African Empires –

Chapter 15

North and Central African

Societies

Hunting/Gathering Societies

• Forest Dwellers– The Efe (pronounced

‘AY-fay’)• Ituri Forest in Congo• Large group of 10-

100 extended family • Women gather, men

hunt

• Social Structure– Group Leader –

Elder male

Efe Tribe – Central Africa (exist in modern day)

Stateless Societies• No government organizations• All structure based on families• Lineage– Igbo (pronounced ‘IHG-boh’) – West Africa– Patrilineal– Matrilineal

• Age-set System

Muslim States• Islam swept N. Africa in late 600s• Maghrib• Almoravid Empire

– Founded by Abd Allah Ibn Yasin in 11th Century– Western Sahara– Berber Muslims– Began conquests in late 11th Cent.

• Captured Ghana in W. Africa and S. Spain (called Moors)

• Almohads– Overran Almoravids in mid 1100s– Founded by Ibn Tumart– Believed Almoravids swayed from Islamic law and wanted to return to the Quran– Marrakech capital (like Almoravids)– United Maghrib under one rule for first time

Almoravid1040-1147

Almohad1121 - 1269

West African Civilizations

Ghana• 700-1076• Camels revolutionize trade• Soninke people • Gold-salt Trade• Islamic influences– 11th Century

• 1076 – Conquered by Almoravids– Also address of Saint

Ignatius!

Mali• 1235 – 1400s• Emerges South of Ghana• Gold deposits to East

(near Mali)• Sundiata (pronounced

‘sunjahtah’)• Mansa Musa• Ibn Battu • Empire crumbles in

1400s

Songhai• 1400s – 1591• Gao becomes Songhai capital• Sunni Ali• Askia Muhammad• Downfall….– Lack of modern weapons– 1304 – Arabs develop

gunpowder (Chinese had it in 9th Cent.)

– 1591 – Songhai defeated by Moroccans

Homework• Read 12.1 on China and 12.4 on Japan• Write a 1-2 page paper, comparing China with

African kingdoms with Japan. One section on the similarities between the civilizations, one section on the differences. Be sure to include an introduction and conclusion. Hard copy of this paper is due on the day we return from Thanksgiving Break – Monday Dec. 2nd