HISTORY
THE MUSLIM WORLD AND AFRICA
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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As in Asia the conversion of the coastal cities led to almost complete conversion of the populations lying inland.
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Most clans and the most important lineage groups outside of the east African cities were converted to Islam in order to participate in trade.
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Islam penetrated very little into the interior among the hunters, pastoralists, and farmers, and even the areas near the trading towns remained relatively unaffected.
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Islam spread from the cities to the hinterland in such a way that eventually the countryside was more Islamic than were the cities.
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Few literate people converted to Islam but the vast majority of herders converted very easily.
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Detailed explanation-1: -Between the eighth and ninth centuries, Arab traders and travelers, then African clerics, began to spread the religion along the eastern coast of Africa and to the western and central Sudan (literally, “Land of Black people”), stimulating the development of urban communities.
Detailed explanation-2: -Following the conquest of North Africa by Muslim Arabs in the 7th century CE, Islam spread throughout West Africa via merchants, traders, scholars, and missionaries, that is largely through peaceful means whereby African rulers either tolerated the religion or converted to it themselves.
Detailed explanation-3: -Islam came with several impacts on African civilization. It cut across family and ethnic institutions and emphasized unity. Second it brought about a more efficient administration, judicial systems, and taxation in some places such as Western Sudan that employed educated Muslims into public positions.
Detailed explanation-4: -Islam promoted trade between West Africa and the Mediterranean. The religion developed and widened the trans-Saharan Caravan trade. The trade enriched the West African and the Muslim traders. Muslims from North Africa came in their numbers and settled in the commercial centres.
Detailed explanation-5: -In summary, the coming of Islam to Sub-Saharan Africa facilitated the rise of political empires, encouraged trade and wealth, and increased the traffic in slavery. In its pure form, Islam was more attractive to kings because of its concept of the caliph combined political power with religious authority.