✊🏿AP African American Studies
1. Develop an argument that compares social and political organization in African societies during the period circa 1250–1550.
Respond to the prompt with a defensible thesis or claim that establishes a line of reasoning.
Describe a broader historical or disciplinary context relevant to the topic of the prompt.
Support an argument in response to the prompt using at least three of the sources.
Use at least one additional piece of specific evidence (beyond that found in the sources) relevant to your argument.
For at least two sources, explain how or why the perspective, purpose, context, and/or audience for each source is relevant to your argument.
Reference or cite the sources you use in your argument. You can reference or cite the source letter, title, or author.
Document 1
Source: Image of Mali Equestrian Figure, 1250-1450
Document 2
Source: Catalan Atlas, attributed to Abraham Cresques, Majorca, 1375. Detail of sheet 6 showing Mansa Musa of Mali seated with crown, scepter, and gold. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Espagnol 30, Gallica btv1b55002481n, view 7. The accompanying map caption associates his wealth with gold from his land.
Document 3
Source: Ibn Battuta's account of trade customs and royal ceremonies in Mogadishu, 1331.
When a vessel reaches the port, it is met by sumbuqs, which are small boats, in each of which are a number of young men, each carrying a covered dish containing food. He presents this to one of the merchants on the ship saying “This is my guest,” and all the others do the same. Each merchant on disembarking goes only to the house of the young man who is his host, except those who have made frequent journeys to the town and know its people well; these live where they please. The host then sells his goods for him and buys for him, and if anyone buys anything from him at too low a price, or sells to him in the absence of his host, the sale is regarded by them as invalid. This practice is of great advantage to them. ...
We stayed there [in Mogadishu] three days, food being brought to us three times a day, and on the fourth, a Friday, the qadi [an Islamic magistrate or judge] and one of the wazirs [vizier, high-ranking minister] brought me a set of garments. We then went to the mosque and prayed behind the [sultan’s] screen. When the Shaykh [sultan] came out I greeted him and he bade me welcome. He put on his sandals, ordering the qadi and myself to do the same, and set out for his palace on foot. All the other people walked barefooted. Over his head were carried four canopies of coloured silk, each surmounted by a golden bird. After the palace ceremonies were over, all those present saluted and retired.
Document 4
Source: Ibn Battuta's account of West African society in Iwalatan (Oualata), 1352-1353.
My stay at Iwalatan [Oualata, Mauritania] lasted about fifty days; and I was shown honour and entertained by its inhabitants...
Their women are of surpassing beauty, and are shown more respect than the men. The state of affairs amongst these people is indeed extraordinary. Their men show no signs of jealousy whatever; no one claims descent from his father, but on the contrary from his mother’s brother. A person’s heirs are his sister’s sons, not his own sons. This is a thing which I have seen nowhere in the world except among the Indians of Malabar. But those are heathens; these people are Muslims, punctilious [attentive] in observing the hours of prayer, studying books of law, and memorizing the Koran. Yet their women show no bashfulness before men and do not veil themselves, although they are assiduous [attentive] in attending the prayers.
Document 5
Source: Image of Queen Mother Pendant Mask: Iyoba, 1500-1550
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