Sub-Saharan+Africa

Spread of Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa.




 * Several powerful states emerged that combined both Islamic religion and culture with daily life.
 * Gold had already formed by the 8th century by the exchanging gold from the forests of West Africa for salt or dates from the Sahara or goods from the Mediterranean north Africa.
 * The sahel became a place of exchange between south and north Africa.
 * Ghana was at the height of its power when they converted to Islam in the 10th century.
 * Small partnerships were formed by Malinke merchants to carry out out trade throughout the area.
 * Sundiata a leader, came from a difficult childhood and from a time when inter family and regional fighting created a unified state. Oral historians ascribed to him the creation of the basic rules and relationships of Malinke society and the outline of the government of the empire of Mali.
 * During Sundiata's time, he created different clans and all were given different things, such as the ruling class, the free people, the religious ones, and the specialist clans. All these people were vital to the state to work.
 * After he died and his successors took the control to a whole other level that contact with Mali brought about change and innovation.
 * The kingdoms were based on trade, and agriculture and were protected under Islamic law. The military expansion of states contributed to the commercial success because the power of the state protected traders.
 * The kingdoms of Mali and Soughay and the Huasa states were African adaptations of Islam and its fusion with African traditions.
 * Women in this parts of the world were able to interact freely with the men.
 * A cosmopolitan court life developed as merchants and scholars were attracted by the power and protection of Mali.
 * People had to wait to plant crops because they needed rain and so polygamy was very important because a guy with many wives was more likely to prosper than a guy with only one wife and a small family.
 * The farms weren't that big since it was in the savannah and because of the climate.
 * These were the major trading cities and that was primary the reason why they were able to prosper and strive.
 * Merchants were protected in this society and so they came and went as they preferred however if there was a crime the consequences were severe.

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