Similarly I was fascinated by the interaction between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism in this time period. The impact of the rise of Islam on this region was significant, but I had not understood that the new religion also pushed in on Aksumite control of the Red Sea. More importantly though, the role of a Jewish Kingdom in the fall of Aksum was fascinating. My family heritage is both Jewish and Christian, and I knew that there were Jews in Ethiopia, but ignorantly I had always imagined them as a small group who had presumably migrated from elsewhere. But in fact the history of Judaism in Ethiopia is much richer than I had imagined - a Jewish queen (albeit a likely mythologized one) contributed to the fall of Aksum, and Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity includes many traces of its Jewish roots. 

The mixing of these three major religions in this one region of Africa - a continent not primarily associated with any of them - seems really important to know and understand. It reflects both the long history of complex interactions between these groups (as one presenter said - at the time moving between religions was easy, and most of the conflict was really political, not religious), and the importance that Africa played in the history of these three groups.

The inscription points to an advancement of both language and intellect, as it is how Ezana wanted his empire to be remembered and carried on. 

What really struck me was the conversation surrounding his conversion to Christianity, and how it became a large part of his public representation. I really found it interesting how the people in modern day Ethiopia refer to him with complete amazement and belief, I can see how many of the people there still believe in his lasting legacy and how it changed much of the culture of religion and leadership in that area. 

The past is important to know because it gives great insight into how the area is largely split with religious groups and practices, and how influences from surrounding areas (both in and out) were affected.

A new understanding that I came to while watching the video was how the establishment of Islam changed the self-perception of some people living on the eastern coast of Africa and how this led to slavery in that region and beyond. Some African that identified more as Arabs and Muslims saw themselves as foreigners. Because they saw themselves as separate from the rest of their African compatriots, they were agents who worked on behalf of Arab slave traders by acquiring African slaves from the interior and then selling the slaves to Arabs who then brought them to the Arabian peninsula across the Indian Ocean. Approximately 14 million slaves were believed to be sold along the Swahili coast during the 7th-19th centuries. I was surprised by how the elevation of their Muslim identity allowed these slave trader agents to dissociate themselves from others in their own country to the extreme of buying and selling human beings.

What struck me about City States and Civilisations was the evidence of established political systems, artistic achievements, religious traditions, and social structures. Learning about the Kingdom of Benin and other African societies reinforces how incomplete our understanding of Africa can be when its history is primarily introduced through slavery and colonialism.

As an educator, I reflect on how much of this history was missing from my own education. It makes me question the narratives we pass along to children, sometimes without realizing how limited they are.

This experience has also changed how I approach developing my own curriculum. When I introduce my kindergarten students to Queen Idia, I want them to understand that she was part of a society with its own history, leadership, traditions, and accomplishments. I don't want Africa to exist in their minds simply as a place associated with wildlife, poverty, or historical suffering.

For me, the importance of studying this history goes beyond learning new facts. It is about developing a more complete understanding of Africa and recognizing the agency of African people throughout history. It also reminds me that, as teachers, we must remain learners ourselves. We cannot teach perspectives we have never taken the time to explore.

I believe this was my second watch, but it was only now that it clicked that the present day boundaries in place are from Colonialism. Others hadn't respected what boundaries were already in place and therefore created their own. I hadn't previously understood why the Empire of Ghana wasn't near present day Ghana. Interesting that Colonizers were so adamant that Africans were uncivilized, savages, without systems, laws and religion but many things were documented and in place but propaganda in place to steal, enslave and commit genocide on many nations. 

Art has a way of passing on messages and allows people to interact and have a number of personal exchanges. Through out the film, there were many artistic productions of song, music, art, dance, storytelling, crafting, textiles, designing and culinary creations. The visual artist that was inspired by Timbuktu in his paintings defiantly made me think of Sankofa. Religious practices were seen with Islam and the Mende Bible.

The three empires are The Ghana Empire, The Mali Empire, and The Songhay Empire.  Another significant understanding is that control of the trade routes dictated so many things: power, wealth, spreading of religion and control.  The routes that could maintain through the Sahara were key and the domestication and breeding of camels a game changer.  During the Ghana Empire, chiefs still had autonomy over their tribes as long as they paid tribute (and taxes) to the King.  Koumbi Saleh even kept the chief's sons as a token of allegiance.  Traditions tied to the coast and rivers (fishing) as well as herding and farming sustained.  Iron technology was present and ceramics since the 9th century have been found.  

At one time copper was more valuable than gold and salt almost equal to the value of gold in weight.  In fact, gold was traded for rock salt in the form of bars, mined outside the Ghana empire.  It was sought as a spice but also for medicinal uses.  

I found it interesting that Islam brought education, a written language, and that books and libraries are still valued and preserved.  Teachers and academics had books.  Now the books are in museums, written in Arabic and although many are the Koran, there are still histories and biographies preserved.  

In general it seems the transition from one empire to another was a relatively quick transition.  As Islam became more common, it's effects became more prevalent.  Mansa Musa, a most famous ruler, began a pilgrimage to Mecca  with 60,000 + in tow.  He stopped in Cairo, was probably the wealthiest King at the time (monetary) and brought writers and poets back from Mecca, thus more influencing his empire with Islamic thought and practice.  Through all this history we are reminded that Africans never lived in isolation.  People were always on the move.

All of this is important to know as we continue to explore the diversity, the influence and implications for today, the history that spans way before outside influences, and how this history influences the people of Africa today, not as a whole, but individually or at least by region.  These African empires were known throughout Europe and the Indian Ocean way before colonialism began.

“City States & Civilisations” focuses on the Benin kingdom and the development of small chiefdoms into city states, some of which grew into kingdoms. In the documentary, the Oba, or king, describes his role as helping bring the Benin kingdom back to a place of respect and dignity globally. I was struck by how he connects his leadership to being a custodian of culture and heritage.