Kush Empire
- 1070 BC
- Conquered Nile Valley in 750 BC
- Had an organized system of government
- Built capitol new capital at Meroë
- After time, gods of Meroë replaced Egyptian gods
- Adapted Egyptian hieroglyphics and developed own alphabet
- Learned to make iron tools and weapons
- Had trade
- 350 AD ended
Swahili
- Famous for accomplishments in trade
- Trading posts were set up on along the coast
- Golden age: started trade with China and traded for porcelain with gold, ivory, and slaves
Axum Empire
- Emerged before Kush died
- Center of trade, traded spices, gems, and ivory with Egypt
- Conquered Kush in AD 350
- Have own language called Geëz
Ghana Empire
- Soninke founded
- First powerful West African kingdom
- Governed lands through princes and officials chosen by emperor
- Emperor’s power: gold trade (controlled all gold mined in empire)
- Kingdom was invaded and broke into small states in 1076
Zimbabwe
- Control of gold mines gave rulers of Zimbabwe their power
- Many stone palaces and buildings
- Were built with only stone and held together by themselves
- Power struggles weakened Zimbabwe in 1500’s
Mali Empire
- Strong Mandingo leaders gained control of gold-producing areas and set up empire of Mali
- Mansa Musa, ruled from 1312 to 1337
- First grade African leader to make pilgrimage to Mecca
- Pushed empire in different directions
- Captured Tahgaza and its salt mines
- Many Mandingos converted to Islam
- Based justice system on the Koran
- Invited Muslim architects to build mosques
- Early 1400s, power struggles weakened empire and only existed as small state for next 20 years
Songhai Empire
- Created irrigation system
- Arose as Mali declined
- Captured Timbuktu and other centers of trade
- Invited Islamic teachers and writers to settle in Timbuktu (became center of learning)
- Fell in 1591 to invaders from Morocco
Kanem-Bornu Empire
- Founded 700 AD, existed as Bornu empire from 1380 - 1893
- Islam influence was expanded during Saifwa rule
- Mainly exported ostrich feathers, slaves, and ivory