Africa and the Atlantic World
Chapter 26 –Africa and the Atlantic World
PROLOGUE
* Thomas Peters escaped to Nova Scotia and promoted estab. of a colony for former slaves. * He connected the lands of the Atlantic Ocean Basin and was the leader of the black community. * Sub Saharan states had kinship groups like their Bantu-speaking predecessors.
African Politics and Society in Early Modern Times * Regional kingdoms replaced imperial states of w. Africa b/c people organized their societies to take advantage of Atlantic and trans-Saharan commerce. * East African city states fell under domination of Portuguese merchant mariners
The States of West Africa and East Africa * Earliest kingdom: Ghana. Controlled and taxed trade in gold and gained resources for army. * In 13th cent, Mali replaced Ghana as the top power in west Africa. * Songhay emerged in the 15th cent to take its place as the dominant power. * Based in Gao, Songhay rulers built a flourishing city state. The ruler was Sunni Ali. * Brought Timbuktu & Jenne under his control. Used their wealth to dominate Cntrl Niger Valley. * Sunni ‘s accomplishments were: * Built an elaborate admin and military apparatus to oversee affairs in his realm. * Appointed governors to oversee provinces and made a hierarchy of command for that turned his army into an effective military force. * Created imperial navy to patrol the Niger River, which was an important commercial highway in the Songhay * Military enabled Sunni’s successors to extend authority into Sahara, Lake Chad, and Niger R. * Gao had 75,000 residents, prosperous land/ Many participated in profitable trade. * The emperors were all Muslims: * Supported mosques * Built schools to teach the Quran * Maintained Islamic University at Timbuktu * Songhay dominated west Africa for most of 16th century. It was the last of the great imperial grassland states. * A Moroccan army opened fire on
PROLOGUE
* Thomas Peters escaped to Nova Scotia and promoted estab. of a colony for former slaves. * He connected the lands of the Atlantic Ocean Basin and was the leader of the black community. * Sub Saharan states had kinship groups like their Bantu-speaking predecessors.
African Politics and Society in Early Modern Times * Regional kingdoms replaced imperial states of w. Africa b/c people organized their societies to take advantage of Atlantic and trans-Saharan commerce. * East African city states fell under domination of Portuguese merchant mariners
The States of West Africa and East Africa * Earliest kingdom: Ghana. Controlled and taxed trade in gold and gained resources for army. * In 13th cent, Mali replaced Ghana as the top power in west Africa. * Songhay emerged in the 15th cent to take its place as the dominant power. * Based in Gao, Songhay rulers built a flourishing city state. The ruler was Sunni Ali. * Brought Timbuktu & Jenne under his control. Used their wealth to dominate Cntrl Niger Valley. * Sunni ‘s accomplishments were: * Built an elaborate admin and military apparatus to oversee affairs in his realm. * Appointed governors to oversee provinces and made a hierarchy of command for that turned his army into an effective military force. * Created imperial navy to patrol the Niger River, which was an important commercial highway in the Songhay * Military enabled Sunni’s successors to extend authority into Sahara, Lake Chad, and Niger R. * Gao had 75,000 residents, prosperous land/ Many participated in profitable trade. * The emperors were all Muslims: * Supported mosques * Built schools to teach the Quran * Maintained Islamic University at Timbuktu * Songhay dominated west Africa for most of 16th century. It was the last of the great imperial grassland states. * A Moroccan army opened fire on