Benjamin Livingston
Hist 1.1, Fall 2024
Hw#9, Chapt 13
1. They were responsible for shaping early African civilizations. They brought with them
essential agricultural skills, ironworking, and even new languages. This allowed the
populations to thrive. They could make new communities in new environments, thus
creating complex societies. The Bantu were also able to spread knowledge of culture
across sub-Saharan Africa. This gave people insight into different traditions, rituals, and
governing styles. The language was of utmost importance in this, allowing trade of ideas
and goods to be done with different communities. These factors from the Bantu
migrations would help shape African traditions for hundreds of years to come.
2. Islam would heavily shape Africa as its spread of religion was passed down on its trade
routes. Islam would change many systems in Africa including political and cultural
systems. The rulers thought it best to follow Islam, which would help to consolidate their
power and make legal laws based on Islam. They could also promote the language Arabic
to keep records and write down these laws. Islam would help connect Africa to the
Middle East and beyond for trade. The Islamic merchants were very important as they
had access to many trade routes due to their religion. They were able to trade African
gold, salt, and ivory for other goods. This trade helped bring Africa into the fold of Asia
and Europe, by learning new ideas of science and technology. This would bring in an era
of African flourishment.
3. East Africa’s development being different can largely be blamed on its location along the
Indian Ocean, which exposed it to different outside forces. The coast of East Africa
became essential to the Indian trade, connecting it to India of course, but also Asia. This
brought new ideas, different languages, and religions with Islam being the most known.
The Swahili language and culture would also make it differ from other parts of Africa,
giving the East its own identity. Other parts of Africa would have trade routes going to
the Mediterranean and North Africa, while the East would span across the Indian Ocean.
