Ch+19+State+Structure

= = =__General Info!!__= =**__Kingdom of Kongo?__**= >
 * Most governments of this time were kin based.
 * Others often thought they had little or no government.
 * Their government didn't depend on Buerocrats.
 * Families usually governed themselves.
 * Often lived in small villages of about 100.
 * Male heads of families formed councils.
 * Led by a chief, most prominent male of council
 * A group of villages was called a district-main ethnic ties traced to districs
 * Small conflicts led to creation of a military.
 * Chiefs used military to conquer other villages.
 * The Congo river area was a center of political development
 * Millitary and population pressures gradually lead to the development of cheifdoms then small states.
 * Conflicts between states lead to the rise of dominant groups and establishment of organized kingdoms.
 * Most prosperous was Kingdom of Kongo, active participant in trade, maintianed royal currency of cowrie shells
 * Kings and officials of the central government watched over military, judicial, and financial affairs.
 * Most tightly centralized Bantu kingdom
 * Was effective until the Portuguese came and invaded
 * Kin based societies still survive

=__**Islamic States in West Africa!**__= > >
 * Ghana was principal state in West Africa during its time
 * Ghana had a large army.
 * Ghana converted to Islam in the 900s
 * Islam was not imposed on the kingdom of Ghana, came through trade and political relations
 * Trade improved relations with Muslim merchants
 * Politics brought extra recognition and support for rule
 * Taken over by the Mali Empire in 1235
 * Mali empire extended across modern day Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone
 * Mali had a traditional centralized government

=__**Islamic States in East Africa!**__= By:Saeed and Eric!!!!!!!!!! Eric was here!!!! theooeht cervantessetnavrec Edited by Kelly McNulty and Kelsey Hall approveddevorppa byyb:Bretttterb Krumenackerrekcanemurk(Dang thats hard) i am Devon Fritz and i approve this message
 * Kilwa was the busiest city-state on east African coast. They used copper coins
 * Was extremely prosperous until the Portuguese came
 * Zimbabwe was a complex and well-organized society
 * The Great Zimbabwe was Enormous