1.5

Question 1

1.5

Swahili Civilization 1200-1450

Answer 1

Independent, decentralized city-states on Africa’s East coast ~8th century. Gained power through controlling ports from Indian Ocean trade, regulating gold, timber, slaves, and ivory. Goods imported from inland Africa from farmers/pastoralists. Converted to Islam for trade connections w/ Dar-Al-Islam. Islam influenced the Swahili language, creating a hybrid between arabic and the indigenous Bantu language.
Fierce competition between individual kings. Hierarchical class w/ merchants highly esteemed.

Question 2

1.4

Great Zimbabwe 1200-1450

Answer 2

Gained wealth and power through controlling ports on East coast of Africa w/ access to Indian Ocean trade, largely exporting gold. They originally profited off of farming and cattle. Rulers created capital city w/ impressively large structures.

Question 3

1.4

West African states political organization 1200-1450

Answer 3

Centralized: Ghana, Mali, Songhay
Decentralized: Hausa Kingdoms

Question 4

1.4

Hausa Kingdoms 1200-1450

Answer 4

Independent city-states who gained wealth/power through trade in Trans-Saharan desert. Resembled Swahili: acted as middlemen between trade routes and inland goods. Converted to Islam, which increased trade connections.

Question 5

1.4

Why did African states adopt Islam 1200-1450?

Answer 5

It helped to provide structure and a hierarchy that organized their state and provided important economic connections to the world of Dar-Al-Islam.

Question 6

1.4

Ethiopia 1200-1450

Answer 6

Stood out in Africa bc it was a Christian state, whose leaders led the building of large stone churches, which helped to consolidate power (monumental architecture). Gained wealth through trading [salt] in Mediterranean and Indian Ocean network.
Centralized power w/ a king and an organized social hierarchy below him.