History of the United States I / Unit 1 USH1 0025 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Islam and the West African Empires
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The idea
After Muhammad's death in six thirty-two Islam spread rapidly across North Africa, bringing a unifying faith and a political and legal structure. By nine hundred CE Muslims controlled most trade.
In practice
Local chieftains converting, usually under penalty of death, since only converts could rule or trade.
Where people slip
Many elites converted while the majority kept tribal animistic practices, giving living attributes to nonliving objects.
Your place on the trail
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