Trading States of East Africa Chapter 2 Section 3 Trading States of East Africa Food for Thought: What cultures influenced Aksum and Ethiopia? Why did so many city-states develop along the coast of East Africa?

Aksum: An ancient town that was a powerful kingdom of trade on the coast of Northern Africa from A.D. 200-600 Aksum grew powerful because of its location: on the trade route between Asia and the Mediterranean Turn & Talk: What items were merchants looking for when traveling to Aksum

One of these beliefs was Christianity Foreign merchants came from far and wide looking for gold, ivory, & spices Along with their trade goods, foreign merchants brought their ideas and beliefs with them to Aksum. One of these beliefs was Christianity In the 300's Aksum's king became Christian, therefore Christianity became the official religion. http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/carolerich/1/1262493910/tpod.html#pbrowser/carolerich/1/1262493910/filename=2_axum.jpg

Two important items traded in Aksum were Frankincense & Myrrh Frankincense was used in medicine & religious services Myrrh Myrrh was used in perfumes and as a medicine

Frankincense and Myrrh are still used in religious ceremonies today

For a few hundred years Aksum controlled the trade routes that linked Africa with Europe and Asia.

Muslim traders began to fight with Aksum rulers over the trade routes Muslim traders began to fight with Aksum rulers over the trade routes. The people of Aksum were forced to move south into the mountains of Ethiopia Churches in Ethiopia were carved out of solid rock. (Red Stone) This church is still standing in Ethiopia. It was built over 900 years ago and stands 40 feet tall. This church took many years to build. Turn & Talk: Why did the kings of Aksum have their churches made from solid stone? Think about what happened to Aksum in the past

History/Beauty indestructable Why did they build churches out of Solid Stone? indestructable -Could not be destroyed or burnt to the ground during invasions and battles -Safe History/Beauty

Gold coins from Aksum

The people of Aksum built temples, palaces and tombs for the wealthy ruling classes. me of these huge monuments still stand to this day. Known to us as stele, these tall, thin monuments of solid stone were placed to make the tombs of their rulers and are thought to date from about 300 AD. world. King Ezana's Stele is the tallest standing stele -- 70 feet

EAST AFRICA Port cities arose south of Aksum along the east coast. Turn & Talk: What is a port city? Why is the location important? These port cities were known as a city-state City-State: a city that has its own government and controls the surrounding land

Port city: a city located very close to water Trade/shipping is key

Africa still has port cities today

Turn & Talk: Based on the map below, where do you think the city states of East Africa traded with? represents a port city The city-states found on the coast of Africa all traded goods with China, India, and Southwest Asia

Kilwa Language & Culture Kilwa was an important city-state located on the East coast. Kilwa grew rich from taxes they charged on all goods that entered the port. Merchants from Kilwa needed many items: Jewelry & Cotton from India Porcelain & Silk from China Honey, Wheat, & Rice from Europe & Southwest Asia In order to get these needed items the people of Kilwa traded gold, ivory, iron, & slaves Language & Culture The people of Kilwa spoke Swahili: which means "of the coast" Swahili is a Bantu language borrowed from Arabic words Swahili people still live along the coast of Africa. Swahili is the official language of Kenya & Tanzania and most East Africans still use it for business

Great Zimbabwe The gold that merchants of Kilwa traded came from Africa's interior. Most of this gold was mined in the area surrounding Great Zimbabwe; a kingdom between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers.

Food for Thought: What cultures influenced Aksum and Ethiopia? Jews from Israel & Christians from North Africa & Europe influenced the people of Aksum & Ethiopia Why did so many city-states develop along the coast of East Africa? The city-states were port cities where goods could be traded to and from Europe, India, and Asia. The leaders of the city-state would collect taxes on all goods traded. These taxes made the city-states extremely wealthy and powerful.

Attachments