Chapter 2 Africa: Shaped by Its History Chapter 2, section 1 Text pages 36-41 African Beginnings

Key Terms Domesticate- to adapt wild plants or animals and breed them for human use. Civilization- a society that has cities, a central government, and social classes and that usually has writing, art and architecture. Migrate- to move from one place to settle in another. Ethnic group- a group of people who share the same ancestors, culture, language, or religion.

Objectives Examine the ways in which the survival skills of early Africans changed over time. Find out about early civilizations that arose along the Nile River. Learn about the Bantu migrations.

Early Africans Survival Skills People need to find food, water and shelter to live. Early ancestors were hunter- gatherers; hunted animals for food and clothing; ate fruits, nuts, and roots; made tools of wood, bones, and stone. Stone tools worked well for cutting and skinning animals. Later, some hunter-gatherers began to farm and to herd animals, and domesticate plants and animals. Domestication of plants and animals allowed people to settle in one place; have more control over their own food supply; surpluses allowed for them to work other than farming.

Early Africans Nile Civilizations Stone Age groups evolved into civilizations. Civilizations evolved into social classes with similar backgrounds, wealth, and ways of living. Around 5000 B.C., people farmed along the Nile River. Ancient Egypt were ruled by kings and queens; buried in tombs decorated with hieroglyphs. Ancient Egyptians were skilled at papermaking, architecture, medicine, and mathematics. Nubia arose south of Egypt about 6000 B.C.; farming began about 5000 B.C.;kingdoms began about 3100 B.C. Nubian kingdoms conquered other lands.

Early Africans Bantu Migrations Mass migrations of groups speaking Bantu languages occurred 4000 years ago. Reasons for the migration are a mystery; possibilities are increased food supply and overpopulation. Bantu speakers spread across Central and Southern Africa. After Bantu speaking farmers arrived, other ethnic groups began speaking Bantu languages. Most ethnic groups in Central and Southern Africa today are Bantu speakers.