Sub-Saharan African Society Chapter 18 Summary

Chapter 18

States and Societies of
Sub-Saharan Africa
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1

Effects of Early African Migrations
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Bantu-speaking peoples settle south of equator
Agriculture, herding spreads with Bantu migrations Iron metallurgy

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2

Cultivation of Bananas
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Domesticated in southeast Asia
Malay sailors colonize Madagascar, 300-500 C.E.
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Introduce bananas, yams, chickens

Well-adapted to African climate
Food supply increases with this key crop

©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

3

Population Growth

©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

4

Kin-Based Societies
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Sex and Gender Relations
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Men work with specialized skills
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Both sexes work in agriculture
Male rule more common, but some expanded roles for women
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Tanning, iron work
Heavy labor

Merchants, some military activity

Islamic norms slow to penetrate African society
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25

Age Grades
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From early agricultural period, Sudan
Peer groups of single age cohort
Crosses lines of family and kinship

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26

Slavery
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Practiced since ancient times
Most slaves captives of war
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Debtors
Suspected witches
Criminals

Used principally in agricultural labor
Slaves a form of personal wealth, social status

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27

Slave Trading
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Increased trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean trade stimulates slave trade, ninth century C.E.
Africa replaces eastern Europe as principal source of slaves
Creates internal African slave trade
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More powerful states attack smaller