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Jan 1, 1100
Swahili
Swahili was a culture on the coastal trading cities with African and Arabic influences. The significance of this culture is that the people spoke Bantu, which later became one of the main languages throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Source – World History Our Human Story, Page 366 -
Jan 1, 1200
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe was the largest construction in sub-Saharan Africa at its time. The walls of the city were more than 30 feet tall and 6 feet thick. Travelers thought that it was the fabled city of the Queen of Shiba. Source – World History Our Human Story, Pages 370, 371 -
Jan 1, 1300
Mansa Musa's Hajj
Mansa Musa, being a Muslim, went on a Hajj, a journey to Mecca. This is significant because this trip was 2,800 miles long across very unsafe land. He also brought with him over 10,000 slaves and other people of status, such as warriors and teachers. Source – World History Our Human Story, Page 360 -
Jan 1, 1400
Timbuktu
The city of Timbuktu was the product of the inspiration Mansa Musa had when he returned from his hajj, as well as the work of Islamic teachers, architects, and scientists. Timbuktu is significant because it featured an Islamic University that brought scholars from faraway lands to it. At its peak Timbuktu had over 100,000 people living there. Source – World History Our Human Story, Page 361 -
Jan 1, 1464
Sunni Ali
Sunni Ali, the king of Songhai, organized an army and created a navy. With this army Sunni Ali conquered Timbuktu. Sunni Ali’s army also captured another trading city of importance, Djenee. This is significant because it expanded the territory, and power, of Songhai. Source – World History Our Human Story, Page 362