Abstract This paper covers the Almoravid and Almohad -Berber Kings and the impact that they have had on society, as well as religion throughout time. The paper focuses on the influence that these kings had on northern Africa.
From the Paper "The history of the Berber people in northern Africa is both extensive and diverse. The name Berber comes from the word barbarians. Berbers make up a clear majority of the population of North Africa; Berber's represent 80% of the population in Morocco and Algeria, more than 60% in Tunisia and Libya and 2% in Egypt. The origin of Berbers is not certain, but it is safest to say that the Berbers were the original population of North Africa."
Abstract The author begins this paper with an examination of the development and decline of the Roman Empire and its various trade connections. The author moves on to look at the rise of Islam in the 7th century and the subsequent fall of the Axum Empire. The author continues by looking at the rise of Christianity in the Mediterranean region and its move into Africa and then how Islam essentially eliminated Christianity in those regions. The author then discusses Islam's effect on commerce and military matters and its development in Africa by means of conquests and it's ideology of equality among believers.
From the paper:
?The spread of Islam, from its heartland in the Middle East and North Africa to India and Southeast Asia, revealed the power of the religion and its commercial and sometimes military attributes. Civilizations were altered without being fully drawn into a single Islamic statement. A similar pattern developed in sub-Saharan Africa, as Islam provided new influences and contacts without amalgamating African culture as a whole to the Middle Eastern core. New religious, economic, and political patterns developed in relation to the Islamic surge, but great diversity remained.?
Abstract The discovery of the New World opened new markets for European colonizers, as well as new sources wealth. In the Americas, the rich and abundant land meant much wealth could be generated through industries such as agriculture. The only missing factor was a cheap source of labor in order to clear and farm the land. For this purpose, European colonizers turned to Africa. The kingdoms of Mali and Ghana were particular sources of slaves, since those kingdoms already had a system of slavery in place. This paper examines the cultural and political history of the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay. It examines how the systems of slavery in these kingdoms differed significantly from the system of slavery in the Americas. Furthermore, the paper looks at how the African slaves sought to preserve their African heritage, despite the different system of slavery predominant in the New World.
From the Paper "Another significant difference lies in the end of slave status. In the African kingdoms, slaves could earn their freedom through work. If they satisfied their debts, they could be removed from slavery. As an example, Sundjata rose from the ranks of slave to become ruler of the Mali Empire. Among the Songhay, slaves were treated not as outcasts, but as part of the extended family (Davidson 209)."
Abstract This paper determines the kind of influence the spread of Islam had on the daily life of inhabitants of the West African region. It asks how the spread of Islam affects the development of leadership and society in West Africa. The paper first looks at the concept of history to Islam and then focuses on three major empires during West African history before coming to a conclusion.
Outline
The Spread of Islam in West Africa
The Philosophy of History in Islam
The Spread of Islam into West Africa
Islam in Ancient Ghana
The Almoravids The Empire of Mali
The Empire of Songhay
Conclusion
From the Paper "The fundamental principle of Islamic history comes from its ideas on ?community,? which it derives from Islam, ??this community formed the "Islamic society" and built the "Islamic civilization" on the foundation of basic ideas. The essence of its thought is a humanitarian message to the world calling for freedom, justice, truth and equality.?(1) Islam in its true understanding is a "way of life" and a large frame for a comprehensive and complete ideology that links man with God, the universe and life. Islam in the movement of history is not the Muslim state nor is it Islamic civilization or the Arab nation, except insofar as it is related to that Islam itself. Islam appears through its history as a ?living being,? which has two ideals ? thought and civilization, which renews its cells and moves through periods of strength and weakness. Its constant movement is always forward as it the nature of a living being. (2)"
