CHAPTER 15 SECTION 1

As you know from semester one, human societies first developed in Africa. These were hunter-
gathering societies and historians study them to see how people lived in the past. Some people,
such as the Efe of the Republic of Congo still live this lifestyle today. They live in groups of
about 10 to 100 people and are related. The women in this society gather and the men hunt.
They do sometimes trade with farmers in nearby villages. An older male is a group leader, but
each family within the band make their own decisions. There are no formal written laws.

1. Briefly describe lineages, what they have to do with “stateless societies” and they impact
inheritances in Africa. Lineages are people who share similar ancestors and have bonds. These
lineages make up stateless societies, and the authority of the lineages is shared by equal
power. Some of the lineages are traced through the father’s side and some to the mother’s side.
However, for both, the men hold positions of authority.

2. Briefly explain the age-set system, comment on what you think the advantages of such a
system might be and share your opinion on whether you’d like to have grown up in such a
system. All the kids with a comparable age from different lineages from the age-set system.
Some of the advantages of the age-set system are learning discipline, community service, and
leadership skills. I would have loved this system because I would be learning about the different
lifestyles of different lineages.

In Islam, following the law is a religious obligation. Muslims do not separate their personal and
religious lives and the law shapes most areas of human life. It also helped to create order in
early Islamic states. Still, different Islamic states might have ethnic and cultural differences that
could lead to different interpretations of the law. Islamic law has been really important in some
states, where in North Africa (the area’s first inhabitants) converted to the faith. While embracing
Islam, they often kept their local identities and loyalties. The Almoravids and Almohads are
founded Berber groups under Muslim rule.

*3. Briefly discuss the founding of the Almoravid Empire, the process by which it brought Islam
to West Africa and who they defeated in the late 11th century. Muslim reformers who were
members of a Berber group founded the Almoravid Empire in the 11th century. On their journey
home from a pilgrimage to Mecca, they convinced a Muslim scholar from Morocco to return with
them and teach their people about Islam. Ibn Yasin’s teachings attracted followers and founded
the Almoravids. The Almoravids defeated the West African empire of Ghana and some parts of
southern Spain called Moors.

4. Briefly discuss the founding of the Almohad Empire and two ways in which it differed from the
Almoravid’s. The Almohads started as a religious movement in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
At first, the Almohads followed the teachings of Ibn Tumart. After a pilgrimage to Mecca, Ibn
Tumart criticized the later Almoravid rulers for moving away from the traditional practice of
Islam. One way that the Almohad’s are different from the Almoravid’s is because they believe
that the Almoravid’s are liberal and not traditional. Another way is that the Almohad’s and the
Almoravid’s have different leaders.

CHAPTER 15 SECTION 3

By the early 12th century many Bantu-speaking people were establishing communities along
Africa’s east coast. These farming and fishing villages grew into very busy seaports where
African merchants traded with Arabia, Persia, and India (choose 3) merchants. As Muslims from
Arabia settled in the area their language blended with Bantu to create a new language called
Swahili.

1. Briefly discuss how Islamic merchants served as middlemen in the trade around the African
coast. Then read the red text on page 850 and review the map. Islamic merchants served as the
middlemen in the trade around the African coast because of the location.

2. Briefly discuss BOTH the city of Kilwa itself AND its historical importance. Kilwa is in South
Africa and controlled the port of Sofala. Kilwa was the wealthiest, most powerful coastal
city-state.

In the late 15th century, Portuguese ships looking for routes to India and the goods they might
be able to access there stumbled upon very wealthy East African city-states and decided to
conquer them for their own benefit. Using their shipboard cannon, they conquered Kilwa and
other places in order to build forts in the sites. They traded out of these ports for roughly 200
years.

3. Briefly discuss how Islam impacted East African governments and religions AND Muslim
participation in the East African slave trade. Islam impacted East African governments because
a Muslim sultan or ruler governed most cities, and most government officials and wealthy
merchants were Muslim. Islam impacted East African religions because every town or city had a
mosque, which shows how they were able to spread their religion. Muslim traders sent Africans
to Arabia, Persia, and Iraq. They also shipped enslaved Africans across the Indian Ocean to
India.

4. Briefly describe Great Zimbabwe in Southern Africa, how trade shaped its development.
Great Zimbabwe in Southern Africa was an impressive city. Its population consisted of more
than 10,000 people and had massive walls built to impress visitors. Trade shaped its
development because it was located near an important trade route linking the goldfields with the
coastal trading city of Sofala. Later, Great Zimbabwe gained control of these trade routes and
became the capital of a thriving state.