•The kingdom of Axum commanded a triangular trade network that linked Africa, India, and the Mediterranean world.

•After the decline of Axum, Indian Ocean trade routes led to the growth of prosperous city-states such as Mogadishu, Kilwa, and Sofala along the East African coast.

•International trade created a rich and varied mix of cultures in the East African city-states, and Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all influenced the region.

 

ManyPeoples, Many Traditions

 

•African peoples adapted to their different environments by developing varied ways of life.

 

•In early African societies, power was usually shared among a number of people rather than centralized in the hands of a single leader, and villages often made decisions by a process known as consensus.

 

•Art and literature fostered common values and a sense of community among the peoples of Africa.