Sub+Saharan+Africa


 * Sub Saharan Africa **

Islam begin to slowly spread toward the sub Saharan Africa with the help of merchants and travelers. North Africa Merchants and travelers has brought Islam with them by traveling to Saharan. Religious ideas and goods were exchange among each other. At the same time Islamic wave is spreading across North Africa. After the 10th century, Ghana and Takrur rulers have been converted to Islam and it was used to reinforce the original of kingship. Islam wasn't that welcoming to the people. Subanic states rulers begin to build mosques, attending public prayers, and supporting preachers.
 * ** Islam Spread **



With new developments, trade has slowly increase. By the 8th century, African states such as Ghana had begin to exchange golds from the forests of west Africa, Salt from the Sahara, and goods from the Mediterranean. The 3 main coasts that allow Africa to be in contact with other countries for trade is the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and the Savanna. Between the 1st and 5th centuries, camels were introduced from Asia to the Sahara that improved trade by the transportation it provided for people. Later on, the extensive grassland at the Southern edge of the Sahara became a main point of the exchange between the forest of South and North Africa. The trade has increase ideas and populations. While trading cities were developed by trade, African states begin to develop between the cities. By the 3rd century C.E, Ghana came into power due to the gold and salt exchanged within its borders.Slaves later on became apart of the trading system.
 * **Growth Of Trade**



Urbanization did not take much place in Saharan Africa. In the Mali Empire, economic basis of the society was agriculture that is combined with active tradition of trade in different products. The Mali Empire was ruled by a emperor name Sundiata along with his clans.Traditional patterns of the Savanna continues on. Loyalty and security such as travel being secure and crime being punished were maintain in the empire. Trade has made the Mali empire wealthy and large numbers of traders created Sumptuous court. Life wasn't consider to be the center on the royal court, the great mosque, or the long distance trade, but instead agricultural cycle and village was. About 80% villagers live by farming.
 * **Urbanization and Islam**



The most well known architecture in Saharan Africa is the mosques. The mosques is made out of beaten clay and wood beams for support. It contains a mirab tower and open court that reflects the ethnic and regional differences. It was a place for people to go to worship. West African mosques were influence by the traditional patterns of the Middle East and south Asia.
 * **Architecture**

Muslim and pagan traditions were combined together by states. By 1010 a capital was created at the Gao, the rulers of it became Muslim and the rest of the population remain pagan.The Sonyhay Empire has follow the patterns of the previous savanna states. Both of the Islamic and pagan populations/traditions continues on. Muslims wanted strict interpretation Islam law and was shock of how men and women were freely together in markets and streets.
 * **Syncretism and Islam**

Village communities, clans, and ethnic groups continues to organize the aspect of life in savanna. Islam created a faith that serves the interest of different groups. Religion and law has provided solidarity and trust to the merchants. Islamic titles were use by ruling families to reinforce the authority and surround themselves with literate advisers/scribes. In the early stages of Sudan, Islam has pagan practices and beliefs. Large amount of the population in Mali and Songhay never wanted to convert to Islam. The ones that don't convert usually maintain old beliefs. Islamic impacted on women to be more free. Slaves occupation in Islam were domestic servants, laborers, soldiers, and administrators.
 * **Reactions toward Islam**

Islam spread toward Sub-Saharan Africa mainly because of the development of trade. Merchants and travelers travel to the Saharan bringing a religion called Islam with them. Another way of Islam spreading toward the Saharan is the 3 coasts that is Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and savanna. These coasts has brought contacts from other countries into the Saharan, which means new ideas and religion were brought into Africa.The Saharan was lack of the role of the government. Due to not having a main government, they were not able to expand far and not organize at all. After the 10 century, rulers of Ghana and Takrur converted toward Islam to help maintain the original kinship, but Islam turn into a religion that were not that welcome to people. Subanic states rulers begin to build mosques, attending public prayers, and supporting preachers to show the worship of Islam. The mosque is made out of beaten clay and wood beam that's for support. It is consider to be a place where the Muslim are able to worship. By the 8th century, states such as Ghana begin to exchange golds, salts, and goods with other regions. Camels were use for transportation and carrying in the Saharan, which has improve trade and promote it. Urbanization didn't really take place in the Saharan Africa. The Mali Empire was ruled by a emperor name Sundiata and trade was the thing that help maintain the empire's wealth. Also the economy were depended mainly on agriculture. Muslim and pagan were traditions that were combined together by different state. For example, when Gao was created, rulers converted to Muslim, while the rest of the populations remain as pagan.
 * Summary:**