AP World History Modern: AMSCO - 1.5 Read Aloud
Summary
TLDRThis video explores the development and changes in African states over time, focusing on the cultural and political structures of the 14th century. It highlights Ibn Battuta's observations on Mali society and the growth of Islamic influence. The script covers key African kingdoms like Ghana, Mali, and Zimbabwe, discussing their trade networks, religious diversity, and the rise of powerful states. It also touches on slavery, social structures, and the role of griots in preserving African history. The video emphasizes Africa's rich history and its often underrepresented significance in AP World History.
Takeaways
- 📜 The chief of the poets in Mali society engages in a ceremonial practice of laying his head on the ruler's lap and shoulders, a tradition predating Islam.
- 🌍 African societies that adopted Islam kept many pre-Islamic traditions, while some resisted Islam to strengthen their defenses.
- 👨🌾 The migration of Bantu-speaking people significantly shaped sub-Saharan Africa, with most of the region adopting agriculture by 1000 CE, creating complex political systems.
- 🏘️ Kin-based networks were common in sub-Saharan Africa, where male chiefs mediated conflicts, but as populations grew, these networks became difficult to manage, leading to the rise of larger kingdoms.
- 💰 West African kingdoms like Ghana and Mali grew wealthy from trading gold and ivory, while Mali's Sundiata used Islamic connections to expand trade and wealth.
- 🏛️ Zimbabwe in East Africa was known for its stone buildings, reflecting its wealth from agriculture, grazing, and gold trade, with the Great Zimbabwe wall as a key symbol.
- ⛪ Ethiopia developed as a Christian-led kingdom, combining local traditions with Christian practices, and was an important religious and trading hub.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Social structures in sub-Saharan Africa were based on kinship, age, and gender, with men often holding specialized jobs while women managed agriculture and household duties.
- 🔗 Slavery existed in various forms in Africa, including chattel slavery, domestic slavery, and debt bondage, with enslaved people being used in both agriculture and households.
- 🎶 Griots and griottes were the oral historians of Africa, preserving history and stories through music and storytelling, serving as advisors to leaders and communities.
Q & A
What cultural practice in Mali society did Ibn Battuta observe?
-Ibn Battuta observed the chief poet's ritual, where the poet would lay his head on the sultan's lap, shoulders, and speak in their native tongue. This practice was a custom from before the introduction of Islam, which Mali society had maintained.
How did Islamic growth influence Africa during Ibn Battuta’s time?
-Islam's growth facilitated increased cultural connections among Asia, Africa, and Southern Europe. While some African societies adopted Islam, they still maintained many of their pre-Islamic traditions. Others resisted Islam, particularly in defense against attacks by Islamic forces.
How did the Bantu migrations shape the political structures of Sub-Saharan Africa?
-Bantu migrations led to the adoption of agriculture, which required more complex political relationships. Sub-Saharan African societies often governed themselves through kin-based networks, where families ruled independently and chiefs mediated disputes, rather than having centralized governments.
Why did kin-based networks in Sub-Saharan Africa become difficult to govern over time?
-As populations grew, governing through kin-based networks became challenging due to increased competition and conflict among neighboring villages and districts. This led to more prominent larger kingdoms after 1000 CE.
What role did trade play in the development of kingdoms like Ghana and Mali?
-Trade, particularly the trans-Saharan trade, played a crucial role in the development of kingdoms like Ghana and Mali. These kingdoms exchanged gold and ivory for salt, copper, and tools, growing their wealth and political power.
How did Mali rise to prominence after the decline of the Ghanaian state?
-Mali rose to prominence after wars weakened the Ghanaian state. Mali’s founding ruler, Sundiata, established trade relationships with North African and Arab traders, which allowed the kingdom to flourish, especially in gold trade.
What was significant about the Great Zimbabwe in East Africa?
-The Great Zimbabwe was significant due to its massive stone structures, including a 30-foot tall and 15-foot thick stone wall that protected the capital city. It reflected the wealth and power of the kingdom, which thrived on agriculture, grazing, and gold trade.
How did Ethiopian Christianity develop independently from other Christian traditions?
-Ethiopian Christianity developed independently due to geographical isolation from both the Roman Catholic Church in Western Europe and the Orthodox Church in Eastern Europe. Ethiopian Christians combined traditional faith practices, such as ancestor veneration, with Christian beliefs.
How did Sub-Saharan African societies organize themselves socially?
-Sub-Saharan African societies were organized around kinship, age, and gender. Communities were identified by clan or family, and work was often divided by age groups or 'age sets.' Gender also played a significant role, with men typically doing skilled labor and women focusing on agriculture and domestic responsibilities.
What was the Zanji Rebellion, and why is it considered significant?
-The Zanji Rebellion was a revolt by enslaved East Africans, known as 'Zanji,' and Arab workers against their enslavement in Mesopotamia between 869 and 883 CE. It is significant because around 15,000 enslaved people captured the city of Basra and held it for 10 years, making it one of the most successful slave revolts in history.
Outlines
📜 Developments in Africa and Ibn Battuta's Observations
This paragraph introduces the main theme, focusing on state developments in Africa over time. It features a quote from Ibn Battuta’s 1352 travel account, highlighting a traditional custom in Mali. His commentary sheds light on the cultural and political aspects of sub-Saharan Africa, where Islamic and indigenous traditions intertwined. African societies, even those adopting Islam, retained older customs while other regions resisted the influence of Islam by building defensive structures like labyrinthine churches. Political structures were influenced by the migrations of Bantu-speaking people, and unlike centralized Asian or European societies, sub-Saharan Africa operated through kin-based networks where local chiefs mediated governance.
🌍 Growth of African Kingdoms and the Influence of Trade
This paragraph describes how the kingdoms of West and East Africa benefited from trade, leading to political and economic growth. Islam spread across the continent, coexisting with animism and Christianity. The Kingdom of Ghana prospered between the 8th and 11th centuries through gold and ivory trade with Muslim merchants. Mali, which rose after Ghana’s decline, expanded trade under Sundiata and Mansa Musa. Zimbabwe, a powerful East African kingdom, grew wealthy from agriculture, grazing, and gold trade, contributing to the Indian Ocean trade network. The distinctive architecture of stone buildings, such as the Great Zimbabwe, reflected their prosperity.
🏰 The Rise and Fall of Great Zimbabwe
This paragraph focuses on the rise of Great Zimbabwe, a powerful kingdom in East Africa during the 12th to 15th centuries. Built between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, the kingdom's wealth stemmed from agriculture, gold, and trade connections via the Indian Ocean. Its architecture, such as the Great Zimbabwe stone wall, signified its strength and independence. However, overgrazing caused environmental degradation, leading to the abandonment of the capital by the late 1400s. Despite the kingdom's decline, the stone walls remain a symbol of its historical prominence.
⛪ Ethiopia: Christianity and Cultural Resilience
The paragraph highlights Ethiopia's religious and political development, where Christianity took root early and evolved independently of both Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Ethiopian rulers displayed their power by commissioning massive churches carved out of rock, reflecting the kingdom’s strength. The region’s connection to Christian faith dates back to the Kingdom of Axum, which prospered through trade. Ethiopia remained a Christian stronghold even as Islam spread, blending traditional African spiritual practices with Christianity to create a unique religious identity. The paragraph underscores Ethiopia’s cultural and religious resilience in the face of external pressures.
👨👩👧👦 Social Structures and Gender Roles in Sub-Saharan Africa
This paragraph explores the social structures of sub-Saharan Africa, which were primarily organized around kinship, age, and gender. Unlike centralized political systems, African societies were structured around family networks and age-based roles. Kinship bonds were vital, with family clans governing themselves and chiefs resolving conflicts. Work and responsibilities were divided by age and gender, with men taking on specialized trades such as blacksmithing and women typically engaged in agriculture and household tasks. These social dynamics ensured the functioning of communities, though slavery, which existed in various forms, also played a role in the region’s economy.
⛓️ Slavery in Africa and the Zanj Rebellion
This paragraph details the history and various forms of slavery in Africa, including chattel, domestic, and debt bondage slavery. It explains how slavery was embedded in African societies, with prisoners of war, debtors, and criminals being enslaved. In some cases, children inherited their parents' debts and status. Slavery fueled trade networks, especially in the Indian Ocean slave trade. The Zanj Rebellion, a major slave uprising between 869 and 883, is highlighted as one of the most significant and successful slave revolts in history, where East African slaves, or 'Zanj,' revolted against their Arab masters in Mesopotamia.
🎶 Cultural Expression and the Role of Griots in Africa
This paragraph delves into the cultural life of sub-Saharan Africa, where music, art, and storytelling were central to religious and social life. Ancestor veneration was a common belief, and music served as a medium for communicating with the spiritual world. Visual arts, including metalwork and sculptures, often depicted past rulers, with a religious and cultural significance. Griots and Griottes, oral historians and musicians, played a crucial role in preserving and conveying history, often advising kings and recounting epic tales. These storytellers held immense power, with their knowledge being likened to that of a living library.
🏛️ Economic and Political Terms in African Development
This final paragraph summarizes key terms related to African societal structures, economy, and governance. It touches on various aspects like kin-based networks, Swahili culture, and the Zanj Rebellion. It also references the importance of trade routes, such as the trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean trade, which fostered economic growth. Technological advancements, including the construction of Great Zimbabwe, and the decentralized political systems of African societies are emphasized. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the distinct governmental systems in West Africa (Ghana, Mali) and East Africa (Zimbabwe, Ethiopia).
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Kin-based networks
💡Trans-Saharan trade
💡Indian Ocean trade
💡Swahili
💡Ghana Empire
💡Mali Empire
💡Great Zimbabwe
💡Ethiopian Christianity
💡Griots and Griottes
💡Zanj Rebellion
Highlights
Introduction of Ibn Battuta's commentary on Mali society, shedding light on cultural practices predating Islam.
Ibn Battuta's travelogue demonstrated the phenomenal growth of Islam and its impact on cultural connections across Asia, Africa, and southern Europe.
Kin-based networks governed sub-Saharan Africa, where families and local chiefs mediated conflicts, contrasting with centralized powers in Asia and Europe.
As populations grew, kin-based governance became more difficult, giving rise to larger kingdoms and increasing competition and conflict.
The Hausa Kingdoms, formed by the Hausa ethnic group in Nigeria before 1000, were loosely connected by kinship but lacked central authority.
Islam was introduced to the Hausa Kingdoms in the 14th century, bringing increased religious and cultural diversity.
The Kingdom of Ghana, which prospered through the trans-Saharan trade of gold and ivory, was a centralized state with an advanced military.
Mali succeeded Ghana in the 12th century, becoming a powerful trading society under its Muslim founding ruler Sundiata, and later reaching greater heights under Mansa Musa.
Zimbabwe, in East Africa, grew in power through a combination of agriculture, gold trade, and the Indian Ocean trade route, connecting Africa to Asia and the Middle East.
The Great Zimbabwe stone walls, built without mortar, stood as a testament to the kingdom's wealth and influence before its decline due to overgrazing.
Ethiopia remained a Christian kingdom, creating a distinct form of Christianity by blending traditional beliefs like ancestor veneration with Christian practices.
Sub-Saharan Africa's social structure was organized around kinship, age, and gender, with men specializing in skilled trades and women taking on agricultural and domestic roles.
Slavery in Sub-Saharan Africa took various forms, including chattel slavery, domestic servitude, and debt bondage, often increasing the owner's social status.
The Indian Ocean slave trade predated the Atlantic slave trade, with enslaved East Africans known as Zanj providing labor for sugar plantations in Mesopotamia.
Cultural life in Sub-Saharan Africa, including music, visual arts, and oral storytelling, played significant roles in religious practices and preserving community history.
Transcripts
and hello ladies and gentlemen and today
we are back with another chapter of ap
world history modern where today we are
reading developments in africa
1.5
quote
after that the chief of the poets mounts
the steps of the pempe a raised platform
on which the ruler sits and lays his
head on the sultan's lap then climbs on
top of the pempe and lays his head right
on the sultan's shoulder
and then on his left shoulder
and speaking all while in their tongue
and finally he comes down again i was
told that this practice is a very old
custom amongst them prior to the
introduction of islam that they have
kept it up
1352
essential question how and why did
states develop in africa and change over
time
abimbutudu's commentary on mali society
sheds light on the cultural forces at
work in sub-saharan africa during the
14th century
a scholar from morocco on the northwest
side coast of africa
he has well-versed in islamic law also
known as sharaya islamic governments in
magadishu east africa and delhi india
sought his advice and welcomed him to
their lands
abimbatuta's travelogue demonstrated how
islam's phenomenal growth increased
connections among cultures of asia
africa and southern europe
as ivan batuta's account makes clear
african societies that had adopted islam
kept many of their traditions
some parts of africa resisted islam to
better defend themselves against attacks
by islamic forces they built churches
with labyrinths reservoirs and tunnels
other parts of the continent especially
in the south had little contact with
islam until later in history
political structures in inland africa
the development of sub-saharan africa
was heavily shaped by the migrations of
bantu-speaking people outward from west
central africa
by the year 1000 most of the region had
adopted agriculture
with the centaurity nature of
agriculture people needed more complex
and political relationships to govern
themselves
in contrast to most asian or european
societies those in sub-saharan africa
did not centralize power under one
leader or central governments instead
communities formed kind based networks
where families govern themselves a male
head of the network a chief mediated
conflicts and dealt with neighboring
groups
groups of villages became districts and
a group of chiefs decided among
themselves how to solve the district's
problems
and also as you can see here here's an
early state building and trade in africa
map indicating africa and a little bit
of the middle east from india showing
the indian ocean trade and also the
sub-saharan trade route along here if
you can see where my mouse currently is
hovering over
yep then right in that circled area
now back to the reading
as populations grew kin-based networks
became more difficult to govern
competition among neighbors increased
which in turn increased fighting among
villages and districts survival for
small kin-based communities became more
challenging
though many such communities continued
to exist in sub-saharan africa until the
19th century larger kingdoms grew in
prominence particularly after 1000
the husa kingdoms
some time before 1000 it was now nigeria
people of the husa ethnic group formed
seven states the hoosa kingdoms the
states were loosely connected through
kinship ties though they too had no
central authority
people established prospering
city-states each with a speciality for
example several were situated in plains
where cotton grew well
though the region lacked access to the
sea contact with people from outside the
region was important many who benefited
from the thriving trans-saharan trade a
network of trading networks across the
great desert
a state on the western edge of the
region specialized in military matters
and defended the states from against
attack
because the states lacked a central
authority however they were more
frequently subject to domination from
outside
in the 14th century missionaries
introduced islam to the region
political structures of western east
africa
kingdoms on both the western and eastern
sides of africa benefited from increased
trade the exchange of goods brought them
wealth political power and cultural
diversity the spread of islam added to
the religious diversity of the continent
where anism and christianity were
already practiced four of these kingdoms
were kahana mali zimbabwe and ethiopia
gohan
kahana nestled between the sahara and
the tropical rainforest of the west
african coast the kingdom of gahana was
not in the same location as the modern
nation of gahana
historians believe that the kingdom had
been founded during the 5th century at
least two centuries before the time of
muhammad but kahana reached its peak of
influence from the 5th 8th to the 11th
centuries gohan's rulers sold gold and
ivory to muslim traders in exchange for
salt copper cloth and tools
from kahana's capital city krembe saleh
the king ruled a centralized government
aided by nobles and an army equipped
with iron weapons and as you can see
here we have two images an upper and a
lower and now let's read the caption
stating the gold artifacts upper were
part of the valuable trans-saharan trade
in west africa the modern photo of foods
and spices lower shows the types of
goods that have been popular in the
indian ocean trade in east africa since
the 8th century ce
mali
by the 12th century wars with
neighboring societies had permanently
weakened the gohanian state
and its place arose several new trading
societies the most powerful of which was
mali you will read more about mali in
topic 2.4
most scholars believe that mali's
founding ruler sandiata was a muslim and
used his connections with others of his
faith to establish trade relationships
with north african and arab trade
traders sandhyada cultivated a thriving
gold trade in mali under his steady
leadership molly's wealth grew
tremendously his nephew matsumusa made a
pilgrimage to mecca where his lavish
displays of gold left a laughing lasting
impression see topic 2.4 for the later
developments in west africa such as the
growth of the city of timbuktu and the
senghai empire
zimbabwe
in east africa the architecture her
demonstrated the growing wealth of one
kingdom
though most houses had traditionally
been constructed from wood by the 9th
century chiefs had begun to construct
their zimbabwes the bantu word for
dwellings with stone
this word became the name of one of the
most powerful of all the east african
kingdoms between the 12th and 15th
centuries zimbabwe
it was situated between the zambezi and
limbopo rivers in modern-day zimbabwe
and
mozambique zimbabwe built its prosperity
on a mixture of agriculture grazing
trade and above all gold
like gahanna and mali on the other side
of the continent zimbabwe had rich gold
fields and taxes on the transport of
gold made the kingdom wealthy
while gahanna and modley relied on
land-based trade across the morgan dishu
okay across the sahara zimbabwe traded
with the colo also city-states such as
mambasa kilwa and magadhishu
though these ports zimbabwe was tied
into the indian ocean trade which
connected east africa and the middle
east south asia and east asia
in east africa traders could blended
bantu and arabic to develop a new
language swahili
today swahili is spoken by various
groups in the african great lakes region
as well as other parts of southeast
africa
the rise and decline of zimbabwe was
reflected in the defensive walls used to
protect cities by the end of the 13th
century a massive wall of stone 30 feet
tall by 15 feet thick
surrounded the capital city which became
known as the great zimbabwe the stone
wall was the first large one on the
constant that people built without
mortar
inside the wall most of the royal cities
buildings were made of stone in the late
15th century nearly 2 20 000 people
resided within the great zimbabwe
however over grazing so damaged the
surrounding environment that residents
of the bustling capital city abandon it
by the end of the 1400s
the wall still stands in the modern
country of zimbabwe
ethiopia
christianity had spread from its origins
along the
east coast of the mediterranean sea
south into egypt and beyond in what is
today ethiopia the kingdom of oxen
developed it prospered by trading goods
obtained from india arabia the roman
empire and the interior of africa
beginning in the 7th century the spread
of islam made the region more diverse
religiously
in the 12th century a new christian-led
kingdom in ethiopia emerged its rulers
like those of other countries expressed
their power through architecture they
ordered the creation of 11 massive
churches made entirely of rock
this can be seen in the image source on
page 47.
with the caption
this is one of the 11 christian churches
in ethiopia built out of rock which i
believe still stands
interesting
carved rock structures have been a
feature of ethiopian religious
architecture since the second millennium
bce
from the 12th through the 16th centuries
ethiopia was an island of christianity
on the continents of africa separated
from both the roman catholic church of
western europe and the orthodox church
of eastern europe ethiopian christianity
developed independently people combine
their traditional faith traditions such
as ancestor veneration and beliefs in
spirits with christianity to create a
distinct form of faith
social structures of sub-saharan africa
in sub-saharan africa strong central
governments ruling over large
territories were uncommon
instead sub-saharan africa's small
communities were organized around
several structures
kinship age and gender
kinship connections allowed people to
identify first as members of a clan or
family
age was another significant social
marker
an 18 year old could do more hard labor
than a 60 year old but younger people
more often relied on the advice of their
elders thus communities divided work
according to age creating age grades or
age sets
finally gender had an influential role
in social organization
men dominated most activities that
required a specialized skill
for example
leather tanners and blacksmiths were
typically men
women generally engaged in agriculture
and food gathering they also took the
primary responsibilities for carrying
out domestic chores and raising their
family's children
slavery in sub-saharan africa and
southwest asia
slavery had a long history in africa
prisoners of war debtors and criminals
were often enslaved
most men and some women did agricultural
work
most women and some men served in
households
in many kin-based societies people could
not own land privately but they could
own other people owning a large number
of enslaved people increased one social
status
slavery existed in many forms
and here there are three forms of
slavery described in this chart labeled
comparing three forms of slavery
the first form is chattel the second
domestic and the third is dead bondage
you also may pause the video to read the
chart if you would like however i'm not
going to read through all of it this
time
however i will read a little bit
slaves did not have any right in chattel
slavery there were some
slaves rights in domestic slavery and
some slave rights to death bondage
also yes children of slaves
automatically were slaves and chattel
slavery they were often slaves in
domestic slavery and children often
inherited the deaths of their parents in
debt bondage
now moving on with the reading a strong
demand in the middle east for enslaved
workers resulted in an indian ocean and
slave trade between east africa and the
middle east this trade started several
centuries before the atlantic ocean
slave trade between west africa and the
americas
in some places it lasted into the 20th
century
the enslaved east africans known in
arabic as zanji provided valuable labor
on sugar plantations and mesopotamia
however between 869 and 883 they and
many arab workers mounted a series of
revolts known as the xangee rebellion
about 15
insulated people successfully captured
the city of basra and held it for 10
years before being defeated
the large size and long length of time
before it was defeated make the zanji
rebellion one of the most successful
slave revolts in history
cultural life in sub-saharan africa
playing music creating visual arts and
telling stories were and continue to be
more important aspects of cultures
everywhere because they provide
enjoyment and mark rituals such as
weddings and funerals
in africa these activities carried
additional significance because
traditional african religions included
ancestor veneration song lyrics provided
name means of communicating with the
spirit world and african music usually
had a distinctive arithmetic pattern and
vocals were interspersed with percussion
elements such as hand claps bells pots
or gourds
visual arts are also commonly served as
a religious purpose
for example metal workers created busts
of past rulers so that ruling royalty
could look to them for guidance
artists and ben in west africa were
famous for their intricate sculptures in
iron and bronze in the late 19th century
this sophistication of these pieces of
art would cause some europeans to
increase their respect for west african
cultures
griefs and griodettes
literature as it exists in sub-saharan
africa was oral
brilliant or storytellers were the
conduits of history for community
creates possessed
encyclopedic knowledge of family
lineages and the lives and death deeds
of great leaders in general creates were
also adept at music singing their
stories and accompanying themselves on
instruments such as the drums and a
12-string harp called the quora
the griats were both venerated and
feared as they held both the power of
language and of story
people said that a grit could sing your
success or sing your downfall
by telling and retelling their stories
and histories the greats preserved a
people's history and passed that history
on from generation to generation
kings often sought their counsel
regarding political matters when a great
died it was so though a library had
burned
just as men served as griez women served
as griodettes they would sing at special
occasions such as before a wedding for
example the greatest would counsel the
bride to not talk back if her
mother-in-law abused her or reassured
the bride that if things got too bad she
could return home
greatest provided women with a sense of
empowerment and a patriarchal society
key terms by theme
society sub-saharan
kin based networks
swahili zanji rebellion
economy trade
trans-saharan trade
indian ocean trade
indian ocean slave trade
technology building great zimbabwe
government kinship
chief
puja kingdoms
government west africa
gahanna mali
government east africa zimbabwe ethiopia
and ladies and gentlemen that's going to
go for today's reading i really hope you
enjoyed the reading i barely did and
also yes i am actually gonna read that
chart ha and you thought i wouldn't
anyways so comparing three forms of
slavery channel domestic inter bondage
description of shadow slavery states
that slaves were the legal property of
the owner
for domestic slavery slaves served as
cooks cleaners or other household
workers and in debt bondage people
became slaves sometimes through mutual
agreement to repay a debt
examples of chattel slavery common in
the americas 16th century to 19th
century
domestic examples of slavery common in
classical greece and rome and in the
middle east
examples of dead bondage common in east
africa before the 15th century and in
european colonies in the americas
enslavement was permanent if you were in
shadow slavery often permanent in
domestic slavery and not in theory in
death bondage although many slaves never
regained freedom
and that again is going to be it for
this chapter i hope you all enjoyed the
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and again ladies and gentlemen and my
thoughts on this there were definitely
some things that can be very useful to
note and again if you ever need to keep
some things in mind for an ap world test
this little chapter no because yes
africa may not always be the most talked
about but it should at least be
remembered on some parts
but again i hope you all have an amazing
day or night please remember to stay
safe stay happy and remember ladies and
gentlemen to stay entertained
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