EARLY AFRICA & THE BANTU MIGRATION E. Napp

“Human history in Africa is immensely long “Human history in Africa is immensely long. In fact, both archaeological research and genetic studies strongly support the theory that the evolution of the modern human species (Homo sapiens sapiens) occurred in Africa.” Professor James Giblin, The University of Iowa E. Napp

Africa in the Classical and Early Post-Classical Era Africa, during the classical era, was home to about 11% of the world’s population Africa lacked wild sheep, goats, chickens, horses and camels, but its proximity to Eurasia meant that these animals, once domesticated, became widely available to African peoples E. Napp

Africa in the Classical and Early Post-Classical Era Writing was confined to the northern and northeastern parts of the continent during the classical era Classical-era civilizations in Africa were fewer in number and generally smaller than those of Eurasia E. Napp

Africa in the Classical and Early Post-Classical Era Large numbers of Africans lived in communities that did not feature cities and states. These are called “Stateless Societies” Stateless societies have minimal or no government involvement rather kinship relationships influence interactions. E. Napp

E. Napp

Geographical Diversity of Africa Large deserts (Sahara and Kalahari), larger savannas or grasslands, tropical rain forest in the continent’s center, highlands and mountains in eastern Africa and small regions of Mediterranean climate in the northern and southern extremes Enormous size of continent These geographic factors ensured variation and difference among Africa’s many peoples However, continent bisected by equator and therefore overall more tropical than other land masses E. Napp

E. Napp

Geographical Diversity of Africa Proximity to Eurasia – allowed parts of Africa to interact with Eurasian civilizations -North Africa was incorporated into the Roman Empire and used to produce wheat and olives -Christianity spread widely, giving rise to one of the early Church’s most important theologians, Saint Augustine (354-430 CE) -Christian faith found an even more permanent foothold in the lands known today as Ethiopia E. Napp

Geographical Diversity of Africa Arabia was another point of contact with the larger world for African peoples -the arrival of the domesticated camel, probably from Arabia, generated a nomadic pastoral way of life among some of the Berber peoples E. Napp

Camels Camels came to Egypt from Arabia, 7th century B.C.E. Romans introduced them to North Africa, patrolled desert After 500 C.E. camels replaced horses, donkeys as transport animals Camels' arrival quickened pace of communication across the Sahara Islamic merchants crossed the desert to trade in West Africa Established relations with sub-Saharan West Africa by 8th century E. Napp

Camels made possible trans-Saharan trade, which linked interior West Africa to the world of Mediterranean civilization. Over many centuries, the East African coast was a port of call of merchants and subsequently became an integral part of Indian Ocean trading networks.

The Bantu In Africa south of the equator, the most significant development of the classical era involved the accelerating movement of the Bantu-speaking peoples into the subcontinent Had begun many centuries earlier from a homeland region in what is now southeastern Nigeria and the Cameroons E. Napp

The Bantu The movement of peoples generated some 400 distinct but closely related languages, known collectively as Bantu By the first century CE, agricultural peoples speaking Bantu languages occupied the forest regions of equatorial Africa E. Napp

The Bantu The spread of Bantu peoples was a slow movement that brought Africa south of the equator a measure of cultural and linguistic commonality, marking it as a distinct region -kinship structures -ancestral or nature spirits -belief in witches -diviners, skilled in penetrating the world of the supernatural E. Napp

The Bantu Farming largely replaced foraging -Agriculture generated a more productive economy -Farmers brought with them both parasitic and infectious diseases to which foragers had little immunity -Iron was another advantage the Bantu migrants had Bantu migrants also brought a common set of cultural and social practices E. Napp

EARLY AFRICAN RELIGION Creator god Recognized by almost all African peoples Created the earth and humankind, source of world order Lesser gods and spirits Often associated with natural features, forces in world Participated actively in the workings of the world Believed in ancestors' souls influencing material world Diviners Mediated between humanity and supernatural beings Called shamans and inappropriately “witch doctors” Interpreted the cause of the people's misfortune Used medicine or rituals to eliminate problems African religion was not theological, but practical Religion to placate the gods, ask for assistance, cures, fertility Public celebrations inc. dancing, singing formed community Genders honored different deities, had separate ceremonies

CHRISTIANITY IN AFRICA The Christian kingdoms of Nubia and Axum 1st Christian kingdom, 4th century C.E., Nubians of Kush also became Christian Both adopted Monophysite form of Christianity Ethiopian and Nubian Christianity Had little contact with Christians of other lands Shared basic Christian theology/rituals, developed own features Isolated, attacked by Islam

Strayer Questions How did the history of Meroë and Axum reflect interaction with neighboring civilizations? How does the experience of the Niger Valley challenge conventional notions of "civilization"? In what ways did the arrival of Bantu-speaking peoples stimulate cross-cultural interaction? E. Napp