African Civilizations

Land of Geographic Contrasts Deserts Rainforests Savannas Coastal areas/ Mediterranean climate

Early Societies Nok, Djenne-Djeno = early groups Common elements - Basic social unit = family - Local religions - Polytheistic - Animism – spirits are present in animals, plants, & natural forces - Some belief in one creator god or supreme deity - Oral traditions - storytellers, or griots

Push-Pull Factors EnvironmentalEconomicPolitical Migrations: How did people spread through the continent?

Migrations Clue to examining migrations… - Language! Why? 1) People bring languages with them 2) Languages evolve and change 3) Languages show that two peoples meet

Why the Bantu? Niger-Congo languages = one of the major world language groups –Africa’s largest –Over 900 languages Bantu is a major language family of Niger-Congo group –Bantu = 2/3 of Africa’s population –300 ethnic groups –Sub-Saharan Africa Swahili is a widely spoken Bantu language

Why did the Bantu Migrate? Fear of famine –Overcrowding/population boom –Drought –Unreliable climate –Scarcity of land for farming/grazing External pressures –Attacks from outsiders (Arabs in W. Africa)

Internal conflicts –Disagreements between clans –Ownership of lands, scarcity of resources Disease (tsetse fly) Natural disasters (earthquakes, extreme flooding)

Why did the Bantu Migrate? Search for fertile land? Love for adventure? Influenced by movement of family or friends?

Effects of Migration: Positive Introduction of iron-working New crops (yams, bananas) Absorbed other tribes –Spread language Centralized gov’t Permanent structures Subsistence agriculture Rise of large states

Effects of Migration: Negative Depopulation Loss of cultures due to cultural absorption Transformation of languages

Other Ethnic Groups of Africa Berbers (Morocco, Algeria) Dinka (of Sudan) Fulani (Western Africa) Hausa (Nigeria, Niger) Khoikhoi (Namibia) Manding (Western Africa)

African Kingdoms Mali Songhai Aksum (Ethiopia) Ghana, Benin (West Africa) Efe, Almoravids/Almohads (North & Central Africa) Zimbabwe, Mutapa (Eastern & Southern empires)

Aksum & East Africa Strategic location  trade route between Asia & Mediterranean world Aksum’s origins = Arab traders mixed with people of Kush Aksum traded salt, gold, ivory, spices

Culture of Aksum Many different cultures Greek language Christianity widespread Technologies –Tall structures –Farmed on terraces to hold water –Only early culture (other than Egypt) to have written language

Aksum & Foreign Influence Askum was able to remain free from Muslim control Decline –Cut off from trade, had to retreat to mwhen attacked

North & Central Kingdoms The Efe –Hunter-gatherers (traditional economy) –Rain-forest Traveled in kinship groups Leader was elder male (patriarchal) Age sets for children

Stateless Societies No central gov’t No person has sole authority People made own decisions as families

Islam & North Africa Berbers = North Africans who converted to Islam Tried to spread Islam N. African societies became theocratic Encouraged Islamic tradition of obeying law supported by gov’t (religion & gov’t together)

West African Kingdoms Use of camels allowed trade across Sahara Desert Gold-salt trade was essential Ghana = monarchy Islam was brought to Ghana through trade w/Muslim merchants = DIRECT CULTURAL DIFFUSION

West African Kingdoms Mali –Under ruler Mansa Musa, it became an Islamic empire Songhai –Arose in 1400s –Used canoes & horses to attack others –Fell in 1591 because others had better weapons Other kingdoms = Benin, Ife, Oyo

Eastern City-States Swahili = blend of Bantu-speakers and Berber Muslims Trade –Porcelain from China –Jewels & cotton from India –Exported ivory, gold, tortoise shells, etc. Kilwa was the riches of the trading ports –Later attacked & burned by Portuguese

Islam & Africa Adoption of Islam changed political structure –Most gov’t officials and wealthy merchants converted to Islam –Many commoners kept traditional beliefs (animism, etc.) Muslim merchants engaged in human slave trade (sent slaves as far as Persia & India) Shona people  decline –Overuse of soil, destroyed grasslands, lack of timber –Couldn’t support large population