Early History of Sub-Saharan Africa

African Kingdoms & Empires: A Preview

• Ghana cultural hearth • Large, effectively organized states existed in Africa for centuries before European contact • The Great Bantu migration – Occurred in waves starting about 5000 years ago

Ghana: The Kingdom of Gold

• First great W. African trading empire (A.D. 700) • Gold was VERY plentiful here = $$$$$$$ • Practiced traditional African religions, but very tolerant of Muslim traders (to the north) • Power came from ability to use iron weapons to control

gold and salt trade

–

Taxed all trade —tax collection system put into place

• Weakened w/ Berber attacks  enter Islam

SALT Berbers GOLD

CAMEL CARAVANS!

Kingdom of Mali

• Rose to power after Ghana (about twice the size) • Most powerful under rule of

Mansa Musa

• Also became rich from the gold-for-salt trade • Encouraged Islam (officials had to read/write in Arabic) –

Made the hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia

The Great Mosque at Djienne, Mali

Timbuktu & Major Trade Routes

Songhai Empire

• Replaced Mali gradually • Islam became official religion • Expansion of lands • Ended in 1600s

Bantu Migrations

• Had already established societies in central & southern Africa during the “empire period” in the north • Historians estimated that Bantu spread over 1/3 of continent  CULTURAL DIFFUSION – Founded central African kingdoms (kingdom of Kongo/Congo) –

60 to 150 million people speak a Bantu language today!

• Absorbed other people into their society as they spread • Iron tools allowed more efficient work • Established colony-like states –

Modern-day Tanzania, Malawi & Zimbabwe

Swahili Trading States

• Swahili is a Bantu language • Traded gold, slaves, ivory, leopard skins, etc. with Persia, India, & China • City development

Another Bantu grp. (Shona)

European Arrival

• Europeans began trading with Africans in 1200s, brought gold to Europe • Major European exploration in Sub Saharan Africa began in the 15th century • Europeans set up trading posts, where enslaved Africans were held for transport •

Why not the interior?????????

• Portuguese ships groped their way around the coast looking for a quick way to the Orient.

• Vasco de Gama: Opened up a route from Europe to India through the Cape of Good Hope; eventually made a 3500% profit on spices found in India 

Triangular Trade

The Slave Trade

Berlin Conference: 1884

• How did the Industrial Rev. impact colonialism in Africa?

–

Need cheap labor, raw materials, new markets, and competition b/w countries

• Why was the Berlin Conf. called?

–

Settle territorial disputes, controlling slave trade, humanitarian work promotion

–

Really just to divvy up continent

• What was the doctrine of “effective occupation”?

–

To own coastal land, had to prove you were capable of protecting freedom of trade & transit (wealthy and powerful enough to handle it). “Sphere of Influence”

Berlin Conference: A Summary

• 14 European powers divided up Africa without any consideration of cultures • Result of boundaries: –

African peoples divided

– – –

Hostile societies thrown together Migration routes cut off Weakening of culture

• By 1914, all but two areas (Liberia & Ethiopia) were colonized by the Europeans

Which two European powers ruled much of Sub Saharan Africa?

• •

British French

AFRICAN INDEPENDENCE

• Really took off after WWII – weakening of Europeans • Used Africans for military • Larger group of educated Africans have on independence?

 what impact did this

Colonial Legacy: Set Up for Failure

• Weakened African traditions – imposed own culture (“civilizing”) • Antagonism between tribes • Low level of development *most rely on a single crop or mineral – plantations, mines, etc.

• Authoritarian governments *Europeans did not allow opportunities for Africans to participate in government, never knew democratic rule. - political corruption, lack of respect for rule of law