Focus Question: How were African cultures influenced by the arrival of Islam and Christianity?
- Was first initiated by merchants who were brought to Africa for trade and economic reasons.
- Was carried into the fringes of indigenous African by tribesmen
- Throughout the 14th century Muslim chiefs were able to create a strong base while maintaining a tie with the older Muslim world.
- By the end of the 15th century much of the area south of the Sahara Desert accepted Islam.
- HOWEVER, Islamic beliefs were in conflict with traditional African beliefs. For example:
- Islam rejected spirit worship
- Distinct roles for sexes with modesty in dress was in conflict and was met with many informal relationships.
The Result
- Africanized Islam: Islamic ideas combined with native beliefs.
(Spielvogel, 2005)
- Brought to Africa when trade routes shifted in Western Sahara
- Had less religious impact than Islam
- Mostly a failed attempt to convert large numbers
For Example: Niger missionaries thought Christianity would provide a spiritual cohesion for merchants & farmers. They were mostly wrong. (Harris 1998)
- Some enrolled in Catholic schools (Harris 1998)
The Result was overall great opposition and when accepted it was done so mainly by force or in the least strong coercion.
Timeline of spread of Christianity through Africa
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Grades 1 - 8 (Massachusetts).png)
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