African Civilizations And The Spread Of Islam

1. “The particular cultures and societies of Africa and of the Americas discussed in this chapter

1. Ogburn identifies four social revolutions that have occurred as the result of new technologies. The first was the move from the hunter-gathered model to pastoralism or horticulturalism, where people settled either to raise animals or to grow plants for food. Technologies for hunting or agriculture made such moves possible. As we were able to learn enough about food production to remain in one place for extended periods, we chose to do so.

800-1500 C.E. Byzantium and Islamic contact outside of Africa increased with assistance from changes in social, religious and technology

“Antiquity reminds us that modernity could not have been predicted, that Africans were not always under the heel but were in fact at the forefront of human civilization.” (Chapter 1 p.8) To begin the journey of the African diaspora, there must first be an intricate investigation on the cultures in Africa. As we know Africa makes up fifty-four countries with well over a thousand ethnic groups who often has there own language, rituals, and traditions that are practiced and have been practiced for centuries. To understand each tribe’s mission would be impossible but in this course, I have learned about the humble of beginnings of that which we call Africa.

In the years before the Postclassical Period, the northern African region was predominantly influenced by polytheistic and animistic religions. The region also held a variety of nomadic cultures that had a major focus on clan and family relationships. In familial roles, men had a different and higher standard than women. In 610 C.E., the religion of Islam was founded in the northern African region, and the establishment of this religion effectively revolutionized the region and its effects lasted for years afterwards. The emergence of Islam was the first instance in world history in which a religion, through its universal elements, was able to effectively revolutionize social relationships, political institutions, and economic establishments that helped completely unite societies within the region, and also was able to effectively spread itself across multiple empires within the Indian Ocean region.

William G. Pollard, a physicists, had once said,”Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement…” (Pollard). Throughout history most of the great periods of change can be traced back to an event or discovery. In early man, man hunted for food with his hands until he acquired the technology necessary to make weapons. During this period, man hunted and gathered food as they walked through the vast earth. This was until the discovery of agriculture and farming allowed many to stay in one spot and raise a family. We have witnessed changes due to the spread of religion, and great periods of change brought forward by the industrial and technological revolutions. It is important to

Islam is growing more popular by the year and is the second most practiced religion in the world, behind Christianity. One of the most heavily influenced places is Northern Africa. Northern Africa is the home of the second most concentrated population of Muslims in the world, following the Middle East.

Brian, the rise and fall of kingdoms and nations prior to the rise of the European era dominance intrigues me. Even more specifically, the rise of Africa, to its current condition today is almost mind boggling and begs the question, why? Yet again, we find that resources and religion (Islam) played a significant role in the growth of a civilization (Schultz, 2009). However, as is the case when greed is involved eventually individuals or countries over-extend their reach, or deplete the resources and Africa was no different. This not only follows in natural resources but in humans as well, with African Kingdoms and tribes taking slaves from kingdoms or tribes that believed differently.

The spread of Islam occurred differently in many different parts of the African continent in such places like North Africa, Western Sudan, and the Swahili coast. The Islamic religion spread slowly but was spread in a proficient way in that it grew to large numbers within Africa. After the spread of Islam in Medina, Muslim troops marched into Egypt around 641 A.D. and claimed Egypt as an Islamic State spreading the religion to the Egyptian people. Eventually, the Islamic Caliphate of Umayyad would travel to modern day Algeria and Morocco, in approximately 680 A.D., to spread to the word of Islam to Northern Africa. By the 10th Century, Islam was introduced by Berber traders from North Africa and created the three stages for adoption of

According to khanacasemy.com West Africa started from Modern Mauritania to Democratic Republic. West Africa has many rainforest with drier land towards the North, and Africans were hunters and gatherers. They maintained animals in the dry area and grew vegetables in the wooded area. At this time and amongst the African societies there was something known as ‘human bondage’. Example: Upper class, Middle class, Lower class. As I stated earlier the family

In recent years, Islam is a religion that have been a controversial topic due to its current followers enacted violent disruptions in recent events. Mr. Z mentioned how the spreading of early Islam was violent in its early history like these modern day violence, “Early Islam spread by war, by the sword, and only by the war and sword.” Fred Donner, author of Muhammad and the Believers, wrote about the early history of Islam and how it all started. Donner would partilly agree to Mr. Z statement about how War was a factor that helped early Islam to spread, but would challenge him that it is not the only reason how the religion spread. According to Donner, other methods that allowed early Islam to spread was the establishment of a monotheistic

The sustainability of Africa in her ancient existence is not debatable as her subjects flourished in joy, happiness, unity and stability characterized with political stability, economic growth, and social stability; her subjects were Africa traditional religion conscious as they patronized spiritualism keened to the Africa culture. Africa in ancient times experienced orderliness in all her spheres as the hierarchical status of societal personnels was regarded, respected and honoured by the subjects. Furthermore, the ancient Africa entity was in possession of unique and numerous natural and mineral resources that aided her sustainable living. They had immense manpower, technocrats, artists, business tycoons as well as traditional herbs that

I completely agree with this statement, I think Gomez' narrative of the history of Africans in the Islamic World is indeed favorable.

Being the first country where humans lived, Africans followed the nomad lifestyle; hunter-gatherer. By 1000 A.D. larger kingdoms were formed to control land and resources. In the 1800 Europeans began to take control of coastal Africa for slaves, goods, and gold. By 1880 small areas of Africa were now in control by the Europeans. But after WWll European countries weren’t financially stable to rule Africa by 1950 Africa was beginning to win its independence. Africa has more than over 250 languages spoken and a religious divide between the Muslim north and Christian south.

Africans are raised differently than westerners, instead of being independent individuals they are taught to be interdependent members of a community made by