Ch 3 Sec 2 Notes Africas Religion Government

Ch. 3, Sec. 2 Notes – Africa’s Religion & Government

Traditional African Religion • Most African groups believe in a supreme god • Hold different beliefs on how one can talk to god • Some believed people can speak directly while to God while others believe that smaller Gods and Goddesses were necessary

Islam and Africa • Easily reached Africa from Arabia • Islam was more popular in the cities as it aided rulers and merchants trying to trade with Arabs • Swahili language and culture a mixture of East African and Arabic influences

Ibn Battuta • Arab lawyer from Morocco • Covered 73, 000 miles in 30 years (1325 -55 AD) • Came to West Africa in 1352 • Much of what Europeans, then and now, have learned of Medieval West Africa come from his extensive writings

Mansa Musa • Ruled Mali from 1312 – 1337 • World famous for massive pilgrimage to Makkah in 1324 • Gave out so much gold in Cairo the price dropped and did not recover for 12 years • Set up libraries, built mosques for Islam in West Africa; additionally, he brought scholars and architects back to Mali

Government in West Africa • Anybody can openly complain to the King • Ghana – no one can trade without King’s permission; only King can own gold nuggets, most trade in gold dust • Ghana, property passes to son of king’s sister • Mali, “National Honor of the Trousers”