Geography of Africa Africa - large continent - coastline has few ports/harbors Second largest continent in the world; can fit multiple countries in there Occupies one fifth of the Earth’s land surface At a certain point in Africa the coastline gets rocky, so there aren’t as many ports as it one would think Africa is home to Home to deserts, grasslands, rainforests, mountainous regions like the Sahara – Desert in Northern Africa Deserts like the Sahara in Northern Africa; Kalahari in Southern Africa Grasslands like the Sahel; zone between Northern Africa and Central Africa Rainforests central Africa – home to the Tsetse fly (sleeping sickness

Sahara Desert Sahel Grasslands Rainforest

The Sahara Desert The Sahel - Grasslands Gabon Rainforest

Early Humans Adapt to their Environments Earliest people - nomadic hunter-gatherers Hunted animals, collect berries and roots Later domesticated animals – herded them to find water, graze pastures, etc. Agriculture and permanent settlements develop around 6,000 B.C. – people came to the same realization that if you dropped seeds into the ground new vegetation would sprout People lived within lineages – groups based on ancestry Shared strong ties – group is based on blood/family Lineages (family groups) formed Stateless Societies – societies without central authority – families would share power

Lineages

Stateless Societies (Cont.) Some societies are patrilineal-Trace ancestry through fathers and the children that came from the father and his wife (wives) Others are matrilineal-Trace ancestry through mothers and the children that came from her spouse (spouses) Lineage determines who can inherit possessions, at what age, under what conditions, etc. People with similar birth dates/times go through stages of life together (boys are recognized as warriors, girls reach adolescence and are married off, etc.) Ceremonies mark the passage to each new stage for both men and women Early religions among stateless societies centered around Animism—Belief in spirits found in the environment – includes normally inanimate objects such as rocks, mountains, deserts, etc. Trees, rivers, lakes, etc. are important – It was these spirits that were often looked to for help for growing healthy crops, having good harvest, having enough water for everyone, et. Spirits of ancestors were thought to inhabit the environment so they could help their families survive

Muslim States 630s A.D. - Muslims conquer North Africa Period following Muhammad’s death – Arabic forces had come into Northern Africa to spread the faith of Allah (Conversion/Jihad) Many Africans convert to Islam – religious scholars arrive to teach them the way of Islam (and subsequently the will of Allah) Even though many Africans convert to Islam, they keep much of their culture from before which made some Muslim thinkers/teachers upset Example: Muslim women in the Middle East had to wear veils and avoid speaking to males; African women would walk around without veils and start conversations with men Islamic law brings order to Muslim states, especially North Africa where people lived in clan/tribal groups Berbers – Ethnic group in North Africa – convert and become devout Muslims Still keep their customs and identities as Berbers

Muslim States (Cont.) Muslim scholar Abd Allah Ibn Yasin founds Almoravids—strict religious group – in North Africa among Berbers 1050 A.D. - Almoravids begin to Spread Islam by conquering Ghana (African Kingdom) and Spain They were later called “Moors” (Which is why the Spanish had the battle cry “Matamoros!”) 1100s A.D. Almohads—another Berber group - overthrow Almoravids because they didn’t strictly follow the Quran By 1148 they control most of Morocco, keep Marrakech as their capital Almohad Empire lasts 100 years; United Northern Africa under one rule Between the two empires, Islam becomes firmly established in Africa – influence later spreads to the rest of Africa

Empire of Ghana Most West African societies existed just under the Sahara desert – had been difficult for North African people to reach West Africa to trade because their animals (horses, donkeys, oxen, etc.) couldn’t survive long enough 200s A.D. - Berbers used camels to cross Sahara for trade with West Africa– were able to reach West African communities because camels plod over 60 miles a day and survive 10 days without water Berbers brought trade to a group of people called the Soninke in West Africa – saw that the Soninke people called their chiefs “ghana” Muslims use word ghana “chief” to refer to people of that land 700 A.D. – Ghana became a wealthy kingdom in West Africa by taxing the goods that traders brought through their territory

1000s A.D. - Ghana’s rulers convert to Islam and take Islamic advisers Gold and salt mined near the Sahara were brought to Ghana and other West African kingdoms Ghana provided protection for traders and taxed them and allowed them to trade within its borders 800 A.D. - King of Ghana rules an empire and taxed surrounding kings as a form of tribute – other kings aren’t happy but they aren’t as wealthy as the king of Ghana King of Ghana makes rule that only he could own gold nuggets; this keeps the prices of gold (by ounces/carat) high The King’s position is authoritarian – he commands the army, acts as chief judge to settle disputes/negotiate treaties, and acts as religious leader for Ghana Islam spreads through region south of the Sahara through trade – mostly because of trade with the Berbers of North Africa who converted to Islam 1000s A.D. - Ghana’s rulers convert to Islam and take Islamic advisers 1076 A.D. – Ghana falls to Almoravids and never rises again

DBQ Requirements B In total, there will be 6 paragraphs for this essay: Introduction Synthesis 3 body paragraphs (6 documents, use all/most) Conclusion Monday: Finish HIPPO analysis in class Tuesday: Turn in Introduction and Synthesis Wednesday: Turn in first two body paragraphs Thursday: Turn in last body paragraph and conclusion By Friday, all essay parts will have been submitted A R