Kongo, Mwene Mutapa, and Zambezi
Time Period: 13th Century
Significant Events During Time Period: Rise of the empire of Mali, Death of Sundiata, earliest stone buildings at Zimbabwe, Lalibela rules in Ethiopia, Yoruba culture flourishes at Ile-Ife
Society 1: Kongo
Society 2: Mwene Mutapa
Society 3: Zambezi
Characteristics of Society 1 (Kongo):
Political: kingship was hereditary. Had local chiefs though.
Economic: slaves, agricultural, trade through harbors
Artistic: weaving, pottery, blacksmithing, and carving
Religious: prayed to gods, ancestors
Military: tribes
Geographic: Seacoast, forests.
Demographic: 60,000 to 100,000 population
Women’s Status: pretty equal. Both men and women did very different types of work
Characteristics of Society 2: Mwene Mutapa
Political: power status if owned gold fields and cattle
Economic: trade
Artistic: jewelry, imported goods, glass beads, porcelain
Religious: spirits and ancestors, bird of God
Geographic: trading ports at east-coast
Characteristics of Society 3: Zambezi
Political: authority with kingship
Economic: trade
Artistic: traded goods
Religious: ancestors, spirits
Geographic: Savanna and Plains with rivers, grasslands
Demographic: warriors and cattle-herders
Similarities and Differences: All three kingdoms are near the Great Zimbabwe. They are all run by kings, but Kongo also had different chiefs. The chiefs acted like the governors of the tribes. They were all based around trade and had artisans making things to trade with. The religious views were all ancestral and based on different gods and spirits. They were all based near some sort of water source. Mwene Mutapa made bracelets from gold and silver to trade.
Societal Comparison by Kylie W
Significant Events During Time Period: Rise of the empire of Mali, Death of Sundiata, earliest stone buildings at Zimbabwe, Lalibela rules in Ethiopia, Yoruba culture flourishes at Ile-Ife
Society 1: Kongo
Society 2: Mwene Mutapa
Society 3: Zambezi
Characteristics of Society 1 (Kongo):
Political: kingship was hereditary. Had local chiefs though.
Economic: slaves, agricultural, trade through harbors
Artistic: weaving, pottery, blacksmithing, and carving
Religious: prayed to gods, ancestors
Military: tribes
Geographic: Seacoast, forests.
Demographic: 60,000 to 100,000 population
Women’s Status: pretty equal. Both men and women did very different types of work
Characteristics of Society 2: Mwene Mutapa
Political: power status if owned gold fields and cattle
Economic: trade
Artistic: jewelry, imported goods, glass beads, porcelain
Religious: spirits and ancestors, bird of God
Geographic: trading ports at east-coast
Characteristics of Society 3: Zambezi
Political: authority with kingship
Economic: trade
Artistic: traded goods
Religious: ancestors, spirits
Geographic: Savanna and Plains with rivers, grasslands
Demographic: warriors and cattle-herders
Similarities and Differences: All three kingdoms are near the Great Zimbabwe. They are all run by kings, but Kongo also had different chiefs. The chiefs acted like the governors of the tribes. They were all based around trade and had artisans making things to trade with. The religious views were all ancestral and based on different gods and spirits. They were all based near some sort of water source. Mwene Mutapa made bracelets from gold and silver to trade.
Societal Comparison by Kylie W