The African Jihads
Jihad, the Muslim word meaning holy war. During the 18th and 19th centuries,
this word brought fear to anyone who did not fully believe in the Islamic state
and resided in West Africa. The Jihads of this era not only changed the faith
of many people, but also the landscape of West African democracy. Although
Islamic Jihads had occurred in the past, they never surmounted to the magnitude
of those of the 18th century. What factors and leaders caused the West African
Jihads, of the 18th and 19th centuries, to be so effective?
The people of West Africa were tired of governments who constantly over taxed
its constituents, and simply did not care for the well being of common
individuals. The Islamic religion, which was brought to Africa by Muslim
traders, provided individuals a new opportunity of promise, equality, and the
possibility of becoming a spiritual being. Islam embraced the majority of West
African people and became known as the......
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Approximate Word Count: 2159
Approximate Pages: 9 (260 words per double-spaced page) |