North+Africa

=﻿ **North Africa**=
 * Pre Islam **
 * Before Islam came in contact with the African tribes and clans it was nothing more than a stateless society. **


 * North Africa was not a unified state or in terms of a unified group of people **


 * There was no official religion although some practiced the idea of Animistic worshiping a being of nature and animals **


 * Arrival of Islam to North Africa **


 * Muhammad's followers arrived around 640-700 C.E. **


 * When Islam arrived their were massive coverts to the new religion **


 * Islam spread in Africa due mainly in part to the Sufi's or holy men who carried the message of Allah and Muhammad to the non Muslims **


 * below is a picture of a modern Sufi **



Islam spread in North Africa mainly due to its teachings that all Muslims are equal the community of believers making it more accepting for the local population to accept from these new conquerors and rulers

The Islamic tradition of uniting the powers of the state and religion in a single person appealed to African Kings who sought to use this as a way to strengthen their own authority.

Growth of Trade within the Islamic world

on the Swahili Coast of East Africa a string of ports tied to trade would trade with those coming and going to the Persian Gulf.

The land of Zenj attracted much attention by the Arabs who seek trade

Towns and trade cities would trade Ivory, gold, iron, slaves, and exotic animals in exchange for silk from Persia

The trading of slaves was also a popular trade item trade caravans from African interior often brought slaves and gold to be traded.





At this point in time North Africa was fully involved in trade in the Mediterranean and Arab economies Iron works were highly advanced and valued by merchants


 * Urbanization and Islam**


 * Over time as Islam further cemented its position in North Africa we see little urbanization if any at all. **


 * The Muslim overlords mainly ruled people who lived in shacks and straw huts that surrounded their own palaces **


 * However cities were large built by the wealth from trade **


 * Mainly villages with farmers who would farm areas of land no more than 10 acre's Islamic beliefs did not penetrate deeply into this group as opposed to the upper class **


 * In Kano Muslim rulers ruled a urbanized royal court in fortified capital overlooking animistic villages **


 * African states tended to have mainly villages as oppose to large towns and citites **


 * Architecture throughout Islamic World **

Mosques began to be built for prayers

buildings began to use clay incorporating wood beams for support and a open courtyard were the regional differences in buildings

In mosques in Iran its is a domed shape while in West Africa its more of a square shape

their is also clear cut-stone architectures made by the Arabs

In the East African trade ports ruling families built mosques and places for the many Muslim merchants and to proclaim themselves to be descendants of immigrants from Shiraz in Persia to legitimize their positions





Here is a Wordle to summarize so far

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 * Examples of Syncretism and Islam**
 * African Kings began to use Islamic titles such as emir or caliph to reinforce their own authority**
 * North African civilizations such as Kush and Ethiystem opia had developed their own writing systems why others merely adopted the Arabic system**
 * Rulers supported Islam in return the sermons had to be faithful emphasize obedience and support the king**
 * In Sawhili culture the tracing of a family line was a dynamic hybrid where family lineage would be traced through paternal line as in Muslim custom and the maternal line.**
 * Islam in Sudan tended to include pagan pratices and belief fusing with local beliefs**




 * Reactions to Islam**


 * The reactions toward the spread of Islam into North Africa was welcomed**


 * The people at the time had no official religion except for pagan rituals and belief in nature spirits**


 * Islam brought equality to those worshiping in the community as a whole**


 * Women and men both had equal rights in the Islamic community**


 * African kings saw this new religion as a means of consolidating control over their kingdoms**




 * The map above is clear in showing us that Islam was welcomed by the tribes and it spread down to the eastern coast areas where trade was big**

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 * above is a African's perspective on Islam in Africa from youtube**