Kingdoms of Central and Southern Africa

The Bantu Migrations Look at this picture and think about the landscape and the various structures you see. What might the structures be made of? Used for? What about the people? What are they doing? What skills might each person contribute to the village community?

Bantu Origins Bantu people originated in West Africa - part of Nok people After 500 BC, iron technology allowed for increase food production and population Bantus migrated to central and southern Africa in 3 waves between 500 BC - AD 1500

Bantu Societies Economy based on hunting, fishing, and farming In most, basic unit was household, or family Most Bantu people lived in villages of families Gender roles were clearly defined Age grades defined specific responsibilities Village council of elders made decisions

The Kongo Kingdom What different groups of people do you see? Who is in charge? Is this illustration drawn by an African or a European? Why?

The Kongo Kingdom

How My Kingdom Came to Power By the 1 st century AD, Bantu migrated to Congo River basin Kongo natives easily assimilated Bantu lifestyle By the 14 th century, two Bantu clans united to form Kongo Kingdom

Sources of our Kingdom’s Strength Waterways provide abundance of fish Farmers grow and collect several crops Animals are hunted for meat and hides Taxes on trade goods are paid to the king’s treasury

Reasons Why We, the Portuguese, Came to the Kongo Portuguese first arrive in 1482 Missionaries converted people of the Kongo to Christianity Traders traded European and Asian goods for sugar, copper, and skins

Reasons Why We’re Concerned Portuguese greed sours trade relationship Portuguese gold; since there is no gold, they demand human slaves Rival African states ally with the Portuguese to raid Kongo for slaves King Affonso I of the Kongo tried to halt slave trade through a letter to King John of Portugal in Portuguese didn’t stop. By 1680, Kongo kingdom’s wealth & power undermined by slave trade – kingdom fades away.

Great Zimbabwe: Monument to the Zimbabwe State What materials were used to construct this building? What clues can you find to guess the approximate size of this building? What might it have been used for?

Zimbabwe

The Shona Build Zimbabwe Sometime between AD 500 and 1000 Shona settle in plateau between Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. Developed economy based on pastoral agriculture Mastered iron making and mine great quantities of gold Engaged in trade with coastal cities and taxed visiting traders Built Great Zimbabwe, capital city, as sign of the state’s prestige

Ruins of a Magnificent Palace: The Temple at Great Zimbabwe Cone-shaped tower feet high Gateways marked with carved birds King’s dwellings, huts, shrines, granaries Surrounding wall: 820 feet long 16 feet thick 30 feet high

Zimbabwe’s Decline Great Zimbabwe was abandoned after 1450 Some provinces of Zimbabwe state declare independence Monomutapa Empire replaced Zimbabwe as dominant power Portuguese greed for slaves and gold destroyed Monomutapa

The Swahili Coastal Trading States What is happening here? What kinds of goods are being loaded onto the ship in the foreground? How might this trade affect the lifestyle or culture of the people living here?

Swahili Coast

Independent City States Most important city-states: Mogadishu, Malini, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Kilwa, and Sofala Each one ruled by an emir or sultan Rulers were supported by an elaborate and well-educated bureaucracy

Swahili Culture Bantu-speaking Africans converted to Islam; intermarried with Muslim traders Swahili language combined Bantu, Arabic, and Indian Architecture, food, dress, farming, and government reflected combined African and Arabic styles Rulers were wealthy enough to maintain lifestyle lavish as European nobles of the time (1300’s)

Geography’s Role in Trade Sailors took advantage of monsoons to travel between China and East Africa Kilwa’s deep and large harbor could hold the world’s largest ships

Arabs and Persians: –Brought incense, glass, pearls, fabric, and Muslim culture Europeans: sought to become a dominant trading power in East Africa Chinese: –Brought porcelain, silk, and jade Indians: brought spices, rice, and cotton cloth

European Intervention and the Story of Queen Nzinga What different types of people do you see? Why is the man sitting in a chair, while the woman sits on a human being?

Mbundu Kingdom: Present-day Angola

European Intervention Wanted safe harbors for long voyages to Asia Desired to establish trade bases in Africa Later, wanted to monopolize trade Increasingly traded for slaves

African Responses States competed to win favor and trade advantages from Europeans Leaders had to satisfy European demands for slaves or become targets for slave raiders Some villages raided each other for slaves to sell to the Europeans Many Africans chose to resist and fight

Nzinga Challenges European Control Portuguese gained political control of the Mbundu people through war To gain independence for her people, Nzinga: –Met with Portuguese governor to negotiate for independence for her people in 1622 –Agreed she would release Portuguese prisoners when her people were returned to Brazil (didn’t happen) –Agreed to convert to Christianity if Portuguese would withdraw troops from Mbundu and restore her brother to power (happened) –Nzinga replaced her brother as leader of the Mbundu –Fought with and against Europeans and other Africans during her 41-year reign Nzinga is remembered as a brilliant military leader, shrewd diplomat, and fierce patriot