The Rise of African Civilizations Cornell Notes 3-1 Pages 207-214

CA Standards WH7.4.1 Study the Niger River and the relationship of vegetation zones of forest, savannah, and desert to trade in gold, salt, food, and slaves; and the growth of Ghana and Mali empires.

Objectives Describe Africa’s varied landscapes. Explain how West African empires grew rich from trade. Discuss how Africa’s rain forests protected it from invaders and provided resources. Explain how East African kingdoms became the centers for trade and ideas.

3-1 The Rise of African Civilizations p. 207 Africa’s Geography “Death Road” is a trade route that connects western Africa to Mediterranean Sea. Vischer’s life depended on finding oases.

I. Africa’s Geography (pages 207–208)

3-1 The Rise of African Civilizations p. 208 A Vast and Diverse Continent 2nd largest continent Equator Runs through the middle Rain forest on each side of it Tropics Savanna: tropical grasslands High temperatures and uneven rain Deserts North: Sahara South: Kalahari Mild climate areas found along the Mediterranean Sea in northwest Africa and in the South

I. Africa’s Geography (pages 207–208)

3-1 The Rise of African Civilizations p. 208 What is the African Plateau Plateau: an area of high flat land Great Rift Valley Rivers Nile River Niger River: very important Rich soil Rise to civilizations Unite the region as merchants and travelers spread goods and ideas up the river Flooded areas leaving rich soil behind

3-1 African Trading Empires p. 209 Meaning “The people” 3000 BC groups around the Benue River began moving throughout Africa Unsure why they left: crowded? Wore out soil? Traveled Slowly, some through the Congo River Settled in the grasslands, spread south of the Sahara Sahara kept them from migrating to North Africa AD 400s Bantu settled most of Africa Culture Spread skills: pottery, mining, iron working Language: 120 million + Africans speak Bantu languages Migrations Reason many in Africa have common ideas and traditions Bantu

II. African Trading Empires (pages 209–214)

3-1 African Trading Empires p. 209 Trade Caravans begin Sahara kept North Africa isolated 400 BC: North African people known as Berber found a way to cross Sahara to West Africa and trade began Berbers Transported goods on horses and donkeys Died in hot Sahara Romans conquered North Africa, they introduced camels from Central Asia Camels revolutionized trade Broad feet didn’t sink in the sand, humps stored fat for food Could travel many days without water

3-1 African Trading Empires p. 210 Rise of empires Thousands of traders led to growth of cities in western Africa Cities became Empires Ghana First empire to rise to power AD 400s where several trade routes came together Passage through Ghana required a tax Taxes Made the rulers of Ghana rich Provided money to make weapons, army, needed salt to flavor and preserve food Berber merchants wanted gold so they could buy goods from Europe and the Arabs Rise of Ghana

3-1 African Trading Empires p. 210 How did Mali Begin? Ghana’s power declined New gold outside Ghana’s mines reduced taxes Heavy farming, constant warfare North African Muslims captured the capital of Ghana in 1076 Mali 1200s: conquered what was left of Ghana Griots, storytellers credit Sundiata Keita, the “Lion Prince” Ruled from 1230 to 1255 and seized Ghana in 1240 Put Mali in control of gold mining area, rebuilding salt and gold trade

3-1 African Trading Empires p. 211 Mansa Musa: last strong king who died in 1337 1468: Sunni Ali, leader of Songhai, drove Berbers out of Timbuktu Built largest empire in West Africa Use location on river Fleet of war canoes to control trade Armies swept into the Sahara and seized the Berber salt mines By 1492 Sunni Ali had built the largest empire in West Africa 1591: a small army from the Arab kingdom of Morocco crossed the Sahara Soldiers with guns, cannons took over the empire Rise of Songhai

3-1 African Trading Empires p. 212 Benin, the Niger delta and Kongo, the Congo River basin Griots Tell stories of King Ewuare, founded the empire Kept the village’s oral history alive Farmers Natural advantages, soil and warm, wet climate Food Surpluses Extra supplies supported rulers and a class of artisans Bordered Savannas: traded surplus Kingdoms of the Rain Forest

3-1 African Trading Empires p. 212 East Africa 1005 BC: Queen Makeda rose to the throne of the great empire called Saba or Sheba Traveled to meet with King Solomon Makeda introduced Israel’s religion to her empire Eastern Africa would feel the impact of two other religions- Christianity and Islam

3-1 African Trading Empires p. 213 What Was Axum? Saba declined Axum, a city-state: strength attributed to location on Red Sea Fought Kush for control of trade routes In the early 300s, King Ezana converted to Christianity and brought the religion to his people Later, Islam brought changed to Axum

3-1 African Trading Empires p. 213 Coastal City-States Arab traders used triangular sail to travel to eastern Africa Sails were attached to dhows Indian Ocean trading network Trading ports on eastern coast Traded with places in East Asia, including China

3-1 African Trading Empires p. 214 What was the Great Zimbabwe? Great trading center in southeastern Africa Founded by Shona people AD 700 Supplied gold, copper, and ivory to East African coast Zimbabwe became a great empire under Mutota and Matope Ruins of the Great Zimbabwe depict the power it once had