State Building in Africa

THEMATIC FOCUS Governance GOV

A variety of internal and external factors contribute to state formation, expansion, and decline. Governments maintain order through a variety of administrative institutions, policies, and procedures, and governments obtain, retain, and exercise power in different ways and for different purposes.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE Unit 1: Learning Objective J

Explain how and why states in Africa developed and changed over time

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS KC-3.2.I.D.ii

In Africa, as in Eurasia and the Americas, state systems demonstrated continuity, innovation, and diversity and expanded in scope and reach

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES

State systems in Africa:

Great Zimbabwe

Ethiopia

Hausa kingdoms