Introduction+to+Africa

Postclassical Africa Introduction - by Kristen, Sarah G, Nick H, Sela, Chris P

Postclassical Africa was broken up into four major regions by geography, north, west, east, and central/south. The north was the most connected to the Islamic world, and trading, while the central and south was the most cut off. Islam had a great impact on much of Africa, as did their traditional animism. The gold trade, however, was what brought Islam into Africa, and was a very influential force. The kings who ruled these city-states would often tax the trade. As for arts, the north and west contained more Islamic and Christian religious arts, while central and south Africa had more animistic religious arts, and nonreligious arts. Overall, Africa did not have much in the way of technology, though. In the west there were some scholars, but due to Africa’s general separation from the rest of the major civilizations of the time, they were not as technologically advanced. Overall, the advancement of the various sectors of Africa was influenced by trade and other civilizations, although they had a strong base of their own religion and city-state monarchies.