Sub-Saharan Africa PERSIAN Chart
(Early Modern)
by Daniel Nakazono
Political
Just before the 16th century, the Portuguese invaded and conquered Morocco in Africa. The portuguese set up camps and within 30 years began shipping Africa's slaves back to portugal. Nearly 40 years later they built a strong fort at El Mina. When Europe began its expansion to Africa they started to take part in the slave trade as well. Eventually in 1591 the Songhay Empire fell. Due to the increasing slave trade, influential states such as Asante and Dahomey rose in the West and in the East Sudan became the stronghold.
Economy
African slaves were beginning to be shipped around the world through the Atlantic slave trade from africa to places such as England in the middle of the 1600's. In 1562 England began business with Africa (exchange for African slaves). This was not the first slave shipment though, bout a century earlier, the first slaves were shipped to Portugal. Portugal had previously captured Morocco in Africa, this began European expansion into africa. In the 17th century however, heads were turned, though slave trade was still going on, people began to want gunpowder for weapons. They also produced gold and ivory to other parts of Africa and other countries.
Religion
Islam is the dominant religion in this region. When slavery erupted here Muslims had certain rights. For example it was illegal to enslave a Muslim, however Pagans and Nonbelievers could be enslaved. Even though Muslims were spared from slavery, sometimes they were still enslaved. Ahmad Baba of Timbuktu was a legal scholar spoke against the enslavement of Muslims in many Sudanic states.
Society
African slave life was a big part of the society of Sub-Saharan africa at this time. So how did the slaves live. In all cases the conditions were inhumane and beyond belief, however some were worse than others. Often they became slaves after their homes were destroyed and were captured in war. They were separated from their family and friends and often forced to move by foot hundreds of miles to the inner sections of Africa where they would become slaves or to coasts where they would be shipped off to other countries and be slaves there. In some cases the shipping conditions would be so horrendous that on 16 of the 700+ slaves survived the shipment. This however didn't improve any living conditions.
Innovations
Innovations such as decorative houses (mainly the doors) depict and show the value of variety and personality in this region. Also in the arts, such as ivory heads after european leaders and mosques of Adobe for temperature regulation.
Arts and Architecture
Europeans influenced the art of many African artists. In some cases the artists would craft artifacts resembling important or influential to them. One artist cared an ivory head of a Benin monarch. Because of this many artists were hired to work for Europeans and produce their arts. Timbuktu is an excellent example of the architecture of early modern Sub-saharan africa. The common houses were tan made out of adobe, with wooden doors. The doors were often decorated according to the tennants taste, this allowed the families of each house to show individuality and personality. Huge Mosques were built out of the same Adobe brick.
Near Geographic
Sub-Saharan Africa relies on 7 main rivers that allow for civilization to develop. The Nile and White and blue Nile, as well as the Zaire, Zimbabwe and Orange Rivers, and the very important Niger River. This region of Africa is mostly flat deserty and surrounded by vital rivers.
It is mostly dry and hot most of the year in most places.
It is mostly dry and hot most of the year in most places.
Sources
http://international.loc.gov/intldl/malihtml/history.html
http://www.essential-humanities.net/world-history/sub-saharan-africa/
Stearns, Peter N. World Civilizations: The Global Experience. Advanced Placement ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2003. Print.
http://www.essential-humanities.net/world-history/sub-saharan-africa/
Stearns, Peter N. World Civilizations: The Global Experience. Advanced Placement ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2003. Print.