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Societies and Empires of Africa (Balance (Stateless Societies (Age-Set…
Societies and Empires of Africa
Balance
Stateless Societies
Family Organization
In African society family organization if very important
African groups developed systems of government based on each lineages
Lineage groups took place as rulers
All families are organized into Lineages
Members of Lineage believed they were descendants of a common ancestor
Lineage Include past generations (spirits and ancestors), future generations (children not born yet) along with living members.
How is lineage important to stateless societies
It allowed there to be some sort of government without everything getting out of control. It also allowed all the lineage to have a part in leading and ruling
Members are very loyal to each member
Stateless societies did not have a centralized system of power
Since there was no authority in a stateless society, power was slit between all the lineage
No family had more power than the other.
Tracing Family Descent
Society traces lineage based on how possessions and property are passed on what groups individuals belong to
Members of a patrilineal society trace their ancestors through their fathers
Inheritance passes from father to son.
When a son marries his wife and kids remain part if his fathers extended family.
In a matrilineal society, children trace their ancestors through their mothers.
Young men from a matrilineal culture inherit land and wealth from their mother's family
Men usually will hold the position of authority
How would a conflict between youngest cousins be resolved?
It's all based on mother and father with cousins they will each have different societies unless their fathers are brothers or their mothers are sisters.
Age-Set System
In many African societies young people form close ties to individuals outside their lineage through the age set system.
An age set consist of young people within a region who are born during a certain time period
Each age set passes together through clearly identified life stages
Warrior
Elder
Ceremonies mark the passage to each new stage
Men and women have different life states.
Each stage has its own duties and importances
Societies use the age set system to teach discipline, community service and leadership skills to their young
In this section they are trying to find balance between families and lineage. As well has trying to trace ancestors
Change
Muslim States
Islam played a vital role in North Africa
Muslims converted people through conflict and peaceful enlightenment
By 670, Muslims ruled Egypt and entered the Maghrib
African rulers converted also - and African Muslim rulers based their government on Islamic law
Muslim rulers relied on religious scholars as opposed to government advisors
Almoravid Reformers
Berber Muslims made a hajj, a pilgrimage, to Mecca
Mecca is Islam's holiest city and all Muslims must perform this pilgrimage as an act of worship at least once in their lifetime
https://www.hziegler.com/articles/hajj.html
Convinced a Muslim Scholar named Abd Allah Ibn Yasin to teach their people about Islam
Strict religious brotherhood - Almoravids
1050s - Ibn Yasin led Almoravids in an effort to spread Islam. After his death, they found Marrakech - their capital
Overran West African empire and captured parts of southern Spain, where they were called Moors
Ribat - Fortified ministry
Islamic Law
Religious Obligation - no separation between personal life and religious life, and Islamic law regulates almost all areas of human life
Berbers - independent desert and mountain dwellers, maintained Berber identities and loyalties while accepting Islam
Two main groups - Almoravids and Almohads
Almohads Take Over
Followed the teachings of Ibn Tumart
Urged his followers to strictly obey the teachings of the Quar'an and Islamic law
Abd al-Mumin - fought to overthrow the Almoravids and remain true to the view of traditional Islamic beliefs
1148 - Almohads controlled most of Morocco and ended Almoravid rule. The territory of new Muslim reformers extended from Merrakech to Tripoli and Tunis.
The Almohad Empire lasted just over 100 years
How do states governed by Islamic law differ from the United States?
The law was a religious obligation - to follow the law was to be religious, and the Islamic law was completely involved in personal human life. This is different from the United States' law because our law doesn't regulate our choices and beliefs.
How did the Almoravids and the Almohads differ?
The Almoravids were focused more on land in an effort to extend their Islamic religion while the Almohads wanted more of a peaceful spread.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribat
The Concept of change is shown in this section because the introduction of Islam proposes a change in the African society. As the Muslim religion spread, it affected the way the government system operated especially
Hunting-Gathering Societies
Culture
Efe is a hunting-gathering group in Africa
Q: T
o what might the Efe attribute their long success as a hunting-gathering society
A: The Efe can contribute how they didn't stay in one place for very long this meant they wouldn't run out of resources and can keep being a healthy group. Also they weren't strictly ruled by anyone so people didn't get upset and could do what they want which made people want to stay
Forest Dwellers
They make their home in the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Homes aren't permanent the search for food causes them to be nomadic and keep few things when they move
Live in small groups between 10 and 100 members all of whom are related
Men and older boys do the hunting for the group while the women gather things like roots, yams, mushrooms and seeds.
They keep up on resources by trading crops, and game to the farmers in the nearby villages
Social Structure
Q;
What feature of the Efe Social Structure is most like that of a democratic society
A: The feature in the Efe that is most like a democratic society is that people are allowed to make there own choice.
Respected older male usually serves as the groups leader
Daily life for the Efe is not governed by formal written laws
Each family within the band makes it own decisions and is free to come and go
