Africa may not have been the most advanced continent that existed thousands of centuries ago, but overtime, great changes have occurred. Several religions have been practiced throughout the whole continent; in fact, the diversity of culture was vastly wide. Over the centuries, major empires had been developed, such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, in the west. The founder and first ruler of Mali, Mansa Musa, had expanded the territory to a population of forty million people. He had even given away gold on his pilgrimage to Mecca. There was also a centre of education, trade, and culture, that was located in Timbuktu. On the East African Coast, the Swahili City-States was very successful by trade where they acted as middlemen, and had developed their
…show more content…
As a matter of fact, Ibn Battuta claims, “There is complete security in their country. Neither traveler nor inhabitant in it has anything to fear from robbers” (Document 6). To put it succinctly, Mali was a very safe country and no one had to worry about having their belongings stolen. Since they had the greatest hatred of injustice than anyone else, unfairness was very seldom as the sultan would not show forgiveness to anyone guilty. Furthermore, “... Children usually raised by community… Keep Oral history through Griots… Religion is an important part of everyday life” (Connolly). In other words, religious education became a big part of Africa where history was passed down orally from one generation to another. The elderlies, who were griots, told stories to children in the community that taught them the religion of animism for them to learn and to pass on the stories to the next generation. Likewise, in Ibn Battuta’s point of view, “This sultan is a very humble man… He… gives respect to people of religion” (The wealth of Africa - The Swahili Coast). Ultimately, although the sultan of the Swahili Coast was very wealthy, he was not snobbish nor had he shown that he was an upper social classmen. Actually, he was civilized and well-educated to even care about the lower classmen as he sat and ate with the poor people, and gave respect to people of religion. After all, education was vastly wide throughout everyday life in Africa, educating each other, which has proven the stereotypes of European historians about uneducated Africans to be
As a matter of fact, Ibn Battuta claims, “There is complete security in their country. Neither traveler nor inhabitant in it has anything to fear from robbers” (Document 6). To put it succinctly, Mali was a very safe country and no one had to worry about having their belongings stolen. Since they had the greatest hatred of injustice than anyone else, unfairness was very seldom as the sultan would not show forgiveness to anyone guilty. Furthermore, “... Children usually raised by community… Keep Oral history through Griots… Religion is an important part of everyday life” (Connolly). In other words, religious education became a big part of Africa where history was passed down orally from one generation to another. The elderlies, who were griots, told stories to children in the community that taught them the religion of animism for them to learn and to pass on the stories to the next generation. Likewise, in Ibn Battuta’s point of view, “This sultan is a very humble man… He… gives respect to people of religion” (The wealth of Africa - The Swahili Coast). Ultimately, although the sultan of the Swahili Coast was very wealthy, he was not snobbish nor had he shown that he was an upper social classmen. Actually, he was civilized and well-educated to even care about the lower classmen as he sat and ate with the poor people, and gave respect to people of religion. After all, education was vastly wide throughout everyday life in Africa, educating each other, which has proven the stereotypes of European historians about uneducated Africans to be