African Societies During the Classical Era

500 BCE-500CE 250 million people on the planet – sparsely populated. Population uneven throughout the 3 major continents Euroasia – 80% Africa – 11% (no cultural identity) The Americas – 5-7% (no pastoral societies)

Geography of Africa Deserts (Savanna and Kalahari) Savanna grasslands (central) Tropical rain forest (central) Highlands and mountains (East) Proximity to Euroasia Poor, little fertile soil Disease carrying insects

Proximity to Euroasia N. Africa was incorporated into the Roman Empire. Christianity thrived in Ethiopia and Egypt. Domestication of camel

Arabian Influence Domesticated camel created a new way of life for the Berber peoples Nomadic and pastoral Made trans-Saharan travel & commerce possible

Kingdom of Meroë -Nubia

Urban centers = economic specialties: Governed by an all-powerful and sacred monarch – usually conferred on women. Rural life = herding and farming Urban centers = economic specialties: Merchants, potters, masons, servants Manufacturing of iron – tools and weapons

Women had positions of power Matrilineal descent – power passed down through the mother’s line Ruled as monarchs independent of male authority Queen Amanishaketo

Very wealthy & highly developed Meroitic script Extensive trade networks North/South & East/West -iron weapons -cotton cloth -other luxury goods ivory, gold, ostrich feathers, tortoise shells

Decline of Kingdom of Meroë Deforestation -Wood needed for charcoal for iron smelting Erosion from overgrazing Constant battles with nomads and other Nubian states New Nubian states emerged and Coptic (Egyptian) Christianity emerged For almost 1,000 years, Nubia was a Christian civilization even using Greek as a liturgical language. After 1300 CE, Arab immigration brought Islam to the region.

Axum – The Christian Kingdom New type of civilization Highly productive agriculture Plow farming Wheat, barley, millet, teff Commerce in Red Sea and Indian Ocean Important port city Adulis Attracted merchants Taxes on trade was major source Of revenue for the Axumite state

Language of the courts = Geez, a script derived from South Arabia. To the Romans, Axum was the third major empire within the world they knew, following their own and the Persian empire.

AXUM’S ACHIEVEMENTS Built Stelae Written Language Controlled NE African Trade Written Language Terrace Farming Spread Christianity in No. & E. Africa

Christianity in Axum Introduced 4th century CE King Ezana adopted the new religion about the same time as Constantine in the RE. The next few centuries marked a decline in the Axumite state Soil exhaustion, erosion and deforestation Last coins struck in 7th century

Connections Both Meroe and Axum paralleled Euroasian developments and had direct contact with Mediterranean civilizations.

Along the Niger river… Cities without states: Mali and Ghana Governments begin to appear in W. Africa in the 2nd millennium CE. Economically specialized settlements Jenne-jeno – example of one such settlement Iron smithing Cotton weavers Potters Leather workers Griots – sang oral traditions Growing network of indigenous West African commerce – donkey and camel

Southern Bantu Africa The movement of people to the southern section of Africa generated some 400 distinct languages = became known as Bantu. Brought to Africa south of the equator a measure of cultural and linguistic commonality = unique. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c246fZ-7z1w

African Trade [15c-17c]