The Changes In Western Sub-Saharan Africa

The introduction of trans-Saharan trade in Africa facilitated many changes in western sub-Saharan Africa. These changes most significantly affected the political and religious aspects of western sub-Saharan Africa. Between 600 and 1450 C.E., Western sub-Saharan Africa changed from a region where there were diverse local religious traditions practiced and there were regional kingdoms to a region where there was influence from Islam and the growth of empires as a result of the introduction of Islam and connection to the Islamic trading network. The existence of complex government due to trade and the presence of local, native traditions, however, remained constant throughout the period. As a result of the introduction of Islam and the connection to the Islamic trade network, religious changes began to occur in
During the earlier portion of the time period, Africans practiced native religious traditions. These traditions included animism, paganism and idol worship, monotheism (separate from Judeo-Christian), ancestor veneration, as well as capturing and scaring spirits through art and masks. While these traditions were being practiced throughout the region, Northern Africa was being conquered under the dar-al Islam by the Umayyad Caliphate and therefore had begun to be influenced by Islam. The kingdom of Ghana in western sub-Saharan Africa had been engaging in trans-Saharan trade with the Berbers of North Africa and with trade comes the spread of religion and culture. With the introduction of Islam, there was a surge of conversions by leaders and elites of Ghana in order to be more connected with the rest of Afro-Eurasia-both in and