Sudan (Geographical Region)
Sudan refers to the broad region south of the Sahara Desert, extending from West Africa through Central and Eastern Africa. The name originates from the Arabic terms:
- bilād as-sūdān (بلاد السودان) – “lands of the Blacks”
- arḍ as-sūdān (أرض السودان) – “land of the Blacks”
These names were historically used to describe West Africa and northern Central Africa.
History
According to modern historians, western Sudan has had one of the longest trajectories of:
- Agricultural development
- Trade networks and market economies
- Complex political systems
It was also the first region south of the Sahara where Islam took root and flourished.
Middle Ages
During the medieval period, the region thrived on trans-Saharan caravan trade.
- Eastern Sudan: Sultanates of Darfur, Bagirmi, Sennar, and Wadai
- Central Sudan: Kanem–Bornu Empire and the Hausa Kingdoms
- Western Sudan: Wagadou, Manden, Songhay, and the Mossi states
Slave Trade
From the early first millennium, Sudan was a significant source for the Saharan slave trade, supplying enslaved individuals to the Mediterranean world.
- By the 15th century, with Portuguese expansion, the region became part of the Atlantic slave trade
- The Saharan slave trade spanned over 1,000 years
- The Atlantic trade lasted four centuries
Impact and Systems
Slavery deeply influenced Sudanese institutions and social systems:
- The Portuguese observed slavery as well-established in Senegambia, used by coastal and interior kingdoms
- Enslaved individuals had no legal rights or social identity during capture and transfer
- Identity was later reconstructed through corporate group affiliation, often based on kinship
See Also
- Jews of Bilad el-Sudan
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Sudanian savanna
- East Sudanian savanna
- West Sudanian savanna
Notes & References
- Klein, Martin A. (1998). Slavery and Colonial Rule in French West Africa. Cambridge University Press.
- Reader's Digest: Atlas of the World (1991), Rand-McNally. ISBN: 0-276-42001-2