Early African Societies and the Bantu Migrations Chapter 3 Early African Societies and the Bantu Migrations ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1 1

Warm Up Explain the relationship between humans and the gods in ancient civ: What impact does the Code of Hammurabi have on the people of ancient times? What military technologies have come about and what advantages do they have? Explain the idea of a patriarchal society: Explain the commonality between the Christians and Muslims:

Development of African Agriculture Sahara region used to be grassy steppe lands with water (10,000 BCE) Abundant hunting, fishing, wild grains Domestication of cattle ca. 7500 B.C.E. Later, cultivation of sorghum, yams, increasingly diverse Widespread desiccation of the Sahara ca. 5000 B.C.E. ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 3 3

©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Gift of the Nile People are driven into river regions--Nile Annual predictable flooding makes rich soil for agriculture “Gift of the Nile” ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 4 4

Early Agriculture in Nile Valley 5000 B.C.E. people domesticate donkeys and cattle (from Sudan), and grow wheat and barley (from Mesopotamia) Adaptation to seasonal flooding of Nile through construction of dikes, waterways Villages dot Nile by 4000 B.C.E. ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 5 5

Impact on Political Organization As in Mesopotamia, a need for formal organization of public affairs Need to maintain order and organize community projects Egypt: simple, local irrigation projects, rural rather than heavily urban development, trade networks develop ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 6 6

©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Unification of Egypt Legendary conqueror Menes, ca. 3100, unifies Egyptian kingdom Tradition: founder of Memphis, cultural and political center of ancient Egypt Instituted the rule of the pharaoh Claimed descent from the gods Absolute rulers, had slaves buried with them from 2600 B.C.E. ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 7 7

©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Pyramids Symbols of the pharaoh’s authority and divine status A testimony of the pharaohs’ ability to marshal Egypt’s resources Largest Khufu (Cheops), 2.3 M limestone blocks, average weight 2.5 tons Role: burial chambers for pharaohs Show construction of Temple here from Ancient Egypt VH 5431 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 8 8

©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Relations with Nubia Competition over Nile trade Military conflict drove Nubians to the south Established kingdom of Kush, ca. 2500 B.C.E. Interaction through diplomacy, Nubian mercenaries, and intermarriage ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 9 9

Egyptian Urban Culture Well-defined social classes Pharaohs to slaves Patriarchal societies, notable exceptions: female pharaoh Hatshepsut (r. 1473-1458 B.C.E.) Egpyt: peasants and slaves (agriculture), pharaoh, professional military and administrators Nubia: complex and hierarchical society ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 10 10

Patriarchy in both but women have more influence than in Mesopotamia Women act as regents, like female pharaoh Hatshepsut Nubia: women serve as queens, priestesses, and scribes

©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nomadic horseman, Hyksos, invade Egypt Used bronze weapons, chariots, and bows (Egypt does not have) Captures Memphis in 1674 BCE Assyrians with iron weapons invade from the north After sixth century BCE series of foreign conquests Trade along Nile River: More difficult in Nubia due to cataracts Sea trade in Mediterranean ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 12 12

Transportation: sailboats, carts, and donkey caravans Trade networks Egypt and Nubia: exotic goods from Nubia (ebony, gold, gems, slaves) and pottery, wine, linen, decorative items from Egypt Egypt and the north: especially wood, like cedar from Lebanon

©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hieroglyphs “Holy inscriptions” Writing appeared at least by 3200 B.C.E. Survives on monuments, buildings, and sheets of papyrus Hieroglyphs for formal writing, hieratic script for everyday affairs used from 2600 B.C.E. to 600 C.E. Scribes live very privileged lives ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 14 14

Development of Organized Religious Traditions Principal gods Amon and Re Religious tumult under Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) (r. 1353-1335 B.C.E.) Introduces sole worship of sun god Aten One of the world’s earliest expressions of monotheism Death of Akhenaten, traditional priests restore the cult of Amon-Re to privileged status ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 15 15

Mummification and the Afterlife Inspiration of the cycles of the Nile Belief in the revival of the dead First: ruling classes only, later expanded to include lower classes Cult of Osiris Lord of the underworld Power to determine who deserved immortality Becomes associated with Nile, crops, life/death, immortality Held out hope of eternal reward for those who lived moral lives Show second clip from Ancient Egypt, Sphinx through mummification ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 16 16

©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bantu Migrations, 3000-1000 B.C.E. The dynamics of the Bantu expansion Bantu-language group from west central Africa Live along banks of rivers; use canoes Trade with hunting/gathering forest people ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 17 17

Bantu Migrations, 2000 B.C.E.-1000 C.E. ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 18 18

Early migrations of Bantu (3000-1000 B.C.E.) Absorb much of the population of hunter/gather/fisher people By 1000 B.C.E. occupy most of Africa south of the equator Features of the Bantu Use canoes and settle along banks of rivers; spread from there Agricultural surplus causes them to move inland from rivers Become involved in trade

Bantu rate of migration increases after 1000 B. C. E Bantu rate of migration increases after 1000 B.C.E. due to appearance of iron Iron tools allow them to clear more land for agriculture Iron weapons give them stronger position

©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bantu Religions Some worship single, impersonal divine force representing good and bad Deistic views as well Prayers to intercessors, e.g. ancestor spirits Great variations among populations ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 21 21