Understanding Africa: Periodization 2 AP WH: Chapter 6 15 % of the AP objective questions

First things first… Main Idea Africa’s earliest people adapted to a wide range of geographic conditions to establish societies based on family ties, religion, iron technology, and trade.

AFRICA: SO HOW BIG IS BIG? Over 3 x the size of the continental United States Over 4x the size of Europe Key equation: people + geography = cultural differences ? ? ?

HOWEVER, what new force emerges in the 600s & will unify much of the continent?

Key Questions Key Questions What areas tended to practice Islam? Was the entire continent Muslim? How do you know? Most of North Africa: from Egypt to Morrocco converted rapidly during the 600s – 700s. Under the Abbasid then Ottomans, Islam spread across the Sahara & SubSahara regions by the s – often influenced by Arab Traders. Eventually, West Africa converts as well (via the Berbers!) Africa’s richest & strongest areas were Muslim (“dar-al-Islam”) NO! Pockets of Christianity existed. Copts formed a Christian minority in Egypt, Sudan, & modern day Ethiopia. *Christianity remains the main religion of Ethiopia today – a lasting legacy. Also tribal beliefs – animism – also existed.

Side Note: Geographers break Africa up into 5 regions A Look at East Africa Based on excavations from Olduvai Gorge & other sites in the Great Rift Valley, anthropologists believe that the first humans lived in East Africa. Over thousands of years, people spread out from that region into other parts of the continent to form distinct cultures & societies.

BACKGROUND ON EAST AFRICA The growth of trade led to the development of wealthy kingdoms and city-states in East Africa. Rise of Axum (Aksum) By AD100, was a wealthy trading kingdom Bordered the Red Sea Became the greatest power in East Africa

Christianity factor Along with trade: goods, people, AND IDEAS Christianity introduced in the 300s CE King Ezana converted & made it the official religion How do we know? The stelea (STEE-lee)… 

Evidence of Christianity…. King Ezana recorded he would “rule the people with righteousness and justice will not oppress them, and may they preserve this Throne which I have set up for the Lord of Heaven.” These words were inscribed on a stone monument called a stelae  

So what happened to Axum? Began to decline due to Muslim invaders in the 600s – 700s who conquered parts of East and Northern Africa. As nearby areas were conquered, Christian Axum became isolated Muslims took over the port city of Adulis and took over the Red Sea trade. Eventually, with their source of wealth gone, its people retreated inland into the mountains of what is now northern Ethiopia. Although Axum’s kingdom ended, its legacy lived on, shaping Ethiopia’s later history…

Ethiopia Region around the kingdom of Aksum Established by the descendents of Aksum in the 1100s Zagwe dynasty gained power in 1150 King Lalibela ◦ Most famous of the Zagwe kings ◦ Ruled during the 1200s ◦ Known for building 11 stone Christian churches, many still around today

Lalibela Churches Pic here see legacy book test page 290 Carved out of solid rock & are impressive works of architecture. Revealed the remarkable technical knowledge & skill of Ethiopians at that time.  Church of St. George

Meanwhile… A rival Muslim kingdom was forming to the east of Ethiopia near the Horn of Africa – this region of Africa juts out into the Indian Ocean south of the Arabian peninsula Arab traders had settled the region and it became known as the kingdom of Adal by the 1300s. Inevitable conflict between: Christian Ethiopian vs. Muslim Adal HOWEVER, Muslim forces never conquered Ethiopia….