Chapter 7: African Civilizations and the Spread of Islam

• Politically decentralized societies 


  African societies that form around kinship or obligation which means there is a lack of political power. These societies tended to be more egalitarian and less hierarchical.
• Maghrib


  Western North Africa. Islam took ahold of this area, bringing the Mediterranean closer together.
• Sahel


  Northern grassland region of Sub-Saharan Africa. Many powerful states emerged that fuse Islam with African traditions.
• Sudamic 


  A major African language spoken from Ethiopia to Senegal. The states that formed usually had a patriarch and used Islam to reinforce it.
• Juula


  Malinke merchants that formed small partnership for trade throughout the Mali Empire. Improved trade in the Mali Empire.
• Sundiata


  The "Lion Prince" who united the Mali Empire. He was considered the one who created the social arrangements.
• griots


  Oral historians that keep traditions and advised kings. They recorded (orally) many stories.
• Timbuktu


  The port city of Mali. The Sankore mosque in Timbuktu contained many books (knowledge) and had a good book trade.
• Songhay


  The successor state of Mali. The army expanded boundaries of the empire.
• Muhammad the Great


  Muslim ruler of Songhay in 16th century. He expanded the boundaries of the Songhay Empire.
• Hausa


  People of now Northern Nigeria and formed states following the fall of Songhay Empire. Combined Muslim and pagan traditions.
• Sharia


  The name for Islamic law. Very patriarchic for Islamic inheritance which clashes with African tradition.
• Benin

  A powerful city-state free of European influence. Many celebrations of kingship and famous bronze and ivories.
• demography


  The study of population. Helps historians better understand what tech and practices were used in each time period.
• Demographic transition


  The shift to low birth rate, low infant death rate, stable population. First emerged in Western Europe and the United States.
• Kongo


  Agriculture based kingdom on lower Congo River. Much trade and central power spread.
• Great Zimbabwe


  Bantu Confederation between Zambezi and Limpopo. In the center of the kingdom, it had religious importance.
• The government is often organized based on kinship, but Islamic influence of unity power of state and religion and appealed to rulers. Sub-Saharan Africa encouraged specialized trade. They had an animalistic religion with witchcraft and believed their ancestors own the land they live in.
• The governments were inspired by Islamic ideals, which led to an interesting blend of cultures. The economy in Mali was based on agriculture and trade. Which made them rich. Life was not centered on royal courts.
• The cities of East Africa were very integrated into international commerce because they were near the coast. They even traded with China. Islamic influence promoted long distance commerce.
• Small city states ruled by regional kings controlled subjects through princes. Some places were still organized by village committees. In Kongo, rulers were hereditary (kinship).