Transcript Cultural Blending in Africa

African Empires
#1: Point out 3 things about the map
Bantu Migration
3,000 BC - Farmers, herders
Known for: Iron working, slash and burn
Over 1,500 yrs, they migrated to S. Africa
Cultural blending:
Swahili – Arabic and Persian & Bantu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUdR
SDcDQlY
#2: Think about synchronized swimming
Then, infer what religious syncretism means.
Religion in Africa
 Animism –
 The belief that spirits are present in animals, plants, and
other natural objects
 Islam –
 Spread into Northern Africa through trade and conquest
 Christianity –
 Brought into the Kingdom of Aksum
 Religious Syncretism –
 Blending of religions
#3: Locate the Sahara desert.
What would be worth the travel across the
desert to trade?
Trans Saharan Trade
 Forests in West Africa – deposits of gold
 However, lacked salt
 Sahara desert rich in salt
 Cultural blending
#4. Draw the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali,
and Songhai.
Ghana
Became rich from taxing traders
Commanded an army and
controlled trade
Influenced by Islam
Muslim Almoravids conquered
and disrupted Ghana’s trade
#5. What was the artist trying to portray in
this picture?
Mali
 New gold found east of Ghana
 Twice size of Ghana
 Sundiata – first great warrior leader of Mali
 Mansa Musa – ruler of Mali who went on hajj
 Gave away enormous amounts of gold
 Europeans learned of Mali’s wealth
 Timbuktu – famous city in Mali, mosques,
universities
#6. What can you infer from the names of
two famous Songhai leaders below?
Songhai
 New gold fields developed eastward
 Sunni Ali - military leader who expanded
territory
 Conquered Timbuktu
 Askia Muhammad – took over after Ali’s son
was not a Muslim
 Led empire at its peak
#7. Predict how Songhai might fall.
(The last of the West African Empries)
The Fall
 Songhai lacked modern weapons
 1304 – Arabs developed first gun
 1591 – Moroccan army invaded
Songhai with gunpowder and cannons
 Ended a 1,000 year period of powerful
West African kingdoms