Chiefdoms In Sub-Saharan Africa

The sub-Saharan Africa developed into a prosperous society with a social hierarchy, political administration, population growth, various distinct cultural religions, and economic trade networks. Because the African community did not heavily emphasize patriarchy in its society nor restrict the women’s rights, women were able to gain higher roles in sub-Saharan Africa. Some women actually held powerful authority, took part in solving public matters, actively traded with others, and even participated in the military. Therefore, this led to an increase in freedom and status in women, which resulted in a step closer to gender equality and less of a patriarchal society.As an abundant amount of kin-based societies began to face internal and external problems around 1000 C.E., the Bantu society organized military forces that helped establish the political structure of chiefdoms in sub-Saharan Africa. The chiefdoms were organized by creating a kingdom of several districts that fell under the authority of the conquering chiefs. The frequent bitter disputes between different chiefdoms led to the emergence of larger kingdoms with a more centralized government, which in turn influenced the political aspect of the succeeding African societies.

In 400 B.C.E., Africa originally consisted of only about 3.5 million people; however, it grew up to 22 million people by 1000 C.E. As a result, this strong presence of the Bantu led to many near forest peoples engaging in the agricultural production or trade with their Bantu neighbors, and the Bantu community to become more urbanized. The merchants in the thriving overland and maritime trade of the sub-Saharan Africa influenced the spread of Islam in these states. Although Islam was a new foreign religion to the African society, the Africans gradually adapted this cultural belief to fit their own needs and interests. For example, they continued to maintain the almost equal relations between genders in the African society even though the traditional Muslims believed in male dominance. Islam was able to attract many converts in sub-Saharan Africa especially with merchants and members of the upper class because it led to an enhanced commercial relationship with Muslim merchants. The population pressure due to the rise in population of the Bantu society led to them further expanding and settling down in the coasts of east