Peoples of the Forests and Plains (Central Africa) Chapter 8 (4 of 4)

People mostly lived in small villages, but some states emerged BY 1000, people of interior Africa mostly farmers or herders, used iron tools and weapons Most people preliterate, yet made great strides in arts, building, and statecraft People mostly lived in small villages, but some states emerged

Nok Ile-Ife City in Nigeria that was cultural center Village in central Nigeria City in Nigeria that was cultural center Built terra-cotta objects, demonstrates advanced art skills Terra-cotta objects and bronze heads, used wood and ivory too – some of finest African art of all time Used iron tools People spoke Yoruba Yoruba states agricultural, dominated by ruling family and aristocracy Today, Nigeria made up of 3 large groups: Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo

Yoruba State-Building Kings had royal court, with many wives, magicians, and bodyguards of soldier-slaves Kings ruled the city-states: Divine rule but not absolute (ex = Oyo – king who appointed princes to rule provinces) Yoruba highly urbanized with artisans, similar to Italy or Germany (though many farmed in surrounding countryside)

The Edo People Edo people lived east of Yoruba and were similar to them Benin = city-state formed in 1300s. Had big population, large roads, and ruler was called the Oba - 1480s = Portuguese come to Benin, and are impressed with the power of the ruler - Benin artists used images of Portuguese soldiers Benin had magnificent art in ivory and bronze (learned bronze from Ile-Ife but then created own style) Art centered on celebrations of power, majesty and royal rule

Central African Kingdoms Bantu had spread from Nigeria, through this area, and eventually all way to east coast (provided common language) Central African Kingdoms Region south of Lake Victoria and the rainforests By 1000s, kingdoms emerged in interior Africa, replacing kinship-based (stateless) societies The interior of Africa was mostly away from Muslims influence

The 3 Major Central African Kingdoms Katanga Kongo Great Zimbabwe

Katanga State formed by the Luba people Set up bureaucracy to rule, but only members of divine family held power positions

The Central African Kingdom of Kongo Political Economic Social Agricultural kingdom along Congo River Had weaving, pottery, ad blacksmithing * Sharp division of labor b/t men and women Confederation of 8 provinces controlled by king (rule through heredity) Artisans highly esteemed, used copper, wood, and iron Men = cleared forests, produced palm oil and wine, built houses, hunted, traded Flourished by the 1400s Women = raised animals, household chores, collected seashells as currency Capital was Mbanza, but many lived in family-based villages

Formed by the Shona speaking people (a Bantu langauage) Great Zimbabwe no relation to modern day Zimbabwe Had most advanced stone buildings in world

Rapidly expanded in the 1400s and controlled most of southeast Africa Controlled areas with gold, so had big trade advantage Great Zimbabwe Had a king, whose title was Mwene Mutapa

By the 1500s, internal divisions broke kingdom apart By 1800s, the Shona people still controlled area, but was smaller (interior only) and people were mostly farmers (not like when they had great cities)