Jenne-jeno is one of the oldest cities of sub-Saharan Africa that historians know about today. Inhabitants lived in the civilization as early as 300 BCE. By 900 CE, it had expanded to become one of the largest urban centers of the region, with at one point more than forty thousand people.
The civilization, which was located near the Niger River, attracted migrants who were in search of a dependable water supply. They brought their domesticated animals, their skills, and their iron technology to the region.
Jenne-jeno did not have an organized class structure like the Egyptians or Romans. Instead, they lived in equality without any political authority or warfare. They built many settlements that surrounded a middle city. These smaller settlements specialized in different trades, for example iron smiths, potters, and leather workers. Eventually these occupational groups became segregated. Parents would teach their children the family job, and children only married within their group. Some groups shared services with each other, but still remained physically separated.
Although the Niger provided nutrients for agriculture and clay for pottery, it did not provide other resources such as iron and fuel. This led to a large system of trade throughout West Africa. They used boats to travel the Niger and donkeys to travel by land. The people of Jenne-jeno traded grain, fish, and meats in return for salt, iron, and copper.
Eventually, a cultural shift occurred. Larger empires emerged and West Africa became connected with North America and Islam. However, parts of the culture and life style of the Niger Valley remain today.
Strayer, Robert W. Ways of the World: A Brief Global History. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2009. Print.
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Did you stumble across any information suggesting that prejudice historians thought white people founded this settlement as they did with Zimbabwe?
ReplyDeleteI did not come across information suggesting that white people founded the settlement. However, the extent of my research was the textbook. Just now, I spent some time searching for some evidence, but I unfortunately did not find anything substantial. Are you by any chance referring to the movie we watched in class? My thoughts are that with Zimbabwe, no one could prove who built the walls, or who the artifacts belonged to. On the other hand, the book leads me to believe that there is enough physical evidence to show that white people did not settle in Jenne-jeno first. That is completely a guess though, so do not quote me on that. If you happen to come across anything in the future, please post it because I am curious to know the answer.
ReplyDeletesearch it up yourself
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