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Medieval Africa Dbq Essay

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In Medieval Africa, many kingdoms generated wealth and trade throughout Africa. They were supported by salt and gold and were connected by Islam. In Africa, medieval empires traded gold among themselves through the use of Islam, and the use of geographical features to extend their transregional networks of trade. Gold was abundant throughout Africa, which led to wealth throughout the medieval empires. Islam was the basis for the spread of gold in various regions. In West Africa, the Niger River provided gold to West Africa. The presence of gold throughout Africa contributed to abundant wealth throughout the medieval empires. Al Bakri, an Arab scholar, showed that the Ghana Empire used gold to decorate their horses, swords, and hair(Doc 1). The use of gold as decorations demonstrates that the western empires had abundant gold that could be used for other purposes besides trading. Leo Africanus, an Arab traveler, demonstrated that the Songhai Empire used “pure gold …show more content…

Mansa Musa traded with Cairo on his Hajj to Mecca(Doc 2). His Hajj showed how Mansa Musa extended Mali’s transregional trade routes by traveling across the Sahara Desert and Cairo. Africa was connected through Islam. Leo Africanus showed that the women in the Songhai Empire maintained the custom of veiling their faces(Doc 3). Islam’s presence throughout West Africa of women following the custom of Islam conveys that the influence of Islam traveled across the Arabian Peninsula to Africa. On his journey across East Africa, Ibn Battuta, a Muslim traveler from Morocco, wrote that he“went to the mosque and prayed behind the [sultan’s] screen(Doc 6).” Ibn Battuta demonstrated that the Swahili City-States followed Islam. Islam crossed over large areas of land to influence Africa. Islam in Africa showed a sense of unity and uniformity between the empires. The spread of Islam promoted trade across the Sahara Desert between West and East

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