CHAPTER8: AFRICAN CIVILIZATION AND THE SPREAD OF ISLAM
CHAPTER8: AFRICAN CIVILIZATION AND THE SPREAD OF ISLAM Pp. 170-191 I. OVERVIEW A. Political 1. Many states were ruled by kinship groups (stateless societies) 2. Patriarch/council of elders of a family or group of lineages as leaders in Sudanic states 3. Distinctive regional towns that developed in western Sudan 4. Large states were ruled by a dominant family B. Social 1. Ruling families used titles such as emir or caliph to reinforce authority 2. Mixture of Islam and pagan practice and belief 3. Some kingdoms resisted Islam 4. Many Sudanic societies were matrilineal and recognized role of women C. Economic 1. International trade 2. Africa had 30-60 million inhabitants