Medieval Africa

1
Medieval Africa

• Mali Axum

2
Bantu

• 2500 B.C. Desertification
• Migration of farmers 1000BCE-1000CE
• Bantu language
• Spread culture (farming, ironworking and
  domestication of animals) to southern Africa

3
Trade 800-1600

• Villages near rivers and Lake Chad produce a
  surplus
• Surplus produce more
• than they needed
• Trade routes linking savanna to forest lands in
  south then across Sahara

4
West Africa

• Caravans crossed Sahara trading
• Leather goods
• Kola Nuts
• Cotton Cloth
• Slaves

5
North Africa

• Arabs and Berbers traded
• Silk
• Metal
• Beads
• Horses
• Slaves

6
2 Commodities

• Gold and Salt dominated Saharan trade
• Gold widely available in
• Ghana
• Nigeria
• Senegal
• 500-1600 eight tons of gold removed from these
  areas

7

• Salt
• Important in diet
• Preservative
• Sahara abundant in salt

8
MAP
9
Ghana

• Niger and Senegal Rivers
• Soninke People
• Kumbi Saleh Capital
• Islam became an influence
• Lose control to Mali

10
(No Transcript)
11
Mali

• Sundiata- 1235Ce
• Mandinka People
• Founded Mali
• Mansa Musa 1312
• Greatest Ruler
• Converts to Islam 1324 Hajj
• Promotes Islamic education
• Brings back scholars, architects, and teachers
• University at Timbuktu

12
EAST AFRICA - Axum

• Modern day Ethiopia to Eritrea
• 100 B.C.E to 1 C.E.
• Trade with Rome and Persia
• From Red Sea port of Adulis
• Capital of Empire
• Triangular trade with Africa, India,
• Mediterranean World
• 350 CE King Ezana
• Adulis Capital

13

• Markets of Adulis
• Iron
• Spices
• Precious Stones
• Cotton

14

• Axum converts to Christianity in 300 C.E.
• King Ezanza makes Christianity the official
  religion
• Eventually isolated from Europe
• Empire weakens civil wars

15
(No Transcript)
16
Ethiopia

• King Lalibela early 1200s
• Building of 11 remarkable churches
• Carved from Mountains
• Holy Lands
• Jewish tradition
• Queen Sheba