Africa

c. 1200-1450

Contents

Africa, c. 1200-1450:

• Objectives
• Maghrib & Ethiopia
• Ghana & Benin
• Mali & Songhai
• The Swahili Coast
• ​​Kongo & Great Zimbabwe

Objectives

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• ​​Explain how and why states in Africa developed and changed over time.

pre-colonial cultures of Africa (c. 500 BCE to 1500 CE)

​​In Africa, as in Eurasia and the Americas, state systems demonstrated continuity, innovation, and diversity and expanded in scope and reach.

Maghrib & Ethiopia

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Article: African Gods: Deities, Belief Systems, and Legends of Africa

audio pronunciation guide:

• Ifriqiya
• Maghrib
• Almohadis
• Ethiopian empire
• Zagwe dynasty
• Lalibela
• Bet Giorgis
• Kebra Negast

​Ghana & Benin

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audio pronunciation guide:

Ghana

• traded gold and salt
• Animism
• Koumbi-Saleh

Benin

• Ewuare
• Bronze artwork
• Yoruba
• Ife
• Oyo

Mali & Songhai

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University of Timbuktu

Article: The True Story Of Sundiata Keita, The ‘Lion King’ Who Founded The Mali Empire

Article: The Story of Sundiata: An Enduring West African Epic

audio pronunciation guide:

• Mali
  • Sundiata
  • Mansa Musa
  • ​Timbuktu
  • Jenne
  • Ibn Battuta
  • Juula
  • griots
• Songhai​
  • Gao
  • Sunni Ali
  • Askia Muhammad
  • What allowed Moroccans to defeat the Songhai?
• Hausa

​​​

The Swahili Coast

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audio pronunciation guide:

• Swahili language
• Kilwa
• Zanj
• Islamic slave trade

​Kongo & Great Zimbabwe

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audio pronunciation guide:

• Great Zimbabwe
  • Shona people

• Mutapa empire
  • Mutota​

​

• Kongo
  • Mbanza Kongo
  • Bantu

African Civilizations (comprehensive)

African Civilizations (abridged)

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