By Kaitlyn Ashburn, Izzy Herringer, and McKenzie Belt

The Spread of Islam Through West Africa

A Different Pattern

Arrival ➢ Muslim Traders first brought Islam into West Africa➢ Came across Sahara ➢ Not brought by invading Turkic or Arab armies➢ Gradually accepted in centuries following 1000 CE

Reception & Conversion

➢ Most widely accepted in urban centers

➢ African Merchants embraced Islam because it provided an

important link to muslim trading partners

➢ Islam contributed to long-distance trade by offering Muslims tools

such as contract law, credit, and information networks.

➢ African kings were less responsive to Islam, as they tried to

contain and segregate Muslims

➢ Later African rulers began to blend Islam with their culture

(offered source of literate officials)

Muslim merchants that accepted Islam.

Government Organization

➢ Early governmental organization of West Africa

composed of a monarchical system

➢ Kings claimed to have descended from mythical divine

founding ancestors of the many ethnic groups in

Africa, gave them power

➢ Throughout their country taxed trade, in the

agricultural villages collected tribute

➢ Many rulers established in Islam into West Africa,

but there were few efforts made to impose new

religion on their subjects, or to govern in strict

accordance to Islamic Law

Islamic law that rulers used to govern.

Religious Institution

➢ Varied depending on the area

➢ Ghana - king did not convert to Islam but allowed Muslim

communities to form and practice

➢ Main settlement in Kumbi

○ Built mosques

○ Had their own spiritual leader called an imam.

➢ Many scholars studied the Qur'an

➢ Mali - leaders and people accepted Islam

○ did not follow all of its teachings.

➢ Many people made a hajj or a pilgrimage.

The Great Mosque at Jenne was initially constructed in

13th century.

Changes ➢ Climate/Environment

○ The African Transition Zone-division between Islam

(North) and Christianity (south) in Africa. This division

goes through the region of West Africa.

➢ Gender

○ Many local customs persisted

○ Women uncovered in public: Ibn Battuta appalled that

practicing muslims allowed their women to appear in

public and mingle freely with unrelated mem

➢ Growth/Sustainability of Trade

○ Instantly connected to a larger system of trade networks

and large trade cities due to muslim trans-saharan

traders

➢ Muslim/Non-Muslim

○ Before the spread of Islam to West Africa, non-Muslims

lived alongside Muslims

○ Over time, Muslim community developed and grew around

trans-Saharan trade routes

Ibn Battuta and his journey of West Africa

Cultural Developments

➢ Islam boosted more than 150 Quranic schools, and

several major centers for education

➢ Art- Amulets with Qur’anic verses were created by

Sub-Saharan Muslim clerics

○ displaces indigenous talisman as well as

medicinal packets

○ use of geometric patterns and designs, was

reinforced with the spread of Islam.

➢ Literature- Islam brought the art of writing into

Africa, along with a new technique for weighting.

Islamic learning also developed.

Music & Medicine- Islam didn’t have a large effect on West

Africa’s music or medicine.

Diffusion of Language and Culture

➢ Africa differs from the other powerful areas of this time in its large

size and compilation of many cultures and ethnicities

➢ Islamization had an impact on the culture of these civilizations;

each culture had many traditions and Islam often influenced or

were adopted into them

○ People beginning to pray to God in Arabic and building

mosques to worship

○ Learned the Five Pillars of Islam and made pilgrimages

○ There were traditions that were kept including the

continuation of worship to spirits of their ancestors

➢ These cultures continued to speak their native languages.

Islamization Scale

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Islamization impacted West Africa’s economy immensely by connecting

it to the other major civilizations of the time through trade. Politically,

Islamization affected the governmental organization and many of their

laws and policies. The many cultures and ethnicities that made up West

Africa maintained their native languages and some cultural traditions

while adopting new Islam induced practices. Islamization did change

societies in West Africa in many ways and affected the daily life of the

people.

The Quran, the most important book in the religion of Islam. It documents the visions of the prophet, Muhammad.