Kush Civilization
• Ag revolution leads to civilizations -7000-8000
yrs ago.
• Trade between Egypt and Nubia
• Kush civilization rose-> Nubia becoming
independent of Egypt…becomes Kush 1000BC.
• Kush take over Egypt-fall eventually to
Assyrians
• important trade centre for India, Arabia,
Romans
Kush
Kush Cont.
• Society based on farming…becomes trade
center
• Important trade center in Meroe-land route to
N crosses Nile here
• Kushites use Iron Ore-> traded and made iron
weapons and tools to trade
• Kush trade: Iron, Gold, Ivory, Ebony, Slaves
• Trade w/ Roman Empire, Arabia, India
Axum Empire-(book pg.238)
• Modern day Ethiopia..founded by Arabs
• Combined Arab and African culture
• Geography->prosperity…On Red Sea, along
Mediterranean Route for India
• Export: Ivory, Frankincense, Myrhh, Slaves
• Imports: textiles, metal goods, wine, olive oil
• Tension-Muslims located on NW coast of
Africa..also along Red Sea
Axum cont.
• Competes w/ Kush for control of Ivory trade
• King Ezana eventually conquers Kush in 4th
century.
• Official religion was Christianity Est. by King
Ezana
• Islam eventually brought challenges to Axum
– Islam rises in 622
Rise of Islam
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Islam rise 622 AD
641 Arab forces capture Egypt
Arabs rule N Africa coast to strait of Gibraltar
Muslim states along Red Sea
Relationship w/ Christian Axum is peaceful
12th century Muslim states moved inland to
control trade
– Muslim traders had significant impact on N Africa
Kingdom of Ghana
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1st great trade state in W. Africa-500 AD
Upper Niger River Valley
Local rule w/ villages…form kingdom of Ghana
Kings rule w/ no law…had vast wealth
Well trained army makes for enormous trade
empire
Ghana cont.
• People of Ghana often traded Gold for Salt
– Preserved food, improved taste, hydration
• Exports: gold, iron ore, ivory, hides, slaves…to
Mediterranean markets.
• Imports: Metal goods, textiles, horses, salt
• Trade by the Berbers: “fleet’s of Desert”
– Camels crucial trade factor
– Caravans: groups of camels travel together for trade
– Kings wealth: tax imports and exports
Kingdom of Mali
• Ghana starts to collapse in 1100’s..Mali rise
1240
• From Atlantic to Timbuktu
– Leader Sundata Keita…defeats Ghana in 1240
– Wealth on Gold and Salt trade
– Farming society: Sorghum, Millet, Rice
– Villages w/ Local rule-religious and administrative
leaders
– Tax sent from village leader to king
Mali cont.
• Mansa (king) Musa-rule from 1312 to 1337
– Devout Muslim
– Doubles size of Mali Kingdom...powerful leader.
• Creates strong central govt..Kingdom divided into
provinces.
• Governors appointed
• Timbuktu becomes center of Islamic
learning…major trade center as well.
• Mali attracts religious leaders, scholars.
• Civil war ends Mali in 1359
Kingdom of Songhai
• Songhai rises along Niger…East of Timbuktu.
• Dia first dynasty….est. 1009
– Gao-chief trade center…links W Africa, N Africa,
Arabia
– Sunni Ali creates Sunni dynasty in 1464…
– Defends and expands territory…conquers
Timbuktu and Jenne.
Songhai cont.
• Sunni Ali conquest of Jenne and Timbuktu
– Gives Songhai trade power which helped Ghana
and Mali prosper.
• Ali controls Govt of Songhai as well
– Unites rural city dwellers w/ differing interests
under one Govt.
Songhai Cont.
• Muhammad Ture-Devout Muslim, Military
Commander-seizes power in 1493
– Creates Askia dynasty
• Continues to expand…Songhai at its peak during
Ture reign.
• Divides Songhai into provinces
• Chief cities prosper w/ expanding Salt and Gold
trade
• Sognhai declines by 1600……Morocco occupies
Swahili
• Mixed African/Arabian culture arises.
• Muslim religion and Arabic architecture
become part of African society
• Swahili language arises as well
– African Bantu trade w/ Arabic people.
– Language mixes both Bantu and Arabic
– Allows communication and trade
– Swahili language spreads N and W w/ Ivory and
Slave trade. E.g CULTURAL DIFFUSION!
Swahili Primary language region
Societies in South Africa
• Stateless societies through 11th century ADindependent villages organized by clans….local
ruler or Clan head
• States developed more slowly to the South
• Gradual unification
• Zimbabwe most powerful region from 1300-1450
– Prospered from gold trade w/ Swahili communities on
E coast of Africa
– Great Zimbabwe capital
– Great Enclosure: dominates site of Great Zimbabwe
Great Enclosure (purpose unknown)