Denton Independent School District / Overview



Amicus Brief AfricaUnited Nations World Court of Historical AffairsPost-Classical Situation ReportThe United Nations is charged with the maintenance and order of world affairs. Keeping in line with this mission to provide stability and justice in the world the UN Council on Historical Affairs has compiled the following brief to serve as an overview of cultural affairs on the planet from 600 C.E. to 1450 C.E.The UNWCHA will be charged with hearing evidence from the seven regions of the planet outlining their behaviors in creating frameworks of socio-cultural behaviors to provide for their people. In the interest of full disclosure this amicus brief will provide litigation teams with all information already gathered by the court on each of the seven cultures. The following is that evidence.The History of people on the African continent is fascinating and our understanding of it is growing dramatically.? African history, like Africa, is best understood by dividing Africa into regions.? Northern African history is unique because of the importance of the Egyptian culture to the ancient world and because of the influence of Islam starting about 650 and continuing through today.? Eastern Africa is best known for Axum which was the first Christian region in Africa and the development of the Swahili culture in the city states of the east coast of Africa.? South Africa is the home to many great tribes, the stone city of Great Zimbabwe and the eventual settlement by the Dutch and English who exploited the region for its natural resources.? Finally, western Africa is known for the great civilizations of Ghana, Mali and Songhai.? Each of these states was an important trading center for gold, salt and selling slaves into north Africa and eventually to the Europeans in the Americas.?Since much of African history has been shared through oral storytelling, historians have been slow to understand and fully appreciate the inventions, culture, and complexity of political life throughout Africa.Ghana Dynasty: 600 - 1200 ADCamels Camels came to Egypt from Arabia, 7th century B.C.E.Romans introduced them to North Africa, patrolled desert After 500 C.E. camels replaced horses, donkeys as transport animals Camels' arrival quickened pace of communication across the Sahara Islamic merchants crossed the desert to trade in West AfricaEstablished relations with sub-Saharan West Africa by 8th century The kingdom of Ghana Kings maintained a large army of two hundred thousand warriorsA principal state of west Africa, not related to modern state of Ghana Became the most important commercial site in west Africa Controlled gold minesExchanged gold with nomads for saltProvided gold, ivory, and slavesWanted horses, cloth, manufactured goods Koumbi-Saleh Capital cityThriving commercial center Islam in Africa North AfricaArab armies conquered region by early 8th Century; pushed up NileMass conversions of local inhabitants due to tax incentivesWest AfricaIntroduced by Trans-Saharan Trade routeMerchants were greatest contact with Islam Local rulers, elites converted by 10th centuryGave elites control of trade, many benefits Allowed people to observe traditional beliefsNomadic Berbers in North Africa Berbers and Arabs were bitter rivalsArabs settled coastlands, citiesBerbers lived in deserts, mountainsBerbers became puritanical Muslim, Shia Berber fanatics invaded Ghana, MoroccoGhana weakened, fell 10th century CEElite religion vs. common practicesMost people remained polytheists especially outside of cities, townsProduced syncretic blend such as accommodation of African gender normsAfter conversion by elites, old beliefs remained; part of inherited traditionsReligion introduced writing, literary traditionsMali Dynasty: 1200 - 1450 ADMandike PeoplesGhana was established by Mandika Mandika established many small statesMost people were animistsMerchants and ruling elites became MuslimsRise of the Kingdom Ghana dissolved but its peoples remainedPolitical leadership shifted to Mali empire, another Mandika state The lion prince Sundiata (reigned 1230-55) built the Mali empireRuling elites, families converted to Islam after his death The Mali Empire and trade Controlled gold, salt; Taxed almost all trade passing through west Africa Enormous caravans linked Mali to north Africa Besides Niani, many prosperous cities on caravan routes Sundiata The original lion king Reigned 1230-55 and built the Mali empireHis “Epic”Sundiata, a Legend of Old MaliAn oral tradition in West Africa until 1904Final recorded as Africa’s first epicDisney borrowed the epic but placed it in East AfricaMansa Musa Sundiata's grand nephew, reigned from 1312 to 1337 Made his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324-1325 Gargantuan caravan of thousand soldiers and attendants Gold devalued 25% in Cairo during his visit Mansa Musa and Islam Upon return to Mali, built mosques Sent students to study with Islamic scholars in North Africa Established Islamic schools in Mali Established University at TimbuktuThe decline of Mali Factions crippled the central governmentRise of province of Gao as rival to Mali Military pressures from neighboring kingdoms, desert nomads Songhai EmpireOrigins Sorko fishermen of Niger became merchantsJoined Gao state (part of Malian Empire)Mali could never collect taxes from Gao RiseSonni Ali the Great built cavalry, war fleetDisputed Mali, conquer TimbuktuAnti-Muslim: saw them as a threatZenithAskia Muhammad seized power after Sonni’s deathDevout Muslim, promoted Islam; launched jihads Visited Cairo, Mecca; promoted Songhai to MuslimsDeclared Caliph of the SudanBuilt centralized state using Muslim jurists as advisorsTradition and TradeMaintained tribal rituals of sacred drum, sacred fire, dressPrivileged caste craftsmen; slaves important in agricultureTraded kola nuts, gold, slaves for horses, salt, luxuries, finished goodsFallCivil war erupted in 16th centuryDrought, desertification hurt economy, Diseases spreadMoroccan Empire invades and destroys state in order to control gold trade Kanem-BornuOriginsSituated north east of Lake Chad. In 11th century, Sefawa dynasty was establishedShift in lifestyle From entirely nomadic to pastoralist way of life with agricultureState became more centralized with capital at Njimi; maintained large cavalryIslam and TradeKanem converted to Islam under Hu or Hawwa (1067-71). Faith was not widely embraced until the 13th century. Muslim traders played a role in bringing Islam to Kanem Wealth of Kanem derived from ability of rulers to control tradeMain exports were ostrich feathers, slaves and ivory; imported horses, luxuries Exports were crucial to their power, ability to dominate neighbors A ChangeCombination of overgrazing, dynastic uncertainties, attacks from neighbors Rulers of Kanem to move to Borno, state now referred to as Kanem-Borno New contacts with Hausa of Nigeria; capital becomes center of knowledge, tradeArmy modernized by trade with Muslim, Turks: acquired firearmsDecline was long, gradual and peaceful: fell in the 19th centuryBantu MigrationsThe Bantu Migration Begun during Classical PeriodMovement to South, along Southeast and Southwest coasts Languages differentiated into 500 distinct but related tongues Occupied most of sub-Saharan Africa by 1000 C.E.Split into groups as they migrated: Eastern, CentralSouthern group developed most in Post-Classical AgeBantu spread iron, herding technologies as they moved Bananas Between 300/500 C.E., Malay seafarers reached AfricaSettled in Madagascar, visited East African coastBrought with them pigs, taro, and banana cultivation Bananas became well-established in Africa by 500 C.E. Bantu learned to cultivate bananas from MalagasyBananas caused second population spurt, migration surgeBantu reached South Africa in 16th century CE Kingdom of KongoSources of HistoryUntil 16th century it was oralLater Catholic priests, European visitors wrote down the historyEarly HistoryIn first centuries CE evidence of farming, iron making in areaVillages formed small states along the Congo River, 1000 C.E. Small states formed several larger principalities, 1200 C.E. A Dynasty arose and gradually built up its authorityAround 1375 CE two small states and elite groups made an allianceAround 1400 CE the official kingdom was founded through conquest Kingdom of Kongo Expansion by marriage, agreement, diplomacy and warKings had right to appoint, remove officialsCould veto appointments by tributary states, kings Maintained a centralized government Royal currency system based on shells High concentration of population due to rich foodstuffs, tradeKongo’s SocietyPolitical StructureKing was hereditary within a dynasty but elected by high officialsSeveral villages were grouped in smaller statesSmaller states were grouped into provincesHereditary nobles controlled some provincesNobles were either allies or relativesSmaller states and provinces were revenue assignments for noblesLater with European arrival, duchies, marguisates, counties formedKing appointed nobility to these positionsSocial and Economic StructureThe smallest unit was the villageCommunal ownership of land, collective farmsEach villager had to pay an annual tax in kindEach year the local administrator had to account to king for financeVast trade network Natural resources, ivory, cloth, pottery, slavesManufactured and traded copperware, ferrous metal goodsArmyMassed archers, foot soldiers; soldiers drafted from populationSome carried weapons, some worked as porters, laborersAround 1500 civil war became more important than intra-state warSlavery in AfricaMost slaves were captives of war, debtors, criminals Kept for local use or sold in slave marketsOften used as domestic laborers especially agricultural workersGenerally not a social stigma attachedSlaves could receive freedom, become part of family, tribeChildren born to slaves were not slaves Slave trading Slave trade increased after the 11th century CEPrimary marketsAcross Sahara to North Africa and Egypt and ultimately ArabiaOut of East Africa to Arabia and Middle EastIn some years, 10 to 12 thousand slaves shipped out of AfricaMales preferred, could also act as carriers of trade goods 10 million slaves transported by Islamic trade between 750/1500Demand for slaves outstripped supply from eastern EuropeOriginal slaves preferred in Muslim world were Caucasian SlavsWord “slave” comes from Slav Slave raids against smaller states, stateless societiesMuslims could not be used as slaves (Quran) yet often ignoredEarly African ReligionCreator god Recognized by almost all African peoples Created the earth and humankind, source of world order Lesser gods and spirits Often associated with natural features, forces in world Participated actively in the workings of the world Believed in ancestors' souls influencing material worldDiviners Mediated between humanity and supernatural beingsCalled shamans and inappropriately “witch doctors” Interpreted the cause of the people's misfortune Used medicine or rituals to eliminate problems African religion was not theological, but practicalReligion to placate the gods, ask for assistance, cures, fertilityPublic celebrations inc. dancing, singing formed communityGenders honored different deities, had separate ceremonies Swahili City-StatesIntermarriage of the Bantu and the Arab produced SwahiliAn Arabic term, meaning "coasters" Dominated east African coast from Mogadishu to Sofala Swahili is a Bantu language mixed with Arabic The Swahili city-states Chiefs gained power through taxing trade on ports Developed into city-states ruled by kings, 11th-12th centuriesControlled trade from interior: slaves, gold, ivory, spicesExchanged goods for finished goods, cloths, dyes, luxuriesCraftsmen, artisans, clerks were MuslimsSlaves used for domestic, agricultureZanzibar clove plantations needed slaves Kilwa One of the busiest city-states Multistory stone buildings, mosques, schoolsIssued copper coins from the 13th centuryBy 15th century, exported ton of gold per yearMerchants from India, China, Arabia visitedIslam in East Africa Ruling elite and wealthy merchants converted to Islamic faith Conversion promoted close cooperation with Muslim merchantsConversion also opened door to political alliances with Muslim rulers Great ZimbabweSouth Central AfricaWooded and grass savannahsRich in minerals especially copper, goldBantu herders, ironsmiths found it wonderfulZimbabwe A powerful kingdom of Central Africa arose in 13th centuryFrom 5th centuries C.E. built wooden residences known as Zimbabwe By the 9th century began to build stone Zimbabwe Magnificent stone complex known as Great Zimbabwe, the 12th century 18,000 people lived in Great Zimbabwe in the late 15th century Kings and wealthOrganized flow of gold, ivoryTrade include slavesCounted wealth in cattle, tooTraded with Swahili city-states ................
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