Timbuktu's Golden Age

However, for the sake of this essay, I am going to focus on Islam, its introduction, its practice, and its role in the lives of West Africans in the 8th through 15th centuries. With that being said, historians date the arrival of Islam in West Africa to roughly the 8th century C.E. Islamic scholars who had come from Arabia, through the Savannah, began to write about the history of West Africa and the role their religion played [1]. With the spread of Islam came the expansion of trade routes spanning across the continent. Along these commercial highways, Islamic culture fostered intellectual development and innovation never before known in West Africa. With this philosophical and theological expansion came increased literacy among native peoples and thirst for knowledge that resonated among West Africans for centuries. In short, Islam and its practice had just as much of an effect on the material world of West Africans as it did their intellectual

Islam soon acquired vast amounts of territory in Afro-Eurasia, and according to the map, “The Growing Worlds of Islam (900-1500),” it occupied an area from parts of central Asia to West Africa and Eastern Europe by the start of the sixteenth century. This map documents the phases of the growth of Islam for six hundred years, which combined with further analysis will reveal each step in the conquest of each new phase of territory. Controlling all of these nations created standardized trade and common business practices throughout the empire. Using already intact trade routes, such as the Silk Roads, documented in the map provided as document 1, the Islamic empire built an economic system that was unified by common religious beliefs. Comparing the trade routes mapped on both the Silk Roads map and the “The Growing Worlds of Islam (900-1500)” map, one can see that they are very similar, suggesting that they remained the same and that the Islamic empire just took over the control of each. Yet it was not just the Silk Roads that saw a revival at the hands of Muslim commercial excursions. The Mediterranean and Indian Ocean sea routes, as well as the trans-Saharan routes were given new life as well due to the Islamic empire. These routes not only produced trade, but they also opened up opportunities for new agricultural products and a sharing of ideas and innovations. These

Muslims make up almost 90% of the population in Mali1. Coming from this specific demographic the majority is made up of Malakite Sunni, influenced with Sufism. Although, Ahmaddiya and Shia branches are also present2. In the 9th century, Muslim Berber and Tuareg merchants were the first to bring Islam into the Western African territories, a far cry from their northern home front. Islam was also noted to have been spread into the region by founders of Sufi Brotherhoods, known as Tariqah 3 4. The West African Savannah was then religiously linked to Islam because of this conversion. A monotheistic belief, followed by new forms of social, political, and artistic additions to the territories brought them together and united them. This allowed for a greater connection between the separated tribes and people amongst them, most of whom were fairly secluded in both cultural and partisan senses.

West Africa has experienced migration, because of the cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups it contains, and because of the minerals, and goods it can produce. Around the ninth century C.E., in the trans- Saharan route, slave trade became popular. These slaves were used by the Arabs for military service, administration, domestic service, and concubinage. Extensive trade in the region led to urbanization, as well as the introduction of Islam. Muslim Berbers contributed to the expansion of Islam, by controlling the trade routes in Africa, and becoming conduits for economic activities, by the tenth century. During the mid-11th century, cities like Gao and Timbuktu had Muslim scholars traveling the routes, because of the intrusion of the Almoravids, and this resulted in turning these cities into hotspots for study and trade. The eleventh century brought the acceptance of the Islamic culture, and led to conversion of the elites, so they can have legal, political, administrative, cultural, and economic benefits. The Islamic culture did not disrupt indigenous African shamanist and animist beliefs, it united ethnic groups, and led to the development of Islamic states throughout Africa. (Africa, 3000 B.C.-A.D. 1500 / West African Trade /

Islam was also spread along both trade routes for commercial purposes. The arab religion was used among China and East Africa as a factor for exchanging good to new areas along Eurasia and East Africa. Islamic trading system had been used to import silk to Central Asia and areas around it, providing more arabian culture to new regions along the Silk Road. Islam also had played a part in the Indian Ocean trade by being introduce by arabian traders and leanding to a larger exchange among the Swahili cities and the african interior. The religion has caused commonality among the east african societies which influenced better connections among the interior of africa. These routes also had displayed education among buddhism and hinduism teachings.

They were prod of their history in farming. Then came the spread of Islam caused problem all Africa, It had been breaking up all of the African kingdoms and now it was in segu. It separated people, Family were being broken up because of this. This was also this was also the cause of many wars within segu. The wars that were caused because Islam was a major change from the African religion. One of the biggest differences between the two is that the African religion had many gods; there was always room to add more. Where Islam only believed in one god and that was Allah. As well as some of the African people did not understand why Islam was spreading or why people where joining the religion. Islam spreading all around Africa scared a lot of the people in segu because this would change all of the things that they believed and all of the their lives. The quote “Between instinctive feelings and intellectual reasoning” Shows how people’s minds were changing and becoming more accepting of Islam even throw they were scared of it some

1 According to The Oxford History of Islam, what is one way Islam was spread to African societies? Score of 1: States a way Islam was spread to African societies according to The Oxford History of Islam Examples: through trade routes; through the work of religious leaders; merchants were carriers/opened trade routes; merchants exposing isolated societies to external influences; integration of Muslim religious leaders into African societies; Muslim religious leaders played social/political roles similar to those of traditional priests; by people trading Score of 0: • Incorrect response Examples: merchants were agents of Islamization; by religious leaders forcing their views on isolated societies; there was conflict between traditional priests and Muslim men of religion • Vague response Examples: by being carriers; isolated societies were engaged; it was extended to men of religion; people • No response

Trade was a large part in why Islam spread so quickly. Mecca had several trading routes. “By the middle of the sixth century… Mecca was … prosperous and important (Doc A).” They were trading through the two main empires: Byzantine and Persian. East Africa, Spain, India, and China also traded with them. Mecca being at the center of the trading system, they brought in many tourists to see the famous holy shrine. With the help of communication people interested in Islam were also drawn because goods were not just traded, but the Islamic culture as well.

The trade between Islam and many other countries helped spread Islam. Trade leads to a good economy meaning more jobs (less unemployment). As people move around to trade they sometimes stay they traded to causing the spread of

The development of West Africa illustrates the advancements made in several different ways. Based on document #6, the city of Timbuktu acquired an advanced commercial center. Merchants sold a large quantity of corn, cattle, milk, and other dairy products. The city also consisted of knowledgeable artisans, including doctors, judges, and priests. It was a great Muslim educational center with more than 180 schools. The largest school taught more than 25,000 students! Timbuktu was a significant cultural and economic center with a wealthy population. The advancements made by this city show that the people of West Africa were educated, resourceful, and skilled in specific fields. Another accomplishment attained by West Africa was the development of griots. Based on document #2, a griot recounted history and “harbored secrets many

The Catholic church kept learning alive during the post-classical age, and Charlemange helped restore some church-based education to go with that. On the other hand, the rise of Islam was very beneficial as well. Islam spread the creation of a new empire in the Middle East and North Africa. Islam, based on the revelations of the Prophet Muhammad developed in the Arabian peninsula. The beliefs and practices of Islam reflected interactions among Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians with the local Arabian peoples. Muslim rule expanded to many parts of Afro-Eurasia due to military expansion, and Islam subsequently expanded through the activities of merchants, missionaries, and

Changes in political and cultural traditions during the post-classical period occurred in Africa because of intensive Islamic contact. When Arab conquerors introduced the Islamic faith into northern Africa, they expanded the region of commerce. Muslim merchants established trading centers for copper, iron, salts, and cotton textiles. The newly established trade affected traditional social and religious beliefs. After 1000 C.E., the kin-based social structure experienced difficult challenges. Increased conflict between peoples led to the creation of military forces for both offensive and defensive use. This led to the formation of chiefdoms exhibiting more formal structures of governing such as in the kingdoms of Kongo, Ghana, and Mali. Because most traders were Muslim, many African societies converted to Islam to improve their relations with the

The Spirit World (pg 25): Some West Africans who lived immediately south of the Sahara the Fulani’s in Senegal, the Mande-speakers in Mali, and the Hausas in northern Nigeria learned about Islam from Arab merchants and Muslim leaders called imams.

The question then to ask is why then did Christianity died from North Africa when Islam made it great advance during the centuries? Was there something unique about North Africa? Did the Muslims use a different technique in North

The conversion of Africa to Islam is known as one of the most important transformations of precolonial Africa. The spread of Islam in Africa can be credited to its regard for neighborhood societies. Muslims didn't drive Africans to change over to Islam and endured changes over joining components of indigenous religions with Islam. The Arabs additionally brought training and set up great focuses of learning in Cairo and Timbuktu. The feeling of fellowship between Muslims likewise fit well with the African feeling of group, and their faith in tending to the less lucky has affected various African people group. The spread of Islam also led to Swahili Urban Development, State Formation and an overall new way of life.