DJENNE-DJENO

RISE AND FALL

The rise of the Djenne started with nomadic groups settled on the Niger River that built up civilization. They had a convenient trade location and skillful ironsmiths, which set them up to make money. They fell to Islamic influence and had 200 year period of decline and abandonment after around 1200 AD and the environment became drier and impossible for them to live.

CULTURE AND RELIGION

Part of the religion is sad looking terracotta statues. Some are men riding horses, entwined by serpents, figures sitting of kneeling, bodies covered with blisters or welts(Forssberg). Other terracotta productions were pottery, copper hair ornaments, clay toys, glass beads, stone bracelets, iron knives discovered. The Djenne use domesticated plants and animals, raised sheep and goat for meat and clothes. They also discovered glass beads and copper ornaments (Nag, 2017). They had no religious temple or palace. They were an important site for the study of the evolution of dwellings, industry, and craft techniques(Unesco). They fashioned metal into both jewelry and tools - no sources of iron ore in floodplains they had smithy to mold copper and bronze into ornaments and forge iron. Smithing continued from 800 AD until abandoned. They had a successful society, there was no conflict between farmers, blacksmiths, and fisherman (McIntosh).

GENERAL FACTS

Djenne-Djeno was an ancient civilization Situated between Bani and Niger rivers. They fished in Niger river, herded cattle, raised rice on floodplains for food, and in the third century BC learned how to smelt iron. There is no evidence of warfare during the span of Djenne Djeno, and no weapons or written records of war found(McIntosh). To trade, the Djenne exchanged goods for copper, gold, and salt. They became trading center for other town by the Niger and camel routes with a balanced structure of work specialization led to steady economy growth and self sufficient settlement. Some of the earliest settlers traded with areas outside the region and imported stone grinders and beads(McIntosh). Small trade goods were reaching west Africa. The Djenne-Djeno government was not based on hierarchy of social and economic power(Nag, 2017). Graves and houses had almost same amount of wealth, based upon size of huts and goods found. Towns was divided into 40 mounds, each inhabited by communities with with specific specializations(Forssberg).

CITATIONS

Sources Used

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