Medieval Africa Addressing the California Seventh-Grade Standards Laura J. Mitchell History Department, UCI

From Human Origins to Complex Societies Domestication of livestock Domestication of livestock +/- 10,000 ybp Domestication of agriculture (crops) Domestication of agriculture (crops) +/- 8,000 ybp Iron working technologies Iron working technologies +/- 4,500 ybp Increasing population concentration Increasing population concentration

Khoisan Nilo-Saharan Afro-Asiatic Niger-Congo Afro-Asiatic Major Social/Linguistic Groups Khoisan Khoisan (Bushmen; !Kung) (Bushmen; !Kung) Niger-Congo Niger-Congo (Bantu) (Bantu) Nilo-Saharan Nilo-Saharan (Masaai) (Masaai) Afro-Asiatic Afro-Asiatic (Ethiopian, Berber) (Ethiopian, Berber)

Khoisan Tradition Gathering and hunting economies Gathering and hunting economies Small, nomadic groups Small, nomadic groups Small, round houses Small, round houses No hereditary leadership No hereditary leadership Music & dance: single rhythmic beat Music & dance: single rhythmic beat Stringed instruments; emphasize dance footwork Stringed instruments; emphasize dance footwork Rock art Rock art Trance dancing Trance dancing Non-theistic beliefs Non-theistic beliefs [!Kung, /Xam, Nama]

Afro-Asiatic Tradition Earliest wild grain collectors Earliest wild grain collectors Clan-based communities Clan-based communities Clan diety worship Clan diety worship Rectangular houses; flat or sloping roof Rectangular houses; flat or sloping roof Music: single melody & rhythm Music: single melody & rhythm Stringed instruments; no drums Stringed instruments; no drums Dance: swaying body; various footwork Dance: swaying body; various footwork [Ethiopian, Berber]

Nilo-Saharan Tradition Fishing in addition to hunting & gathering Fishing in addition to hunting & gathering Stone blades and spears Stone blades and spears Non-theistic beliefs Non-theistic beliefs [Masaai]

Niger-Congo Tradition Fishing technology; yam cultivation Fishing technology; yam cultivation Hook and line; baskets Hook and line; baskets Clan based; matrilineal Clan based; matrilineal Hereditary clan chief Hereditary clan chief Compact village; rectangular houses Compact village; rectangular houses Skilled crafts: weaving, pottery, wood carving Skilled crafts: weaving, pottery, wood carving Music and dance Music and dance Percussion, polyrhythmic Percussion, polyrhythmic Polytheistic religion Polytheistic religion [Bantu: Mande, Swahili, Zulu]

Bantu Migration Bantu language family Bantu language family Niger-Congo tradition Niger-Congo tradition Hypothesis of population movement based on linguistics Hypothesis of population movement based on linguistics

Examples of Early State Formation Pharaonic Egypt Pharaonic Egypt Nubia Nubia Aksum Aksum Djenne-Jeno Djenne-Jeno

Nubia Pharaonic Egypt Aksum Djenne-Jeno

Nubia Kush 730 BC conquered Egypt Kush 730 BC conquered Egypt Napata 600 BC retreat from Egypt Napata 600 BC retreat from Egypt Assyrian armies conquered Egypt Assyrian armies conquered Egypt Meroe 300 BC to +/- 100 AD Meroe 300 BC to +/- 100 AD Technology collapse? Technology collapse?

Aksum 200 BC-800 AD Written language: Ge’ez Written language: Ge’ez Stone construction Stone construction stelae stelae Centralized power Centralized power Hierarchical society Hierarchical society Plants: ‘tef, ensete, coffee Plants: ‘tef, ensete, coffee Trade: port of Adulis Trade: port of Adulis Afro-Asiatic Tradition

Djenne-Jeno 200 BC AD Ancient City Ancient City Complex society Complex society Trade & Agriculture Trade & Agriculture Pre-Islamic Pre-Islamic Niger-Congo Tradition

Djenne-Jeno 200 BC AD 1600 years of occupation 1600 years of occupation Indigenous growth of trade Indigenous growth of trade Social complexity Social complexity Economic specialization Economic specialization Not coercive/centralized Not coercive/centralized Mande speakers Mande speakers Niger-Congo Tradition

Elements of Civilizations (Based on European Assumptions) Plough Plough Grain surplus/storage Grain surplus/storage Literacy Literacy Complexification v. Centralization Complexification v. Centralization Economic specialization Economic specialization African examples challenge these assumptions in significant ways!

Environmental Factors Water Water River floods River floods Source of wood/fuel Source of wood/fuel Especially for iron smelting Especially for iron smelting Tropical locations Tropical locations Disease implications Disease implications

Rise of Cities Social stratification Social stratification What kind? What classes? What kind? What classes? Trade Trade What goods? What trading partners? What goods? What trading partners? Ideology Ideology religion religion Art & Architecture Art & Architecture Cities v. Citadels Cities v. Citadels