Life on the Margins of Islam

African Societies

Diverse Land: •10s of geographies•100s of tribes•100s of languages→political unity rare

Sahara

Sudan / Sahel

Congo Rainforest

~the savanna coastline~

Bantu Migration Sedentary tribal

group Experience

population pressure→ Migration

Spreading:AgricultureLanguage

Ethiopia

Bantu

Bantu Impact Proliferation of agriculture →

States arisePopulation boomsPolitical organization → more complex Iron technology increasingly usefulLong distance trade becomes possible

Stateless societies pushed to periphery Increased interaction among cultures

States Form in 3 Regions

Ethiopia

Sudan

C. African Forests

Swahili Coast

(E. Africa)

…but along came Islam

Ethiopia

Sudan(West Africa)

C. African Forests

Swahili Coast

(E. Africa)

Islamic North Africa

Traditional Society Kinship = central to social & political life

Stateless: societies with government based on family & community not taxes & centrality

Animism = religion of many natural spirits w/ rituals for ancestors & land

Women enjoy freedomsClearly defined roles but economic

contributors, source of lineage, free to socialize

Early States

Influenced by location on periphery of Mediterranean

Agriculture & Christianity in:

Nubia Ethiopia

Ethiopia

Sudanic West Africa Home of: Ghana, Mali, Songhay Empires

Strategically located to profit from trade

Islamic empire = dawn of new international trade

Muslims introduce camel → trans-Saharan trade easier

Sudanic West Africa Empires:

Territorial core w/ subordinate tributaries

Highly bureaucratic political administration

Emphasized justice & crime punishment Trading states

80% of population = farmersGold (goes North) for salt, horses, cloth,

manufactured goods

Sudanic West Africa - Mali Sundiata

Founder

Mansa MusaFamous hajj brought attention of Islamic

world to Mali

Social & Political Blending Islam ↔ slow conversions

Foothold mainly w/ ruler, elites, merchantsRulers = Muslim (probably for alliances)

but provide leadership of animistic ritualsSharia:

common laws & expectations for merchants

does not apply to women Tradition of slavery expands under

Muslim trade networks

Swahili East Coast Home of: Mogadishu, Kilwa, Sofala

Strategically located to profit from trade

Islamic empire intensifies Indian Ocean trade

Monsoons provide seasonal transportation route

to Arabia

to S Asia

to SE Asia

Swahili East Coast City-states trading goods from central

Africa to Arabs, Indians, MalayPort cities cosmopolitan, but unified by

SwahiliIvory, gold, iron, slaves to coast for silks &

porcelain Highly urbanized, wealthy, luxurious Kilwa

“One of the most beautiful & well-constructed towns in the world”

Central Africa Home of: Benin, Kongo, Zimbabwe

Strategically located to profit from trade

Source of goods traded in East & West Africa

No direct contact with Muslims

C. African Forests

Central Africa Kongo

Agricultural with highly divided gender roles

Extremely well-organized government

ZimbabweComplex stone structures