Changes

The Kingdom of Ghana (A.D. 800-1076), Mali (A.D. 1235-1403) and Songhai (A.D. 1403-1591) were all located in West Africa and were mostly Muslim.  Ibn Battuta, a Muslim traveler who toured the Islamic regions of the world around A.D. 1352, wrote of his admiration of Mali.  All these West African empires thrived under strong rulers and the very active gold-salt trade across the Sahara.  Trade was based on leopard skins, slaves, pepper, ivory, bronze, brass and copper.  A society known as Hansa was famous for its leather goods and cloth.  But by A.D. 1500 both Islamic countries and Christian European countries were gaining influence in Africa.

The Kingdom of Ghana (A.D. 800-1076), Mali (A.D. 1235-1403) and Songhai (A.D. 1403-1591) were all located in West Africa and were mostly Muslim.  Ibn Battuta, a Muslim traveler who toured the Islamic regions of the world around A.D. 1352, wrote of his admiration of Mali.  All these West African empires thrived under strong rulers and the very active gold-salt trade across the Sahara.  Trade was based on leopard skins, slaves, pepper, ivory, bronze, brass and copper.  A society known as Hansa was famous for its leather goods and cloth.  But by A.D. 1500 both Islamic countries and Christian European countries were gaining influence in Africa.

The Kingdom of Zimbabwe existed from southeastern Africa to the Indian Ocean around A.D. 1200s to the 1500s.  Like other African empires, the city of Great Zimbabwe was build on trade, particularly gold.  Numerous Swahili towns in this region of Africa profited from trade in slaves, ivory and goods from Persia, China and India, such as cotton, silk and perfumes.

The [[Kingdom of Zimbabwe]] existed from southeastern Africa to the Indian Ocean around A.D. 1200s to the 1500s.  Like other African empires, the city of Great Zimbabwe was build on trade, particularly gold.  Numerous Swahili towns in this region of Africa profited from trade in slaves, ivory and goods from Persia, China and India, such as cotton, silk and perfumes.

Religion.  Islam and Christianity both spread in Africa, and still do today.  However, the Africans would often retain some of their tribal customs.  Historians claim that the Africans treated women better under tribal customs than under Islam, citing less use of the veil by women in African societies than Arab Muslim societies.  African Christians also had conflicts with principles of faith established by European Christians, such as issues related to the divinity of Christ, although the Catholic Church today is growing much faster in Africa than in Europe.  For example, Coptic Christians in Egypt slightly differ from European Christians in their view of Christ, and they split in A.D. 451.

Religion.  Islam and Christianity both spread in Africa, and still do today.  However, the Africans would often retain some of their tribal customs.  Historians claim that the Africans treated women better under tribal customs than under Islam, citing less use of the veil by women in African societies than Arab Muslim societies.  African Christians also had conflicts with principles of faith established by European Christians, such as issues related to the divinity of Christ, although the Catholic Church today is growing much faster in Africa than in Europe.  For example, Coptic Christians in Egypt slightly differ from European Christians in their view of Christ, and they split in A.D. 451.