AFRICAN KINGDOMS DURING THE MIDDLE AGES The Axum

AFRICAN KINGDOMS DURING THE MIDDLE AGES

The Axum Kingdom: Geography ◦ The Axum Kingdom was located in eastern Africa (modern-day Ethiopia) ◦ The Axum were located in the Ethiopian Highlands, the Red Sea, and the southern portion of the Nile River

The Axum Kingdom: Historical Significance ◦ The Axum’s location along the Red Sea connected trade routes between the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean ◦ The Axum specialized in the Ivory trade ◦ The Axum adopted Christianity from the Roman Empire around 330 CE (AD) ◦ Believed to have possessed the Ark of the Covenant ◦ Pilgrimage site for Christian’s today ◦ Their political and economic power was weakened by Arab conquests in the 7 th Century CE (AD)

The Kingdom of Zimbabwe: Geography ◦ The Kingdom of Zimbabwe was located in Southern Africa along the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers ◦ Zimbabwe’s location provides easy access to the Indian Ocean ◦ The capital city of this Kingdom was known as “Great Zimbabwe”

The Kingdom of Zimbabwe: Historical Significance ◦ Zimbabwe was a prosperous (rich) empire that dominated the gold and ivory trade in Southern Africa ◦ The empire that developed was a vital trade link to Asia and the Arabic states ◦ Zimbabwe is probably best known for their advancements in masonry ◦ Stone buildings and walls

West African Kingdoms: Background ◦ The West African Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai dominated trade and cultural interactions in the region from 3001600 CE (AD) ◦ These Kingdoms were located along the Niger River and Sahara Desert

West African Civilizations: Ghana (300 -1200 CE) ◦ Ghana was a trading post empire along the Trans-Saharan Trade Routes ◦ They traded gold and crops for salt and metal tools and weapons ◦ Around the 9 th Century they adopted Islam ◦ Around the 11 th Century the empire disbanded into small decentralized states and would eventually be incorporated into the Empire of Mali

West African Civilizations: Mali (1200 -1500 CE) ◦ Mali succeeded the Ghana Empire and expanded upon their territory ◦ They defeated their rival Ghana ◦ Mali reaches its greatest height under the king Mansa Musa ◦ He built the capital city of Timbuktu ◦ Contributed to the spread of Islam: he built mosques and completed the hajj ◦ Mali would be conquered by tribes along the Sahara Desert and would later become part of the Songhai Empire

The Mali Capital of Timbuktu ◦ Timbuktu flourished due to the gold, salt, ivory and slave trade ◦ Timbuktu became a center of Muslim culture ◦ Many mosques were built here ◦ Universities and libraries were established to preserve Islamic culture ◦ After the fall of Mali, their conquerors and later civilizations made Timbuktu their capital city

West African Civilizations: Songhai (1400 -1600 CE) ◦ King Sunni Ali ◦ Muslim king of Songhai ◦ He recaptured Timbuktu and expanded Songhai territory ◦ Askia Muhammad ◦ Ruled during the Golden Age of the Songhai ◦ Made Timbuktu the cultural capital of Islam ◦ Instituted Sharia Law in Songhai

Sharia Law ◦ Sharia Law is a sacred legal system based on the prophecies of Muhammad ◦ Found in the Qur’an and Hadiths ◦ The laws that citizens follow derive from god, not from a political body ◦ Sharia Law is practiced differently for Sunni’s and Shiite Muslims and is implemented differently throughout modern nations

Islam in Western Africa ◦ Islam is the dominate religion in Western and Northern Africa ◦ The development of Islam in Africa differed from that of the Middle-East ◦ In Africa forms of animism and mysticism were added ◦ Carried over from previous traditional African religions ◦ Sufism (a mystical form of Islam) is commonly found in Africa

African Kingdoms Map Key: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

African Kingdoms Map Key: Nile Rive r Niger River 1) Ghana 2) Mali 3) Songhai 4) 5) Zambezi River Limpopo River Axum Zimbabwe