The History of Africa

Islamic Conquest

• Arab Muslims conquered the region in 600s.

The Great Mosque of Kairauon

Middle Eastern Influence Continues

• Ottoman Turks take control from Byzantine Empire. Ruled from 1500s to late 1800s.

Scramble for Africa

• Europeans came in 1800s—French, Spanish, Italians, British.

African Independence

• Independence after World War II.

History of Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa was largely left untouched by outside powers and was predominantly controlled by indigenous tribes.

Arab Slave Trade—began in 7th century.

Dhows were used to bring African slaves to India.

18 million slaves arrived in Arab countries.

• Explorers reached land by 1400’s

• 1500s—First Portuguese trading ports established

What aspects of Africa do you think caused

the Europeans to stay near the coast?

Exploration Begins

Mid-1800’s—explorers moved inward

Atlantic Slave Trade—16th to 19th centuries—12 million slaves arrived in the New World.

Triangular Trade

Colonial rule—Export economies (plantations, mines); building of modern cities

• exported to European countries• subsistence agriculture

• cities, hospitals, ports, roads,• schools

Scramble for Africa (late 1800’s to mid 1900’s—Imperialism—arbitrary borders

European countries sought out African products and minerals.Africans began working for wages, moving to cities, etc.

African Independence Movement • Gained momentum after

WWII, which left the major European powers weakened.

• 1950’s – 1970’s• African democracy—

immature—implemented at local levels.

• Small group of elite leaders—Western education

Decolonization—1951-1993

Postcolonial Era

• Effects:• Worked in the new commercial economy.• Modern medicine and improved

infrastructure (in certain areas)• Low wages and unemployment• Rival ethnic groups forced to share power in

newly independent countries.

“The Dark Continent”

Is media coverage racist?