Sub-Saharan Africa

Question 1

Geography of SS Africa

Answer 1

Very diverse; deserts; plains; forests; few good harbours; cataracts in rivers; little communication.

Question 2

Bantu people

Answer 2

Spoke Bantu languages; originated in Nigeria; spread agriculture; used river canoes; expanded greatly due to overpopulation and drought; allowed societies and cultural traditions to take hold in SS Africa.

Question 3

How were African societies organized politically and socially prior to 1000 CE?

Answer 3

Kinship/ family ties; no elaborate hierarchy; male heads made up council; villages and districts.

Question 4

Why and how did pre-1000 CE African societies change?

Answer 4

Became more politically elaborate due to military tension caused by overpopulation; chiefs took over districts.

Question 5

Describe kingdom of Kongo

Answer 5

Small villages formed large principality of Kongo; tightly centralized gov’t; king and officials oversaw military, judicial, and financial affairs; subordinate provinces and districts; royal currency system; traded actively.

Question 6

Describe Islamic trade with SS Africa

Answer 6

Crossed desert using camel caravans; 70-90 day treks across desert; carried many goods; Niger river valley trade

Question 7

Describe Islamic trade with SS Africa

Answer 7

Crossed desert using camel caravans; 70-90 day treks across desert; carried many goods; Niger river valley trade- gold, iron, textiles

Question 8

Describe state of Ghana

Answer 8

Principal state of west Africa; developed to protect against nomads; provided gold and slaves for Med. consumers; Koumbi Saleh transformed into commercial centre; large army w/ taxes to protect gold and maintain order; kings converted to Islam; collapsed due to Northern nomadic invasions

Question 9

Describe state of Mali

Answer 9

Built by sundiata (lion prince); conquered W Africa regions w/ alliance and military conquest; controlled all trade passing through W Africa; market cities became prosperous. Collapsed due to internal factions, secession, and military pressures.

Question 10

Describe Mansa Musa

Answer 10

Ruled at high point of Mali empire; converted to Islam; made pilgrimage and built mosques/ Islamic schools;

Question 11

Describe state of Mali

Answer 11

Built by sundiata (lion prince); conquered W Africa regions w/ alliance and military conquest; controlled all trade passing through W Africa; market cities became prosperous. Collapsed due to internal factions, secession, and military pressures. Absorbed by Songhay empire

Question 12

Describe Mansa Musa

Answer 12

Ruled at high point of Mali empire; converted to Islam; made pilgrimage and built mosques/ Islamic schools;

Question 13

Describe Great Zimbabwe

Answer 13

Magnificent stone city near Nyanda; towers, palaces, public buildings; kings controlled/taxed Indian ocean trade.

Question 14

Describe Swahili

Answer 14

Descendants of Bantu on east African coast; spoke Bantu lang. mixed with Arabic; individual city states controlled trade with merchants from Persia, India, and China; built using coral; had a large elite/ aristocrat class.