Islam in Saharan Africa and its impact on subsequent civilizations

Islam

The coming of Islam

After the penetration of Islam, the sub-Saharan African culture was impressed by it. Islam linked the people of Africa to the Eurasian system of business and gave them some new concepts regarding commerce, political organization and religion.

Northern Africa, before the advent of Islam was based on the principles of Christianity. But, after the arrival of Islam in Northern Africa, a large part of the Berber population converted from Christianity to Islam and made Sijilimasa and Fez as their regional states. The Islamic principles of equality and brotherhood put all the Berbers, Arabs and Africans on equality (John P. McKay, Ebrey, Beck, & Crowston., 2009).

.After blending of Islam with the culture of Africa, many states of Africa was created in the grasslands south of the Sahara. The influence of Islam came in Africa through the Indian Ocean, the savanna and the Atlantic. Main African states were developed in the savanna. In addition to this, many Sudanic states were developed in the sub-Saharan savannas. They were controlled by a particular council or patriarch from a kinship group. Islam helped in the development of kinship in these states. Mali, "The Liion Prince" was formed after the attack from Ghana in the thirteenth century. For sustaining their power, the Mali's noble family, like many kingdoms of Sudan, embraced Islam.

Due to the centralized control and wide expansion of business, many cities were developed in Mali. Some states were not only an emperor in trade but they were also academic and traditional institutions (John P. McKay, Ebrey, Beck, & Crowston., 2009).

After the decline of Mali, the Songhay kingdom again gained its autonomy and made its earlier master as a regal strength in the valley of Niger River. In the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the Songhay kingdom flourished due to its trading business in gold. Songhay kingdom demonstrated such a culture in which a fusion of Islam with the original culture was shown and it was the most dominating state in the mid of sixteenth century. Sunni Ali was its most commanding ruler. Through the trade routes, Islam also spread in the outer areas of Sudan. Even in the non-Muslim areas, the minorities of Islam were also formed.

Many of the unified states superimposed rules and regulations on a number of groups but Islam gave them a light of unity and equality. Islam provided such laws which were similar for the rulers and the merchants. Besides this, Islam also provided literate administration to assist in the methodology of government (John P. McKay, Ebrey, Beck, & Crowston., 2009).

After the advent of Islam, trading cities were formed on both sides of the viable routes between Asia and Africa.

From first to tenth centuries, the Swahili coast was developed by those people who spoke Bantu. During the early period of the thirteenth century, trade-based cities spotted the coast. Mombasa, Pate, Zanzibar, Mogadishu, Malindi and Kilwa were among these states and they were ruled by the Muslims. In exchange of the luxurious items from Asia, they gave gold, slaves, animals, iron and ivory (John P. McKay, Ebrey, Beck, & Crowston., 2009).