Final answer:
Medieval Africa was connected to the rest of the world through the trans-Saharan trade routes and maritime networks. Trans-Saharan trade routes facilitated trade and cultural exchange across the continent and beyond, while maritime networks linked southern African economies with Islamic world commerce.
Step-by-step explanation:
During medieval times, Africa was connected with other parts of the world through two primary means: the trans-Saharan trade routes and maritime networks. The trade routes allowed for the exchange of commodities and the spread of culture, while the maritime networks connected Africa to distant markets and civilizations.
Trans-Saharan Trade Routes
The first method of connection was the trans-Saharan trade routes. These routes facilitated commerce and cultural exchanges between North and West Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Centers like Awdaghost and Sijilmasa became bustling hubs where goods such as gold, salt, and ivory from West Africa were exchanged for Mediterranean luxuries. These trade networks also aided the spread of Islam and the Arabic language.
Maritime Networks
The second connection was through maritime networks centered around the Indian Ocean. Societies in southern Africa, such as the kingdom of Great Zimbabwe, engaged in trade with East African coastal civilizations of the Swahili peoples. They utilized rivers like the Limpopo and Zambezi to foster commerce and link their economies with the wider Islamic world, exchanging goods with traders from Asia and Arabia.