Changes

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.

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.  Coptic Christians in Egypt slightly differ from European Christians in their view of Christ, and they split in A.D. 451.

Islam was more popular in North Africa, where it became the main religion for the peoples bordering the Mediterranean Sea.  The Berbers converted to Islam, and then merged with the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties to bring North Africa under Muslim rule by the end of the seventh century.  From northern Africa, the Muslims entered and conquered southern Spain, where they were known as Moors.  The Muslims then increased trade with other African peoples and regions bordering in the Indian Ocean.  The Almoravid dynasty conquered Morocco in the A.D. 1000s and Ghana and parts of southern Spain in A.D. 1076.  By the mid-1100s, the Almoravids conquered the Almohads also.

Islam was more popular in North Africa, where it became the main religion for the peoples bordering the Mediterranean Sea.  The Berbers converted to Islam, and then merged with the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties to bring North Africa under Muslim rule by the end of the seventh century.  From northern Africa, the Muslims entered and conquered southern Spain, where they were known as Moors.  The Muslims then increased trade with other African peoples and regions bordering in the Indian Ocean.  The Almoravid dynasty conquered Morocco in the A.D. 1000s and Ghana and parts of southern Spain in A.D. 1076.  By the mid-1100s, the Almoravids conquered the Almohads also.