Important people/events
What were the Muslims stopped by in 708 CE?
708 CE: Muslims conquer North Africa but are stopped by the Sahara Desert
Trial by ___: Drinking what water and getting ill proves a man innocent?
Customary law: Trial by wood: If man becomes ill by drinking ‘wood’ water he is innocent
What did West Africans begin to practice?
West Africans practiced the 5 pillars of Islam
What language became the language of trade and government?
Arabic became the language of trade and government
The University of Sankore was made up of smaller schools led by who?
University of Sankore made up of smaller schools led by a religious leader (Iman)
What ruler did Muslims capture in 1076 CE?
1076 CE Muslims capture Kumbi, first Islam rule of West Africa
What did the West African kings do to local rulers?
West African kings exert more control over local rulers
What old tradition did the West Africans hold on to?
West Africans held on to tradition of respecting the spirits of dead ancestors
Arabic adopted to read what?
Arabic adopted to read the Qur’an
What two religious topics did students study?
Students studied Qur’an, Islamic studies, law and literature
Who was the first West African ruler to practice Islam?
1312: Mansa Musa became first West African Ruler to practice Islam devoutly
What is the Islamic law that replaced the unwritten customary laws of West Africa?
Shari’ah (Islamic law) replaces unwritten customary law of West Africa
Who recorded the West African's strict devotion to Islam?
Ibn Buttuta records West Africans strict devotion to Islam
Arabic became the language of what?
Arabic became the language of scholars
Students could study medicine, ______. mathematics, and _____.
Students could also study medicine, astronomy, mathematics, geography
Where did Mansa Musa travel to in 1324?
1324: Mansa Musa travels to Mecca on the hajj
Judges began to hear cases and judged based on what?
Judges heard cases and judged based on written law (Shari’ah) based on witness and evidence
What form of writing did they use to decorate objects with words from the Qur'an?
Used calligraphy to decorate objects with words from the Quran
What materials did West African rulers use to make Mosques?
West African rulers built Mosques of mud bricks and wood
Muslims treasured books and many large libraries were erected in West Africa
What empire became strictly Muslim in the 1490s?
1490s: Songhai empire becomes strictly Muslim
West Africans adopted what succession?
West Africans adopt Patrilineal succession (through father’s bloodline)
Geometric designs to decorate what?
Geometric designs used to decorate textiles and ceramics
Explain how a house would have looked in that time.
Houses became rectangular with flat roofs, plain walls, and no windows.
What city became famous for scholars and center of learning?
Timbuktu became a famous city of scholars and center of learning