WORLD ERAS VOLUME 10 WEST AFRICAN KINGDOMS 5OO - 1159O WORLD ERAS VOLUME 1O WEST AFRICAN KINGDOMS 5OO - 159O P I E R RE -DAMIEN MVUYEKURE A MANLY, INC. BOOK GALE® THOMSON GALE Detroit • New York San Diego * San Francisco * Cleveland • New Haven, Conn. * Waterville, Maine * London • Munich THOMSON GALE World Eras Volume 10: West African Kingdoms, 500–1590 Pierre-Damien Mvuyekure Editorial Directors Matthew J. Bruccoli and Richard Layman Series Editor Anthony J. Scotti Jr. © 2004 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of ALL RIGHTS RESERVED While every effort has been made to The Gale Group, Inc., a division of No part of this work covered by the copyright ensure the reliability of the information Thomson Learning, Inc. hereon may be reproduced or used in any form presented in this publication, The Gale or by any means—graphic, electronic, or Group, Inc. does not guarantee the accuracy of Gale and Design™ and Thomson Learning™ mechanical, including photocopying, record- the data contained herein. 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Farmington Hills, Ml 48331-3535 Permissions Hotline: 248-699-8006 or 800-877-4253, ext. 8006 Fax: 248-699-8074 or 800-762-4058 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA West African kingdoms, 500–1590/edited by Pierre-Damien Mvuyekure. p. cm.—(World eras; v.10) "A Manly, Inc. book." Includes bibliographical references and indexes. ISBN 0-7876-6047-7 (alk. paper) 1. Africa, West—History—To 1884. I. Mvuyekure, Pierre-Damien. II. Series. DT476.W48 2003 966'.02—dc21 2003008079 Printed in the United States of America 1098765432 1 ADVISORY BOARD JOHN M. AREVALO Harlandale High School San Antonio, Texas ROBERT R BAADER Brother Rice High School Chicago, Illinois CATHY CHAUVETTE Sherwood Library Alexandria, Virginia HEIDI ROUPP World History Association Aspen, Colorado To Anathalie Mukagasana, Anita Bwiza, Michael Mugabajeni, and Malcolm-Aimé Musoni To the victims of the Rwandan genocide, including my mother, uncle, and other relatives CONTENTS ABOUT THE SERIES xv TIMELINE xvii INTRODUCTION xxv PERMISSIONS xxx ACKNOWLEDGMENTSS xxxi CHAPTER 1: WORLD EVENTS Chronology 1 CHAPTER 2: GEOGRAPHY Chronology 78 Overview 81 Topics in Geography Land and Water Resources 82 Migration 85 West Africa as a Cultural Hearth 86 West Africa on European Maps 90 West African Geography and Regional Influences 91 Significant People Abu Ubayd al-Aziz al-Bakri 93 Abu Abd Allah Muhammad Ibn Battuta 93 Abu Abd Allah al-Idrisi 93 Abu Abd Allah Muhammad Ibn Musa al-Khawarizmi 94 Leo Africanus 94 Documentary Sources 95 CHAPTER 3: THE ARTS Chronology 98 Overview 100 Topics in the Arts Architecture 101 The Art of Adornment 105 The Art of Attire 108 Carving and Sculpture 109 Ceramics and Pottery 112 Cross-Cultural Influences 113 Literary Artists 114 Literature: Oral Traditions 115 IX Music as Speech 117 Theater and Dance 119 Significant Person Abu Ishaq Ibrahim al-Sahili 122 Documentary Sources 123 CHAPTER 4: COMMUNICATION, TRANSPORTATION, AND EXPLORATION Chronology 126 Overview 131 Topics in Communication, Transportation, and Exploration Communication: Oral and Nonverbal Traditions 133 Communication: Written Traditions 137 Courtesy and Hospitality 143 Desert Travel 144 Expanding Trade Routes 146 Transportation by Watercraft and Horseback 148 Travelers from West Africa 150 Voyages to West Africa 152 Significant People Mansa Abubakari II 155 Oba Esigie 155 Mahmoud al-Kati 156 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sa'di 156 Mansa Sakura 157 Documentary Sources 158 CHAPTER 5: SOCIAL CLASS SYSTEM AND THE ECONOMY Chronology 162 Overview 165 Topics in Social Class System and the Economy The Economic Context for State Building 167 The Economic Context of Population and Social Class 175 The Economics of State Operation 177 The Trans-Saharan Caravan Trade 179 Significant People Abu Bakr ibn Umar 183 Tunka Menin 183 Sandiki 183 Zaynab of Qayrawan 184 Documentary Sources 184 X CHAPTER 6: POLITICS, LAW, AND THE MILITARY Chronology 188 Overview 193 Topics in Politics, Law, and the Military Constitutional Monarchies 195 Empires and Unification 197 Government and Religion 201 Hereditary Succession and Political Instability 203 Indigenous Legal Systems 205 Islamic Jurisprudence 207 Military Forces 209 Military Leaders and Strategies 211 Politics and the Military 214 War Gods and Rituals 216 Weapons and Fortifications 218 Significant People Queen Amina 220 Oba Ewuare Ogidigan 220 Mai Idris Alooma 221 Askia Muhammad I 221 Mansa Musa 222 Sundiata 223 Sunni All 224 Documentary Sources 225 CHAPTER 7: LEISURE, RECREATION, AND DAILY LIFE Chronology 228 Overview 232 Topics in Leisure, Recreation, and Daily Life Clothing and Ornaments 233 Food and Drink 236 Housing and Furnishings 238 Leisure Activities 242 Sports 243 Documentary Sources 245 CHAPTER 8: THE FAMILY AND SOCIAL TRENDS Chronology 248 Overview 250 Topics in the Family and Social Trends Ancestor Worship and the Elderly 252 XI Ancestry and Kinship: Defining the Family 253 Ancestry and Kinship: Rules of Descent 254 Ancestry and Kinship: Rules of Residency 256 Aspects of Courtship 256 Aspects of Marriage 258 Attitudes toward Sexuality 260 Birth Control and Pregnancy 262 Child Birth and Child Rearing 262 Childless and Unmarried People 266 Desertion and Divorce 268 Economic Aspects of Family Life 268 Education 270 Festivals 272 Funerals and Burial Ceremonies 273 Documentary Sources 274 CHAPTER 9: RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY Chronology 276 Overview 278 Topics in Religion and Philosophy African Traditional Religions: Functionaries 280 Centers of Religious Activity 282 Cults and Rituals 284 Deities of the Akan Religion 290 Deities of the Igbo Religion 292 Deities of the Yoruba and Fon Religions 295 Islamic and Christian Influences 302 Metaphysical and Moral Ideas in Traditional Religions and Philosophy 304 Mythology 307 Social and Political Philosophy 309 Significant People Ahmad Baba 313 Obatala 313 Documentary Sources 314 CHAPTER 10: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND HEALTH Chronology 316 Overview 320 Topics in Science, Technology, and Health Construction Technology and Architecture 322 Cosmology and Astronomy 326 Health 327 XII