Chapter 19 Flashcards
A remarkable oral tradition preserves what?
The story of the lion prince Sundiata the 13th century founder of Mali Empire
Oral traditions include
stories, histories, epics and other accounts trasmitted by professional singers and storytelers known Africa
What were the professional sinfers and storytellers known as?
Griots
What is the story of Sudiata?
His father ruked a small west African kingdom in the northeastern part of Guinea. Sudiata had a difficult childhood because he had a congenitally defective leg that left him partially crippled…
What was the surprise that Sudiata gave?
He overcame his injury and then learned to use the bow and arrow and he was a really good warrior
When did Sudiata return to his homeland to claim the throne. There, what did he do?
He went back in 1235 and his cavalry slashed through the countryside and defeated his enemies almost at will.
What were some of Sudinata’s beliefs
He was a muslim, but e respected all of the other religions
Where was Sudiata’s capital city
At Niani and it was a thriving merchant city
By 1000 CE where did Bantu people settle?
In most parts of Africa. Kushite, Sudanese, Mande and other people had also establised communites in lands far from their orifinal homes
What was the principal early result of Bangu and other migrations>
It was to spread agriculture and herding to almost all parts of Africa
When they established communities, what did the Bantu (or who) did they displace
The hunting and gathering peoples
After about 500 BCE what did the Bantu people have
iron metallurgy
What was the diatry staples of the people of south Africa
Yams, sorghum, and millet
When many people adopted cattle rasing before the Bantu and Kushite herders what did it do?
Placed increased agricultural production,and pressure for continuing migrations to new territories
The introduction of bananas to Africa encouraged what
A fresh migratory surge
Where did bananas come from
Southeast Asia, bananas entered Africa by way of sea lanes across the Indian Ocean. Malay seafarers from teh islands that make up Indonesia sailed west beyond india and colonized Madagacar and established banas there.
What did the Malay seafarers bring
Asian yams, taro, chickens and southeast Asian cultr. malagasy
What was the importance of Bananas to the Bantu people
It helped to provide nutritious supplement to Bantu diets that enabled them to expand
What was the population of the Bantu before iron
3.5 million
By 800 CE, after th bana cultivation how much did it climbe
to 17 million. Also, it climbed to 22 miillion
The continuing Bangtu migrations and the expansion of Bantu population and the stabishment of communities contributed to the changing in relationships of Bantu and Foraging peopl
Early, the Bantu said that they were useful guids, but it was increasingly difficult for foragers to flourish
What is stateless societies
They refer to one form of social organization widely prevalent in Africa during Bantu migrations, The term refers to the government that did not have much bureaucratic apparatus.
Where did Bantu people usually settle?
They settled in vilages with populations averaging about one hundred people. Male heads made up the villiages ruling council and the most prominent was a chief. A group of tribes was a district
What type of societiy grew to be very large?
Kin based societies
After 1000 CE, kin based societies faced problems because of what
Population growth strained resources but few lands were avaliable for migrants to settle. Also, there were conflicts between villages and districts that became more frequent
Because of more conflicts, what did bantu people have to organize
They had to organize military forces..
What did many districts fall under
They fell under the rule of chiefs.
What was one of the most active areas of development
It was the basin of the congo River where there were many large kingdoms
Because of population pressures, what happened
Many small kingdoms were formed
By 1200. conflicts between the states had resulted in the organization of larger, regional principalities
Describe the Kingdom of the Kongo
Participated in trade networks that involved copper, raffia cloth and nximbu shells
Governemtn: Included kings and officials who oversaw military, judical and financial affairs. It was the most tightly centralized of the early Bantu Kingdom.
How was the government of the Kongo?
King and other central administrators could appoint or replace local officials at will
Explain some of the qualities of the Kingdom of the Kongo?
it was very tightly centralized, local officials could be replaced at will, there was a royal currency based on cowries
Has the Sahara desert ever served as a barrer?
No, small numbers of nomadic people have lived in the desert. Mercahnts occasionally organized expeditions to the Sahara
What quicked the communication around the Sahara
The arrival of the Camel
Where did the Camels come from
From arabia by ways of Egypt.
How fast could a camel travel?
Fast, they could travel faster than a caravan
Which group really integrated trade accross the Sahara
Te Arabs
The Arabs founded centers such as
Gaoi which as a terminus of caravans and was a market for copper, iron ware and textiles
What was the principalstate of west africa at the tie of the Muslim’s arrival?
Ghana. It was situated between Snegal and Niger rivers
