Sub+Saharan+Africa

=__Islam In Sub Saharan Africa __by Kevin Schlegel =

**Insight: **
Islam made its way into the areas of the sub- Sahara around the 12th- 15th century C.E. Islam made its way into this area of the world, due to the high amounts of trade that occurred between the regions. Islam had first arrived in North Africa around 8th-12th century C.E. The people of North Africa had used the Atlantic coast that they lived on to trade with the areas south of them, which were along Africa's west side in the sub Saharan area. Along with sea travel, merchants used the Camel to help make trips through the desert to southern areas below the Sahara. The people in the Sub-Saharan area, lived in Sudanic States, such as Mali, and Ghana. Islam was first traded from North Africa to the people of Ghana. Merchants of course traded goods that the people of the land needed, but Islam was one of the many things to also be traded. Merchants from Ghana, than traded along routes on the Niger River to other Sub-Saharan civilizations.

Worlde On Sub-Saharan Africa
The wordle ubove, defines the most significant parts of Islam in sub-Saharan Africa. In sub Saharan Africa, Islam was spread through trade. Trade as seen in the wordle is one of the largest words present. Trade from the north and sub-Saharan area, caused Islam to be brought to the sub-Saharan region. Trade between the north and sub-Saharan brought Islam to Ghanna. From Ghanna, the people traded with neighboring societies along the banks of the Niger River. Our worlde has Niger and river as two of the largest words. This is because trade along the Niger River, united the several societies in the region under one religion through trade. Trade united the people along the banks under one religion which is Islam

GOOGLE MAP
media type="googlemap" key="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=timbuktu&sll=5.186688,-2.675171&sspn=1.542683,3.348083&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Timbuktu,+Tombouctou,+Mali&ll=16.77532,-3.008265&spn=23.648826,53.569336&z=5&output=embed" width="425" height="350" If you zoom out using the google map provided, you will end up seeing how the Sub-Saharan civilizations laid along the coast the the Atlantic. As stated in the insight, it was explained that the people of North Africa, used the Atlantic Ocean for sea trade, in order to access parts to the South. We can also see the Niger River, and how it lies along the areas of densely populated regions. These regions along the river traded with one another, and thus when Islam arrived in Ghanna, it was able to spread across the other civilizations using trade along the Niger River.

Image Analysis
media type="custom" key="7383937"

1)This map, taken from our text book, shows us the defined regions of the Sub-Saharan African societies. These societies known as Ghana, Mali, Songhay, were built in the area along the Niger River. Islam first developed in the society of Ghana, through trade with the northern parts of Africa. After it arrived in Ghanna, since the other regions were close by, Islam was traded along the Niger River trade routes. The Niger River, was the life of the people of Sub-Saharan Africa, and thus it was the most densely populated area in the sub-Sahara.

2)This map details the different religions that were Africa. If we gaze over to the area in Sub-Saharan Africa along the Niger River, we can see that Islam is the defined religion of the people. By looking at the map, we see that the areas where the Niger River begins to end, we see that Islam begins to vanish in the Sub-Saharan area. Thus it confirms that the densely populated areas along the Niger, were the areas where Islam flourished the most. The map also has gold and salt labeled in the Sub-Saharan region, because these were the most notable items that were traded with North Africa. They were one of the big reasons that the people of the Sub Sahara traded with the north.

3)This map has the time periods in which Islam made its way into the specific parts of Africa. By looking at the map we learn that North Africa obtained Islam around 8th to 12th century C.E. Trade between the North and sub-Saharan area would thus be influenced by Islam and begin making its way into the area around this time. If we look at the sub-Saharan area it tells us that Islam arrived in the areas around 12th- 15th century C.E.

4)The final image is a picture of a mosque. This mosque was built along the Niger River at Jenne. Jenne was known for being a trading town, which defines the major reason as to why Islam spread into Sub-Saharan Africa. Islam arrived through trade, and with it being brought to Africa new opportunities and influences came to the lands people. For example the people of Jenne known for trade,soon became known for a place of higher learning from Islamic scholars in the area.

Glog: Sub-Saharan Africa; the History of the Grasslands
media type="custom" key="7385159" My glog details several aspects about Islam in the sub-Sahran region. The first picture in the top left is a picture of a mosque in Timbuktu, the largest trading city in the sub Saharan area, where Islam had a large impact. The image in the top right, is a picture of gold specs. Gold was one of the many things traded in African civilizations, however what makes gold important to the history of Islam in the sub-Sahara, is that gold is what Ghanna traded with the North. By trading gold with people from the north, merchants were able to pass Islam on to Ghanna. Than Ghanna traded gold along the Niger River, in order to spread Islam throughout the sub-Saharan area. The middle left image, shows a king holding a piece of gold. This image is to show us how gold was desired by the vastly rich, and was a key in the trade of the area. The middle right image is a boat along the Niger River. This is to show us how merchants traded along the Niger River area to spread ideas and items. One city called Timbuktu, was the largest and center of trade in the sub-Saharan area. It hosted multiple merchants and is an area that greatly helped Islam spread. Timbuktu has mosques and other Islam related structures in the city, showing how it was a key city is Islam's growth in the region. The bottom left image of salt, also defines a heavily traded item. Salt was traded in Ghanna, with people of the north, as gold also was. This trade allowed for Islam to make its way into sub-Saharan Africa. The bottom right image, is of dates. Dates were also an item that was traded by the people of the sub-Saharan region.

The Niger River: The River Of The People
The Niger River was the life and blood of the people of Sub Saharan Africa. The following clip gives us some insight into how the Niger helped breathe life into the region. The Niger River started in parts of Guinea, which at the times of Islam's arrival, was known as the Ghana civilization. The river flowed than North towards the city of Timbuktu, which multiple African civilizations lived near. The river than flowed South towards the Atlantic Ocean. The Niger River allowed for the people of the Sub-Saharan to produce agriculture and trade. The river allowed for farmers to grow their crops using agriculture and produce food. The river also allowed for fisherman to obtain fish to also trade. Since multiple civilizations lived along the banks of the river, they could thus trade with one another. In this trade the people traded more than just art, food, and other materials. The trade along the Niger also traded and important piece to sub-Saharan African history, and that is the coming of Islam. __//**(PLEASE ONLY WATCH TILL 1:05)**//__ media type="youtube" key="b9LkpJdll9A?fs=1" height="385" width="480"

How did Islam spread?
In Sub-Saharan Africa, Islam made its way into the lives of the people, not by conquest, or force, but in fact by trade. The people of Ghanna based themselves in an area along the Niger River but also near the Atlantic coast. Islam had recently arrived in North Africa around 8th century C.E. People from North Africa, traded with the people of Ghanna. Some merchants traded using the Atlantic Ocean, as a way to cross the desert without having to go through it. Other merchants used camels, in order to cross through the Sahara desert in order to reach Ghanna. Merchants traded gold, salt, and even dates. Once Islam had been brought to Ghanna through trade with the north, it was traded along the Niger River. Ghanna was based near the Niger River, along with Mali, and Songhay. These societies used the Niger River, as a way to trade with one another, and thus after Islam arrived in Ghanna, it would make its way to the other societies along the Niger.

Growth of Trade within the Islamic world
Trade developed between the major civilizations along the Niger River, long before Islam came into sub-Saharan Africa. The people of Ghanna however, did trade with North Africa, and thus brought Islam their way with this trade. Than once the people of Ghanna began to trade along the Niger River, they brought with them the Islam that they gainend from the north. Trade was the vital reason Islam made it to this area. Cities such as Timbuktu which were heavy centers of trade, were greatly influenced by Islam.

Urbanization and Islam
The banks of the Niger River, held the most densely populated area in sub-Saharan Africa. The people lived along the river, knowing that it was their life line. People used the Niger River for agriculture and trade. The Niger River, allowed for farmers to grow crops, and allowed people to fish for food. The other usage of the river, was that it was used for trade. Timbuktu was the center of trade along the Niger River, being the largest trading city in the area. When Islam arrived in the region, kings began to use it as a way to reinforce indigenous ideas of kingship. Islam also influenced areas such as the city of Jenne, into becoming areas of learning. Jenne for example became the center of learning in the sub-Saharan area.

Architecture throughout the Islamic world
Islam developed multiple structures in the sub-Saharan area. The people along the Niger River, began to construct mosques for worshiping. One of the great mosques built in the sub-Saharan area, was the great mosque at Jenne. The mosque was built in Mali, along the Niger River. Another mosque built in Dogon Village in Mali. The mosques of the sub-Saharan area, however differed in architecture style from the classical mosques of the Arabian Penninsula.

Examples of Syncretism and Islam
In sub-Saharan Africa, the kings and rulers changed Islam to blend with most African ideas. In Mali for example, Sunni ‘Ali a Muslim, tried to compromise between paganism and Islam although he prayed and fasted. The scholars called it merely a mockery. His ideas were challenged, but he attempted to blend Islam and most common African practices.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Reactions to Islam.
<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Rulers began to used it as a type of cult for themselves. Islam was blended by rulers to be part African culture in several ways.