Ancient Africa Unit 2 Mr. Hardy RMS IB Middle School

Agenda: Tuesday, October 9 th, 2012 OBJ: Students will be able to compare and contrast modern culture and that of Ancient Africa by analyzing an African fable and creating their own. 1. Warm Up 2. Notes- Ancient Africa 3. Group Work – African Fables – Personal Fable HW: Review notes on Ms. Hunt’s wiki

Common traits between African Groups Hunter- gatherers before Agricultural Revolution Clans- groups of (extended) families whom live together, tribe like Animism- spirits are present in the nature around you (plants, animals, dead ancestors) Subsistence Farming- growing crops for personal use, not for market sale No written language – Specialized storytellers- Griots

Kush Based around Nile River – Pre- Egyptian peoples Descendants of Nubia Created iron weapons Strong trading nation – Animal skins, ivory, ebony, etc. Conquered Egypt 750 B.C.- King Kashta Declined because of the rise of Axum

Axum/ Aksum 100 – 940 A.D. Located in current day Ethiopia (Eastern Africa) Rich because of location along the trading routes to India and Mediterranean 330 A.D. conversion to Christianity, later to Islam (both brought in by trade) Language- Ge’ez – Only ancient African kingdom known to have a writing system Agriculture- terrace farming – Step- like ridges used to cultivate crops

Ghana Located in western Africa “1 st Great Traders of West Africa” – Began the gold and salt trade Well trained army to protect cities and trade routes Government- King was religious, economic, and political leader RICH! – Resources of gold, silver, and iron

Mali Rise- Defeated Ghana, 1240 Located in western Africa Continued the gold and salt trade Government- rulers of each region sent money to Mali’s king for protection Mansa Musa- Golden Age King – Brought Islam to Mali – Established Islamic learning center city- Timbuktu

Songhai Rise- Conquered Empire of Mali Islamic trading kingdom Continued gold and salt trade Largest African Empire! Decline defeated by Moroccan force with superior weapons. (Gunpowder Empire )

African Fable After reading your assigned African fable, discuss as a group the “lesson” or creation story that you find was taught through the book. Now… Create a fable (story) that centers around a lesson that your group finds to be important to teach others. – Your fable/story should be a modern adaptation/ version of the African fable your group read. Your story must be presented to the class in the form of a skit(must include script!).

Reflection and Ticket Out the Door! Complete a reflection on today’s material on the Empires of Africa in your interactive notebook! When you are done with your reflection, pack up and complete the Ticket Out the Door question!