Extended History of Africa

250,000 years ago: Homo sapiens emerged in Africa. 100,000 years ago: Migration from Africa to Eurasian landmass Australia Western Hemisphere Pacific islands.

Development of Distinctive Regional Cultures LEFT: Central Sahara Region of Africa: nomadic society – domestication of cattle preceded development of farming. From 5000 BCE, pastoral societies flourished in the area. RIGHT: Nok culture in what is now northern Nigeria. Made and used iron and terra-cotta.

Bantu Migration Bantu: a family of over 400 languages Beginning around 3000 BCE, Bantu speaking peoples migrated east and south. The Bantus absorbed, killed, or drove away the indigenous Paleolithic people.

Nubian Civilization Nubian civilization began in 3500 BCE Nubians closely tied with Egyptians. The first accounts of Egyptian trade are with Nubians. Nubians and Egyptians were civil, they intermarried, and at one point there was an era of Nubian Pharaohs. Nubian Kingdom of Meroe: 300 BCE-100 CE What do you notice about these structures? What does this tell you about interactions at this time period? (Obviously the structures resembling Greek architecture come later) -Egyptian Influence -Greco-Roman Influence

AXUM 50 CE: a substantial state emerges due to participation in Red Sea and Indian Ocean commerce. Taxes on trade (from animal hides, to stones, to slaves) provided a major source of revenue for the state.

How might Axum’s participation in long-distance trade have stimulated and sustained its growth as an empire?

Arts of Axum Center of monumental building and patronage for the arts. Obelisks: marked royal graves At the time, Obelisks were the largest structures in the world hewn from a single piece of rock. 100ft tall.

Christian Axum Introduced to Christianity in the 4th century CE King Ezana adopted Christianity After the fall of Axum, Christianity rose again further south on the Ethiopian plateau. The Ethiopian Church claims that the Church of our Lady Mary of Zion in Axum houses the Biblical Ark of the Covenant which includes the Tablets of Law (where the 10 commandments are inscribed.)

How are these African civilizations similar to other civilizations we have learned about? How are they different?

Swahili Civilization Set of commercial city-states stretching all along the East African coast Grew due to participation in Indian Ocean trade Clan chiefs became kings An African merchant class developed Urban with cities of 15,000-18,000 people Each Swahili city was politically independent, governed by its own king. Each city was in sharp competition with the others. Who does this sound like?

CAMELS!!!

CAMELS!!! A quote from Ms. Hartman’s collegiate history book: “A major turning point in African commercial life occurred with the introduction of the camel to North Africa and the Sahara in the early centuries of the Common Era. *This remarkable animal*, which could go for ten days without water, finally made possible the long trek across the Sahara. It was camel-owning dwellers of desert oases who initiated regular trans-Saharan commerce by 300 to 400 CE.” We joked about camels once in class, so this is just fun for my classes. Feel free to delete this slide.

Mali Ruled by a monarchy Predominantly Muslim due to the spread of Islam through trade routes. Participated in the gold/salt trade, which brought Mali great wealth. We will go in depth about trades a little later.

Mansa Musa King of Mali Devout Muslim Began his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 His generosity devastated the Mediterranean economy Pilgrimage included: 60,000 men 12,000 slaves carrying gold Horses 80 Camels carrying between 50 and 300 lbs of gold dust Gave gold to poor Traded with gold Built a mosque every Friday

What do you think will come out of Mansa Musa’s expeditions? Will there be a new interest in Africa? Why? Who will be interested?

African Exploration??? Mansa Musa showed off that Africa was SUPER WEALTHY – so therefore other areas of the world started becoming interested in it!