christendom by an Islamic Egypt, the Red Sea to the east, and its surrounding pagan
neighbors. Under the constant threat of attack, the kingdom turned inwards and built
massive fortifications to protect themselves from conquest. (see picture on p.177)
Kingdoms of the Grasslands
8. What were the three important “coasts” of contact in Africa? What happened in these areas?
(p.178)
 1) The Atlantic Coast
 2) The Indian Ocean
 3) The savanna on the southern edge of the Sahara
 Ideas, trade, and people interacted with one another, bringing many different cultures into
contact.
9. What was the “sahel” area of Africa? Why did it become a point of exchange? (p.178)
 The sahel was the extensive grassland along the southern border of the Sahara. Because of
its location between the forests of southern Africa and north Africa, this area became an
intermediary zone between the two.
10. The first “grassland kingdom” mentioned in the text is Ghana. Most of the money made within
this kingdom came from the taxation of what two valuable commodities? (p.178)
 Salt and Gold. These two products will remain staples of economies in this region for years
to come. (Think Mansa Musa story from the introduction)
11. Most of the Sudanic states were conquest states. What does this mean? (p.178)
 Conquest states controlled territories that surrounded them and took taxes, tribute, and
military support from them.
12. What are the three Sudanic states mentioned in the text? (p.178)
 Ghana, Mali, and Songhay
13. How did rulers and preachers of Islam support one another in these Sudanic states? (p.178)
 Rulers built mosques, attended public prayer services and supported preachers. In return,
sermons were delivered to the faithful emphasizing obedience to and support of the king.
14. Much of Mali’s history was preserved by griots. Who were these individuals? (p.179)
 Griots were professional oral historians who passed down the history of their people or
region. They preserved the traditions of the societies and also served as advisors to the king.
15. Sundiata was named mansa, or emperor of the Malinke people. What accomplishments did he
bring to the empire? (p.179)
 He “divided up the world”, or provided the social arrangements by classifying people due to
their occupations.
 He created political institutions within his empire that allowed for regional diversity in rule,
but also stationed garrisons in the provinces to maintain loyalty and security.
 Firmly protected trade and commerce routes by severely punishing those who stole from or
raided these routes.
16. Sundiata’s most famous successor was Mansa Musa. He brought much attention to Mali from
the rest of the Muslim world after his hajj to Mecca that was described in the introduction to
the chapter. Read that introduction and speculate as to why so much attention was now paid to
the kingdom of Mali. (p.179 and intro.)
 His pilgrimage to Mecca highlighted the potential of wealth within Africa. Its economic
dominance of western Africa made it extremely intriguing to the outside world.
17. What percentage of people within Mali lived by farming? What was farming like in this area of
the world? (p.181)
 80%. The soils were sandy and shallow. They grew rice, millet, wheat, fruits, and vegetables.
Clearing of the land was done communally, but families owned the individual plots of land
and farmed them. It was beneficial to have large families to help with work, therefore
polygamy developed to meet this need.
18. Of what significance is Sunni Ali to the Songhay Kingdom? (p.181)
 He founded the kingdom, expanded its borders, seized the important port cities of Jenne
and Timbuktu, and developed a system of administration to gather recruits for the military
from provinces within the kingdom.
19. What brought an end to the Songhay kingdom in 1591? (p.181)
 A Muslim army from Morocco equipped with firearms defeated the forces of Songhay,
which led to internal rebellions.
20. How was the role of women in Sudanic states different from that set forth in the Sharia, or
Muslim law? (p.182)
 Several of these societies were matrilineal as opposed to patrilineal. Women exercised far
greater freedoms as well (ex. No veiling).
21. What did the introduction of Islam into Africa do to slavery on the continent? (p. 182)
 Though slavery had been a very real part of African history before the introduction of Islam,
it increased significantly upon the religion’s arrival. Slaves were used for domestic service,
laboring, soldiers, administrators, eunuchs, and concubines.
The Swahili Coast of East Africa
22. Towns along the eastern coast shared a common language based off of what two people
groups? (p.184)
 Bantu and Arab (Swahili)
23. The towns along the eastern Swahili coast of Africa flourished in international trade with what
nations? (p.184-185)
 India and China