Transcript Chapter 6, Lesson 2: Africa’s Governments and Religions

Chapter 6, Lesson 2:
Africa’s Governments
and Religions
It Matters Because:
Ancient African societies showed the effects of
government disputes, traditional African beliefs,
and Islam
African Rulers and Society
• Many African kings were close to the common people
• Rulers in Ghana called people to a village council with a drum
• Anyone with a concern could speak to the king with respect
• Powerful trading empires developed strong central
governments with powerful kings
• Kings settled disputes, controlled trade, defended the empire
• Merchants paid taxes, and received trading favor from the king
Ghana’s Government
• Kings were strong rulers and active in running empire
• Helped by advisors
• As empire grew, it was divided into territories called
provinces
• Provinces were divided into districts, villages, and clans
• Clan – group of people from the same ancestor
• Power was transferred from the king to the son of the king’s
sister
Mali’s Government
• Similar to Ghana, but bigger
• Mali controlled more territory, more people, & conducted more
trade
• Strong central government, divided into provinces, like Ghana
• Generals ruled & protected the provinces
• Mansa Musa was Mali’s most powerful king
• Won loyalty by giving gifts to his subjects
• Awarded military heroes with trousers (pants) because only king
and his family could wear clothing that was sewn
Songhai’s Government
• Copied governments of Ghana and Mali
• General Muhammad Ture was greatest emperor
• Divided empire into provinces and maintained
peace with cavalry and strong navy
Traditional African Religions
• Most African groups believed in a single creator God
• Different groups practiced beliefs differently
• Yoruba of W. Africa believed creator God sent his son to earth in a canoe & son created
first humans
• Many African slaves in the Americas believed this
• Ashanti people (Ghana) believed chief God had sons who were lesser gods
• African beliefs provided rules for living, helped people honor history and
ancestors
• Africans also relied on religion to protect from harm and promise success
• Kings used diviners to guarantee good harvests and protect kingdom
• Diviner – person with the power to see the future and communicate with the spirit
world
Islam Arrives in Africa
• About 700, Berber and Muslim traders introduced Islam to W. Africa
• African rulers allowed subjects to covert to Islam and eventually converted
themselves
• By 1500, most of Africa south of the Sahara was Muslim
• Ibn Battuta, an Arab lawyer, traveled to W. Africa in 1352
• Was impressed by the religious enthusiasm of native Africans who
practiced Islam
Journey of Mansa Musa
• Allowed his subjects religious freedom, but was devoted to
Islam
• Used empire’s wealth to build mosques and libraries
• 1324, Mansa Musa made his hajj to Mecca
• On his journey, he gave two tons of gold to the poor (about $72
million today)
• Brought Muslim scholars from Mecca back to Mali to spread Islam
in W. Africa
Islam in Songhai
• King Sunni Ali converted to Islam to keep loyalty of
merchants
• His son refused to accept Islam
• A general, Muhammad Ture, took over government
• Songhai became W. Africa’s largest trading empire
• Became center for Islamic learning
• Songhai fell to Moroccan invaders in 1591
Islam in East Africa
• Islam spread slowly in E. Africa
• In 1100s, new culture known as Swahili emerged
• Swahili – Arabic term meaning “people of the coast”
• Swahili came to mean both the culture of these
people and their language
• Swahili language and culture still thrive in Africa
Legacy of Islam in Africa
• African Islam is unique in many ways
• Most women outside of Egypt do not wear veils
• Quran is available in languages other than Arabic
• Islam affected laws and ideas
• Islam influenced art and architecture