Africa in the Postclassical Era

Africa in the Postclassical Era: the
S bS h
Sub-Saharan
R
Region
i
The Bantu** Migrations
( 3000BCE 1000CE)
(c.3000BCE-c.1000CE)
• Encouraged by
population pressures
• Spread
p
agriculture,
g
,
herding, and iron
technology
• Absorbed huntergatherers
• Language
differentiation
Austronesian Migration
• Via Indian Ocean
• Colonization of
Madagascar
g
• Bananas!!
Growth of Kingdoms
Christianity in Africa: Axum**
Axum
The Spread of Islam
West Africa: Ghana
Ghana**
West Africa: Kingdom of Ghana**
Ghana
• First emerged
g c.4th
century CE
• Transformed by Islam
• World’s largest gold
supply
• Commercial
C
i l center
t off
West Africa
• Leaders convert to
Islam
• Koumbi-Saleh**
West Africa: Mali
Mali**
Kingdom of Mali**
Mali
• Built by Sundiata
• Controlled and taxed
trade
• Islam adopted
Musa**::
• Mansa Musa
pilgrimage to Mecca
Mansa Musa
Mali (cont
(cont.))
Mosque at Jenne
Mosque at Timbuktu
East Africa: Trade and Islam
East Africa: Swahili**
Swahili Culture
• “coasters”
coasters
• Blend of Bantu and
Arabic languages
g g
• Establish first trading
contacts with Muslim
merchants
• Trade as impetus to
political growth
East Africa: Kingdom of Kilwa
East Africa: Kingdom of
Zi b b **
Zimbabwe**
• Zimbabwe: chief
chief’s
s
dwelling . . .
• Controlled & taxed
trade btw. Interior and
coast
• Shaped by Islam
Great Zimbabwe ruins
Africa in the Postclassical: Key
Terms
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bantu
Axum
Ghana
Koumbi-Saleh
Mali
Mansa Musa
• Swahili
• Zimbabwe