STATE ORGANIZATION_TOPIC 4 _HISTORY FORM 1
STATE ORGANIZATION
State
is a community occupying a certain given territory and living under full
control of its government and therefore it is independent form of external
control. State in East Africa mostly started to emerge in the 18th
century AD due to the rapid spread of agricultural communities and improvement
of science and technology.
Clan which possessed a deliquate labor and
land resources or had better skills of iron use became dominant clan and leader
of the community or village; they were respected and obeyed by other clan
members. Those who disagreed with them migrated to other lands. In this way
leader of the dominant clan assumed political and spiritual or ritual
functions.
Kings and queens were state leaders. Village heads who were leaders
of many clans in villages were under state of kings or queens also had their
court to deal with judicial matters.
GENERAL
FACTORS FOR STATE FORMATION
a) Conquest-
some powerful states conquered the weaker societies and therefore making them
strong and expand. For example, Buganda conquered Bunyoro in the
interlacustrine regions.
b) Trade-trade
such as the Long distance trade enabled the society concerned to become strong
and powerful after acquiring commodities of different types including weapons
which were used for strengthening their societies. Buganda got guns from the
East Coast to defend and expand. The empire of the Mali, Ghana and Songhai got
metal and hoes from North Africa to strengthen their military.
c) Good
climate and fertile soils (soil fertility) it led to the increase of food and
assurance of feeding which led to population increase, a factor that was very
important for the state formation. For instance heavy rainfall and fertile soil
enabled production of more food and surplus in Buganda.
d) Good
leadership- some African rulers were strong and ambitious to expand their
empire so they organized their people and got support from them for example:
Kabanga of Buganda.
e) Availability
of iron- iron promoted agricultural products and was used for making war
weapons, which in turn became most important for conquering other states.
f) Migration-this
was a complimentary factor it happened that some people migrated to other
states and brought with them new technology and skills which were used to
expand and strengthen the new societies concerned.
g) Size
of the kingdom- kingdoms that were small such as Buganda and Ghana were easier
to organize, to administer effectively and to defend unlike the larger kingdoms
like the Bunyoro; the effective control was impossible.
THE WESTERN
SUDANIC STATES
The early
states in western Sudan were established in the region between the Sahara
desert and the forest region of the South. The most notable states are/were
Ghana, Mali, Songhai and Karnem Bornu.
GENERAL FACTORS
FOR THE RISE OF WESTERN SUDANIC STATES
1. Good
geographical location
2. Iron
technology
3. The growth
of population
4. Development
of local industries
5. Taxation
6. Trans -
Saharan Trade
7. Availability
of valuable goods e.g. Gold
8. Good
centralized government
9. Capable leaders
10.
Strong Army
GHANA EMPIRE
During its rise, Ghana had two main
towns, one occupied by Muslims and the other by Pagans. The rulers and the
people were Soninke speaking group. The word Ghana as the King title emerged in
5th AD. The capital center of administration was Kumbisalehe.
FACTORS FOR
THE RISE OF THE GHANA EMPIRE
1. Agricultural
activities
2. Availability
of valuable goods e. g gold
3. Trans –
Saharan trade in gold and salt
4. Good
leadership and efficient system of government.
5. Common
language.
FACTORS FOR
THE DECLINE OF GHANA EMPIRE
1. Almoravids‘
constant attacks
2. Disunity
among people
3. Jihad wars
4. Lack of
stable system of royal successions
5. The rise of
rural kingdoms e.g. Mali
MALI EMPIRE
Early in the 3rd C Ghana
fell apart as a result of the war between Samangwa the king of Ghana and Prince
Sundiata Keita the king of Kangaba. Ghana was defeated and Ghana fell Under
Sundiata’s rule. Sundiata formed a large kingdom known as Mali the capital was
Niami and the title of the rulers was Mansa.
FACTORS FOR
THE RISE OF THE MALI EMPIRE
1. The fall of
Ghana empire
2. Control of
gold fields of Bure
3. Strong army
4. Agricultural
activities
5. Trans –
Saharan trade
6. Strong
leadership of Sundiata Keita and later Mansa Kan Kan Musa
7. Islamic
faith which promoted libraries and Islamic universities
8. Political
system in Mali
DECLINE OF
THE MALI EMPIRE
1. Weak
leadership after the death of Mansa Mahmud IV
2. Empire
became too large to control
3. Lack of
unity and the empire was divided into three spheres of influence and they
fought against each other.
4. Attacks by
Tuaregs
5. Civil wars
6. The rise of
Songhai empire
SONGHAI
EMPIRE
In the late
15th Century the Songhai Empire originally the Gao, conquered
neighboring states under the leadership of Sunni Ali and formed the large
empire of Songhai. Gao became its capital earlier on around the 11th
C and remained the capital under the empire. Its famous leaders were Sunni Ali,
Askia Mohamed and Askia Daud.
FACTORS FOR
THE GROWTH OF SONGHAI EMPIRE
1. Agricultural
activities
2. Strong army
3. Trans –
Sahara trade
4. Good administration
5. Taxation
6. Islamic
faith
DECLINE OF
SONGHAI EMPIRE
1. Weak
leadership after the death of Askia Daud
2. The Moroccan
invasion
3. The empire
was too large to control
4. Religious
hostility between Islamic and traditional beliefs
5. The shift in
orientation of trade towards the Atlantic following the introduction of the
Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
FOREST
STATES
THE BENIN
EMPIRE
Benin Empire was a very small state with the Edo speaking people. The
highest authority at the time where chiefs known as Ogiso which meant the
‘Kings of the Sky’ and the administrative centre was Ubinu. Between 1388 –
1431, there was a series of civil wars, which badly divided the Edo.
After the
death of the last Ogiso, his son Prince Ekaladerhan left for exile and
established himself in Ile-Ife, so when the Edo people requested his return, he
sent his son instead, Prince Oranmiyan who took up the throne.
EXPANSION
INTO CITY-STATE EMPIRE
By 15th
C, the empire expanded into a city-state under the leadership of Oba Ewuare the
Great
REASONS FOR
THE RISE OF THE BENIN EMPIRE
1. Some of
capable rulers the greatest of those was Aware
2. Good
centralized system of government
3. Trade
4. Unity
5. Development
of Handicraft Industry
DECLINE OF
THE BENIN EMPIRE
- Introduction of Slave trade
- Trans- Atlantic trade
- Firearms that were introduced
through the European trade caused tribal wars that led to the final
decline of the Benin Empire.
THE EMPIRE
OF OYO
Oyo Empire
began in the late 14th C or early 15th C likely 1388 –
1431. The people of Oyo were Oranmiyan, their capital was Oyo-Ile and the King
of Oyo was called Alafin. The Bashoran was the leader of the army.
REASONS FOR
THE RISE OF THE OYO EMPIRE
1. It had
organized political system headed by a number of great Alafins
2. Strong
organized army
3. Agricultural
activities
4. Development
of local industries
5. Slave trade
6. Dahomey
tributary
DECLINE OF
THE OYO EMPIRE
1. Conflict
between Alafin and Basharon
2. Conquest
from the Fulani and Dahomey
3. Civil wars
4. Disunity
DAHOMEY
EMPIRE
Dahomey rose
after the decline of Oyo in the 19thC. It was founded by the Fon
people. It had good leaders such as King Agaja and Houegbadja who built the
Royal Palaces of Abomey.
THE RISE OF
THE DAHOMEY EMPIRE IN THE 18th C
1. Growth of
centralized and powerful monarchy
2. Boyul
succession system was effective
3. Strong army
4. Good
leadership of King Gezo and later Aguja
5. Control of
Slave trade
DECLINE OF
DAHOMEY
Dahomey
declined after the arrival of the French.
ASANTE
EMPIRE
Asante or Ashanti Empire was founded as a result of the emergence of
several cities in the region of Kumasi.
The people
of Asante were Akan ruled by the Oyuko clan. The King was Obiri Yeboa who was
Osei Tutu. The capital city of Asante or Ashanti was Kumasi. The symbol of
Asante union was a Golden stool. The ruler of Asante was known as Asantehene.
FACTORS FOR
THE RISE OF ASANTE
1. Agricultural
activities
2. Development
of local industries
3. Some of its
capable rulers e.g. Osei Tutu
4. Well
organized political system
5. Trade
DECLINE
The state
declined after the arrival of Europeans.
CENTRALIZED
STATES OF CENTRAL AFRICA
Example:
Kongo empire, it was founded in the 14th C. The head of the kingdom
took the title of Manikongo or Mwekongo means lord of Kongo. The capital was
Mbaza, which the Portuguese later baptized Sutrador.
FACTORS FOR
THE RISE OF KONGO EMPIRE
1. Technological
development e.g. Iron technology
2. Trade
3. Taxation
4. Development
of local industries
5. Emergence of
traditional leaders with a strong belief in spiritual and magic power
DECLINE OF
THE CONGO EMPIRE
- The arrival of the Portuguese
- Slave trade
- Weak leadership after Manikongo
Mingo Mkuwa who acquired up an Embassy in Portugal. His son Mzingo Mbemba
was baptized as Dan Alfonce. He was a puppet of the Portuguese and caused
civil war in Kongo.
MWENEMUTAPA
KINGDOM
This Kingdom was created under the leadership of Mutola. Mutola conquered Tongu and Torura of the Zambezi valley. He acquired the title of Mwenemutapa, which means ‘Master of the conquered lands’. He was a political, military and religious leader. Mutola died in 1450 and his son Matope inherited, after Matope’s death in 1480 Changamire took over in 1490.
This Kingdom was created under the leadership of Mutola. Mutola conquered Tongu and Torura of the Zambezi valley. He acquired the title of Mwenemutapa, which means ‘Master of the conquered lands’. He was a political, military and religious leader. Mutola died in 1450 and his son Matope inherited, after Matope’s death in 1480 Changamire took over in 1490.
REASONS FOR
THE RISE OF MWENEMUTAPA
1. Agricultural
activities
2. Good
leadership of Mutola
3. Availability
of valuable goods e.g. copper, iron and gold
4. They
controlled trade routes
5. Trading
centers
REASONS FOR
THE DECLINE OF MWENEMUTAPA
1. The arrival
of Portuguese who monopolized the gold trade
2. The kingdom
became divided into two parts Mutapa and Ruzwi
3. Rebellion
from local people
After the
death of Matope, his son Nyahuma took over. He was younger than the other Chief
so that Chief rebelled and caused civil war.
THE LUBA
STATE
This state is found between the tributaries of river Kongo. The Songiye people migrated from Katanga led by a leader from the Kangolo clan. The united Kaniok and from Luba kingdom, Ilungambila married into the Kangolo clan. This intermarriage gave the rise of Luba lineage of Kalala Ilunga, the founder of Munza as capital of Luba.
This state is found between the tributaries of river Kongo. The Songiye people migrated from Katanga led by a leader from the Kangolo clan. The united Kaniok and from Luba kingdom, Ilungambila married into the Kangolo clan. This intermarriage gave the rise of Luba lineage of Kalala Ilunga, the founder of Munza as capital of Luba.
REASONS FOR
THE RISE OF THE LUBA STATE
1. Centralized
system of Administration where the kingdom had final say in wars and external
trade
2. The
development of trade
3. Agricultural
Activities
4. The presence
of iron technology
THE LUNDA
STATE
The centre of the empire lay in the Valley of Nkala River. The Luba kings took the title of Mwanta. It began as a simple village and their first ruler was called Mwantagaand. Ilunga Tshibinda who came from Luba married a princess from the area and their son became the first paramount ruler of the Lunda State.
The centre of the empire lay in the Valley of Nkala River. The Luba kings took the title of Mwanta. It began as a simple village and their first ruler was called Mwantagaand. Ilunga Tshibinda who came from Luba married a princess from the area and their son became the first paramount ruler of the Lunda State.
FACTORS FOR
THE RISE OF LUNDA STATE
1. Iron
technology
2. Development
of local industries
3. Agriculture
activities
4. Good
leadership
5. Trade.
The empire
declined after the arrival of Europeans.
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