State Building in Africa (1200-1450)

Introduction to Sub-Saharan Africa

• Focus on the Swahili Civilization on Africa's East Coast.
• Swahili civilization emerged around the 8th century.
• Collection of independent city-states.
  • Rose due to strategic location on the Indian Ocean.
  • Engaged in trade with merchants from Arabia, Persia, and India.

Swahili Civilization

• Key trade goods:
  • Gold, ivory, timber, and to a limited extent, enslaved people.
• Imported goods from African interior farmers and pastoralists.
• Religion:
  • Islam became dominant due to trade connections with Muslim merchants.
  • Conversion among Swahili elite to Islam for economic benefits.
  • Language: Swahili, a hybrid of Bantu and Arabic.
• Political Structure:
  • Each city-state had its own king.
  • Intense competition among city-states due to trade.

Comparison with Song China

• Both expanded wealth through international trade and had hierarchical structures.
  • Song China used Confucian ideals.
  • Swahili States elevated merchant elite.
• Differences:
  • Song China had a centralized political structure.
  • Swahili had no larger political unification.

Great Zimbabwe

• Located further inland but prospered through the Indian Ocean trade.
  • Mainly exported gold.
  • Economy also based on farming and cattle herding.
• Constructed a massive capital city, one of the largest structures in Africa after Egyptian pyramids.
• Represented the seat of power for the state.

West African States

• Large centralized empires like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.
• Focus on the Hausa Kingdoms in this period:
  • Collection of politically independent city-states.
  • Gained power through trans-Saharan trade.
  • Resemblance to Swahili city-states in trade and structure.
  • Rulers converted to Islam to facilitate trade.
  • Imposed social hierarchies.

Adoption of Islam in African States

• Many African states adopted Islam for societal organization and trade facilitation.

Exception: Ethiopia

• Ethiopia remained a Christian kingdom.
  • Built massive stone churches.
  • Grew wealthy via trade in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.
  • Major trade commodity: salt.
• Political Structure:
  • Centralized power with a king.
  • Stratified class hierarchy.

Conclusion

• Diverse political and trade structures in Africa during 1200-1450.
• Islam played a significant role in trade and political organization, except in Ethiopia.

• Additional Resources: Check out the AP World Heimler Review Guide for further study on the topic.