The Mongols and Africa
Chapter 7 - Part 2
Mongol Empire
Mongol Empire
Attacked: China Byzantium Russia Muslim Regions
Live in steppes (grassy plains of Central Asia) Home to many nomadic tribes Food for their herds/flocks
Largest empire in history More territory in 25 years than Roman Empire in 400
years
Mongols
Conquered all of China
Overtook Muslim states
Well organized
army
Ended Abbasid
Dynasty & Seljuk Turks
Expert horsemen
Vicious attacks on
villages
Genghis Khan “Universal Ruler”
United all Mongols under one rule
Believed he had divine commission to conquer the world
Well organized army that moved at lightning speed
Had lots of wives and children
Yuan Dynasty (1279 – 1368)
Kublai Khan (grandson of Genghis Khan)Conquered all of China
Established Yuan Dynasty in ChinaMoved capital to modern day BeijingBuilt highways or trade and communication Invited foreign scholars, artists, missionaries,
merchants, engineers into ChinaEmployed them in government positionsExcluded Chinese from government positions
After death, empire breaks apart
Chinese drive out Mongols in 1368 Establish Ming Dynasty Government control back in Chinese hands Adopt isolationist and anti foreign attitude Closed China to outsiders
Marco Polo visited China Lived there for 17 years First time Europeans learned about life in China
Golden Horde in Russia
Bhatu Khan (another grandson of Genghis Khan) Leads Mongols into Europe (Hungary & Poland) Europeans call them “Tartars” (Greek word for hell)
Ruled in Russia for 200 years Tribute from Russian people Recruits for their army Russian ties with Western Europe and Byzantine
Empire are weakened Moscow grows into powerful capital
Reasons for Moscow’s Growth in Importance
1. Center of inland waterways
2. Location good for trade and defense
3. Leaders of Moscow cooperated with Mongols Tax collectors for Mongols Mongols allowed them limited authority
4. Became religious center (head of church move from Kiev)
As Moscow grows in power, Mongol power decreases 14th century princes openly challenge Mongol overlords Ivan III (1462- 1505)
Refused to pay tribute to Mongols 1480- throw out Mongols Autocratic ruler of independent state of Russia
Tamerlane Empire
Late 14th century
Claimed to be descendant of Genghis Khan (merciless & cruel)
Wanted to rebuild Mongol Empire
Raised army and began new wave of invasions Captured Damascus and Baghdad Defeated Ottoman Turks Weakened Golden Horde (*Helped Russian independence) Entered India 1398
Destroyed capital – Delhi Killed 100,00 people Died while planning to invade China
Mughal Empire
Babur (“The Tiger”) Descendant of Genghis Khan and Tamerlane Leader of Turkish Mongol tribes in Afghanistan 1526- establish Mughal dynasty at Delhi, India
Mughal Empire
Religious Tolerance
Muslim Rulers
Reforms for People
Increased Indian Unity Establishe
d law and order
Fostered achieveme
nt in the arts
Akbar = greatest leader
AfricaSub-Saharan Africa
2nd largest continent
4 times the size of USA
• contact between Sub-Saharan Africa and Eurasia limited by the Sahara Desert.
• One major consequence = lack of access to the innovations of Southwest Asia• agriculture, writing, smelting, and the wheel
• Agriculture reached Africa in first centuries AD (elsewhere started 3000 BC)• Cities developed in Middle Ages AD
Ancient African Kingdoms
Kush (Northern Sudan) Originally part of Egyptian Empire Overthrew Egypt rulers 700 BC Took control over Egypt and made their own pharaohs Eventually fell to Aksum
Aksum (Axum) Embraced Christianity Missionary from Syria Frumentius Traded with Roman Empire, control Red Sea Trade Later becomes country of Ethiopia
Central Africa Middle Ages
Kanem Bornu (800 – 1846) around Lake Chad Part of camel caravan trade Strong military force
Western Africa Ghana MaliSonghai
- Wealth from gold mines- Caravan trade route- Niger River proximity
Western Africa Middle Ages
1. Ghana- 700-1200 Attacked by Muslims and weakened
2. Mali- 1200 – 1500 Mansa Musa (most famous king) Muslim, pilgrimage to Mecca
Took 60,000 people with him 10,000 pounds of gold
Timbuktu = capital Africa’s most important center of trade
3. Songhai Larger than Ghana and Mali Sought after wealth, not military power Moroccans invaded 1591 and ended empire
Eastern African City-States
East Coast of Africa had many important trading ports Each port an important city state Since time of roman empire still thriving today Outlets for ivory, gold, iron and animal skins
Shared similar culture: Arab Persian African
Shared similar language: Swahili
Prospered for centuries until pressure from Europeans & interior tribes
Kilwa- “ one of most beautiful and well constructed towns of the world”
Flourished between 1100-1500 AD
Received goods from inland tribes; sold them to Arab sea traders
Grew in wealth and culture
Benin- Forest Kingdom
Southern Nigeria flourished 1300s-1800s
Provided goods for eastern cities to sell
Produced fine statues and relief sculptures in bronze
African Culture
Family – basic social unit Polygamy was common Family Clan Tribe (Ethnic Group)
Religion Areas of Christianity and Islam Tribal Religions = One big god, many smaller gods
Human sacrifice to keep gods happy
Livelihood Farming/herding Trading- gold, ivory, animal skins
Europeans sail into port cities to trade Slave trade demands more slaves
Main reason for European contact with Africa after 1500s