Name __________________________________
Chapter 8 Reading Guide
African Civilizations and the Spread of Islam
What linked Muslim Africa with the outside world?
What was going on in Africa that paralleled the development of western Europe?
AFRICAN SOCIETIES: DIVERSITY AND SIMILARITIES
STATELESS SOCIETIES
Describe the stateless society (especially in terms of government).
Who did you become a member of a secret society?
What purpose did secret societies have?
What is a downfall of stateless societies?
COMMON ELEMENTS IN AFRICAN SOCIETIES
What is the linguistic base of Africa?
Describe the basics of their religion.
THE ARRIVAL OF ISLAM IN NORTH AFRICA
What religion came to North Africa before Islam?
Who led the holy wars and spread Islam to where? (2 groups)
What was attractive about Islam to Africa?
THE CHRISTIAN KINGDOMS: NUBIA AND ETHIOPIA
Where did Christianity have major groups of followers?
Which sect of Christianity did it originally align with?
Who did King Lalibela trace his lineage back to?
KINGDOMS OF THE GRASSLANDS
Who first brought Islam across the Saharan Desert?
What is the importance of the Sahel?
How did Ghana rise to power?
SUDANIC STATES
Who traditionally led these states?
How was Islam used to further the traditional ruling elements?
THE EMPIRE OF MALI AND SUNDIATA, THE “LION PRINCE”
How did Islam and the Malinke rulers co-exist?
What were the different classes of people (that formed from the clans)?
What did Ibn Battuta have to say about Africa?
How did Mansa Musa further Islam in the Sudanic states?
CITY DWELLERS AND VILLAGERS
How did the military expansion help the people and Islam?
Where were they on intellectual pursuits?
THE SONGHAY KINGDOM
What converted to Islam first?
What problems did the orthodox Muslims have with how Islam was practiced?
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LIFE IN THE SUDANIC STATES
How did religion serve to better trade?
How was religion used to better the ruling families and kingship?
What was a negative related to social status?
What roles did women have in Islamic Africa?
How did the Islamic world change the existing slave trade in Africa?
THE SWAHILI COAST OF EAST AFRICA
THE COASTAL TRADING PORTS
What is evidence of the contact between traditional Africans and Muslim traders across the
Indian Ocean?
What climatic phenomena influenced trade in East Africa?
THE MIXTURE OF CULTURES ON THE SWAHILI COAST
What did Islam do to further trade throughout the Indian Ocean?
How did Africa meet Islam with regards to property?
PEOPLES OF THE FOREST AND PLAINS
ARTISTS AND KINGS: YORUBA AND BENIN
What advanced technology did the Nok use?
What governmental organization did the Yoruba have?
CENTRAL AFRICAN KINGDOMS
These people are descendents of what wondering peoples?
Describe their governmental systems.
THE KINGDOMS OF KONGO AND MWENE MUTAPA
What were the men and women’s duties?
How many people lived in the capital?
Describe their governmental methods and institutions/
What was a symbol of wealth?