Early African Societies and Bantu Migrations Ch. 3

Early Agricultural Society in Africa

Climatic change and the Development of Agriculture in Africa Early Sudanic Agriculture Climatic Change The Nile River Valley Between the periods Of 7500-6500 bce Sudanic Agriculture became very Diverse Allowed for organization Of small scale states 5000bce formed small Monarchies Religious beliefs that Reflected agricultural society After 5000bce Profound climate change Influencing social Organization and agriculture in the region Hotter & drier Desiccation Cultivators/Herders Move to remaining bodies Of water (Lake Chad/Nile) World’s longest River Flooded and Receded Creating rich Fertile soil

Egypt and Nubia: “Gifts of the Nile” Early Agriculture in the Nile Valley Political Organization Nile links the Mediterranean basin In the North & sub-Saharan Africa in The South Egypt & Nubia influenced by the 2 Egypt & Nubia relied on agriculture Egypt: cultivate late summer, harvest In winter & early spring Nubia: relied on prepared fields and Irrigation Egypt: becomes more intense in Agriculture w/ prepared lands, dikes, basins Formal organization Maintain order Organize community Projects Power came from divine Authority aka theocracy

The Unification of Egypt Menes Archaic Period & The Old Kingdom Relations between Egypt & Nubia The Early Kingdom Of Kush Frequent violence During the Old Kingdom Egypt dominated Lower Nubia (3100- 2600bce) Egyptian presence Led to political Organization in Upper Nubia Est. Kingdom of Kush (2500bce) Though tense w/Egypt Alliances and diplomacy Existed Intermarriage United Upper And Lower Egypt Memphis was The capital for The unified Egypt (cultural & political Center) Centralized state Rule with a Pharaoh Aka Egyptian king (gods living on Earth) Owner/absolute Rulers of the land Strong interests in Each other Political & commercial Egypt:Felt threatened By Nubian kingdoms & wanted products (gold, Ivory, ebony, & precious Stones) Nubia: protect Independence from Egypt, control trade down The Nile Pharaoh’s had Great power Massive pyramids Ability to marshal Resources Khufu’s pyramid is The largest 80000 laborers

Turmoil and Empire Egyptian Imperialism The Revived Kingdom of Kush The Hyskos New Kingdom After Old Kingdom declined Hyskos (Horse riding nomads) invaded Egypt Introduce the Horse drawn chariot Use of bronze for Weapons and bows Upper Egypt Organized revolts Using Hyskos weaponry Drove Hyskos out And founded the New Kingdom Wanted to extend Egyptian authority Seized threatening Regions Rulers of the New Kingdom dominated areas for protection Power over: E. Mediterranean basin, SW Asia as well as Nile river valley Egypt driven out From: Nubia & SW Asia Prosperous & Productive Agricultural Surpluses Army & Bureaucracy Divided Responsibilities (court, treasury, Religious cults) Egypt retreats from Nubia Est. a new kingdom Of Kush and dominate Egypt for a century Egypt invaded from Both sides by Kushites And Assyrian army

The Formation of Complex Societies and Sophisticated Cultural Traditions

The Emergence of Cities and Stratified Societies Patriarchal Society And Women’s Influence in Egypt & Nubia Cities of the Nile Valley: Egypt Cities of the Nile Valley: Nubia Social Classes Patriarchal (public And private affairs) Upper elite woman Looked over domestic Servants Common women did Domestic work Elite men: gov’t Officials, scribes Lower class men: Agricultural laborers, Potters, craftsmen Men & Women can own Property, slaves and pass Wealth Women influenced policy, Manipulation Nubia had female rulers Peasants & Slaves: hard labor Pharaoh: supreme Ruler Central gov’t: Military force, Bureaucratic Administrators & tax Collectors Nubia: Gov’t officials, Priests, craftsmen, Merchant, laborers And slaves Major cities Emerge and Guided affairs Thebes played A political center For Egypt Heliopolis-city Of the sun & Cultural center Prominent cities Include: Kerma, Napata and Meroe. Political and Economically flourishing

Economic Specialization and Trade Bronze & Iron Metallurgy Transportation Trade Networks Maritime Trade: Egypt & Punt Slower to Adopt metal tools Appeared after The Hyskos Monitored supplies Of bronze Nubia produced Little bronze Instead of Bronze the Use of Iron emerged. Spread through most Of Sub-Saharan Africa Traded through The Red Sea & Gulf of Aden w/ Punt Asserted the Importance of Specialized labor & transportation efficiency The Nile Sailed beyond the Mediterranean Used wheeled vehicles Donkey caravan Traveled up and down Labor & Transportation Encouraged Long distance Trade Areas of trade: Nubia, Mesopotamia, Aswan, Elephantine Goods traded: Ebony, ivory, gemstones, Gold etc.

Early Writing in the Nile Valley Hieroglyphic Writing Education Meroitic Writing Pictographs Influence by Mesopotamia “holy inscription” Administrative And commercial Records Literary & religious Text Formal writing & Monument inscription Hieratic script- writing For everyday affairs Other forms of writing Used: demotic & Coptic Formal education brought Rewards Nubians spoke both Language Egypt influenced both Cultures Traveled into Nubia And built temples Of Egyptian Gods Nubian inscriptions Borrowed from Egyptian hieroglyphics Sounds rather than ideas

The Development of Organized Religious Traditions Amon & Re and Aten & Monotheism Mummification Cult of Osiris Nubian Religious Beliefs Deities played prominent Roles in the world Amon-sun, creation, Fertility and reproductive Forces (from Thebes) Re-sun god (from Heliopolis) Priest combined Amon-Re Aten god adopted as the Sole god by Pharaoh Amenhotep IV First early expression of Monotheism After Pharaoh died there Was a counterattack on the deity Not end but Transition Only ruling elites Survive the grave Mummified only Pharaohs and Family Later available To other normal mortals Brother murdered Him scattered Body throughout The land Loyal wife retrieved His body provided A proper burial Impressed gods Restored Osiris back To life God of underworld Associated with the Nile Who deserved Immortality who didn’t Apedemak- Lion god, war God Sebiume- Creator god & Guardian of human Devotees. Egyptian religious Cults prominent Also built pyramids Amon-preeminent deity

Bantu Migrations and Early Agricultural Societies Of Sub-Saharan African

The Dynamics of Bantu Migrations The Bantu Bantu Migrations Iron & Migration Sub-Saharan Africa “persons” Settled along rivers Open areas of the forests Navigated in canoes Clan based villages, Headed by chiefs Traded regularly w/ Hunting and gathering peoples Helped spread iron Through Sub-Saharan Africa Aided in agriculture And weaponry Spread South to West African forest South toward Congo Some settled others Migrated creating new Languages Not mass movements Intermittent Occupied most of Africa South of the Equator Population pressures drove Migrations Canoes & agricultural aided In migration

Early Agricultural Societies of Sub-Saharan Africa Spread of Agriculture Religious Beliefs Agricultural societies in Sub-Saharan Africa Built distinctive societies and Cultural traditions Age sets/age groups-responsibilities Based on age Monotheistic single, impersonal divine force That could take form as spirits Responsible for rewards and Punishments Nyamba-deity-created the world And principles that govern it, stepped Back and allowed the world to proceed Adapted beliefs from others