Mtepe- boat used by traders in Rhapta, a major trading hub in east Africa.

Rhapta route influenced the trade route of the swhaili Jenne was not born from trade, but trade was drawn to jenne; it was the city of occupation. Each village had its own special knowledge, potters, blacksmiths, farmers, hunters. Supports wealth in knowledge. Mande blacksmiths Egypt controlled many African territories, Nubia. Power lied in the Pharoahs ability to control people. Diverse population. Pharoahs placed too much power within themselves and choked commerce, thus Nubians grew in power and gained independence in a way. Napata was the capital of the kingdom of Kush. Napata was succeeded by the Moroe Meroe was abundant with iron and good soil, close to the red sea so good for trade. Became a trading hub. Multi ethnic and lingual. Home of afrasan and bantu This trade was good for Egypt and everywhere. Pteomy after taking control of Egypt tried to expand trade Aksum. Frankinsence and Myrth. Adulis was the port city, became capital, and overtook meroe as the center/hub for trade. After Rome defeated Carthage, Rome entered the African territory. Meroe fought back but lost, and eventually over time Meroe lost power/trade. Akumis king took over and conqurered the Kingdom of Kush. Romans brought camel, which helped Jenne expand and traverse the Sarharan desert. Romans wanted west African gold and metal. Carthage was minting their currency.

Ghana- mande blacksmiths, warrior kings. Berber traders would traverse the Sahara, wanted gold and salt. Merchants were the building blocks of trade. But Warrior Kings regulated these and imposed taxes. Became very wealthy. Decentralized power. King had to please local kings and form bonds. ALMORAVIDS- Racical muslim berber traders demanding people to convert. African and Muslim relation/religion was pretty much co-existant, but when they tried to revolt they faced many invasions, so Ghanas power declined. This invasion brought internal turmoil as local kings tried to become the king of kings, Sisse tried to leave and exert power over all of Ghana, and ecological problems such as degredation of soil. Thus people started to leave for more stable and less violent. The kingdom of Mali took power. Most all of them accepted Islam except sumauro. This ist he kingdom of Sundiata. Muslim and African cultures/religion was intermingled.

Mansa Musa was a very rich king who lead Mali to its peak in power. Possible that Mali sent a crew and found the Americas. After Mansa Musa died Malis power waned. However, one of its major trading centers, Gao, started the Songhay Kingdom.

Songhay were originated from people outside the Ghana and Mali kingdom. They were Berber mixed with Soninke.They spoke nilo-saharan language. As Mali kingdom crumbled, Songhay kingdom flourished under the power of Ali Ber. He formed a mobile army that kept moving and conquering. This mobility and conquering lead to an ever-changing kingdom with different cultures and technology. Big importance in Military. Wanted to reunite Timbuktu, Djenne and Gao and rebuild the kingdom of Mali. Could not take over Djenne so left it intact. Islam wanted more control, but due to the changing and absorbtion of culture of the Songhay, Ali Ber was not liked. So Muslims lead by Asika Muhammad overthrew Ali Ber. Asika Muhammad created an incredible buecracy to control the vast kingdom. 4 sections run by commissioners and muslim judges to as the law and order.

Saebean Lane was the monsoon winds that the Swahili took to trade on east Africa. Swahili was stratified between those who had access to the ports and those who did not. Swahili Big Men controlled and regulated trade on the eastern ports and regulated city-state affairs. Super rich. Marriage was important due to expansion in trade/connections. Great Zimbabwe relied on the trade that the Swahili operated, notably with Kilwa. Great Zimbabwe were the bantu speaking people that migrated in the Bantu migration. They borrowed ideas from the khoisan and pastoral techniques and grew prominent. GZ had massive stone walls that held in the elites. Not just one small town, but networks of smaller villages each with walled in encloures. However GZ lost control of the trading on the eastern ports and lost power. Then the Europeans came in, they did not do so well.