ANCIENT AFRICA

The Land and It’s People Second largest continent behind Asia Second largest continent behind Asia 12 million square miles 12 million square miles Every type of environment there- tropical rain forests, grasslands, vast deserts, snowy mountain ridges Every type of environment there- tropical rain forests, grasslands, vast deserts, snowy mountain ridges Earliest known humans originated in Africa Earliest known humans originated in Africa

More than 1000 languages spoken there by hundreds of various ethnic groups with unique cultures and histories. More than 1000 languages spoken there by hundreds of various ethnic groups with unique cultures and histories. 5 thousand years ago the world’s earliest civilizations developed in Egypt. 5 thousand years ago the world’s earliest civilizations developed in Egypt. The Nile was the center of trade as it was located at the juncture between Europe, and Asia The Nile was the center of trade as it was located at the juncture between Europe, and Asia People started using camels to transport goods which expanded Africa’s trade network. People started using camels to transport goods which expanded Africa’s trade network.

The ancient Egyptians was one of the world’s longest-lasting civilizations. The ancient Egyptians was one of the world’s longest-lasting civilizations. Ships used the Nile to transport Ships used the Nile to transport people and merchandise. people and merchandise. Egyptians had their own way of Egyptians had their own way of writing which allowed them to writing which allowed them to keep records. keep records.

Egyptian Social Classes Farmers and workers at the bottom Farmers and workers at the bottom Merchants and craft workers in the middle Merchants and craft workers in the middle Landowners, government officials, scribes and priests at the top Landowners, government officials, scribes and priests at the top Unlike other societies, Unlike other societies, those who were talented were able to rise through were able to rise through the classes the classes

South of the Sahara People lived in villages and grew their food on small plots nearby People lived in villages and grew their food on small plots nearby Trade created some sizable towns- including Timbukto- which flourished as a seat of learning as well as a commercial center Trade created some sizable towns- including Timbukto- which flourished as a seat of learning as well as a commercial center Trade gave rise to empires Trade gave rise to empires

Axum- which is now Ethiopia, gained fame around 300 B.C. as the greatest trade center of northeastern Africa Axum- which is now Ethiopia, gained fame around 300 B.C. as the greatest trade center of northeastern Africa Ghana, was the intermediary between salt traders in the north and gold and ivory producers in the south. Flourished between the 9 th -10 th centuries A.D. Ghana, was the intermediary between salt traders in the north and gold and ivory producers in the south. Flourished between the 9 th -10 th centuries A.D. Songhai, located in what Songhai, located in what is now Mali and parts of Niger and Nigeria, controlled the Saharan trade routes between 15 th -16 th centuries A.D.

Traditions and Beliefs Belief in the Afterlife- careful preparations were made for their time after Earth life Belief in the Afterlife- careful preparations were made for their time after Earth life Royal families preserved their bodies as mummies Royal families preserved their bodies as mummies Burial places had pictures of everything they might need in the afterlife Burial places had pictures of everything they might need in the afterlife Primary responsibility for the king was to ensure good fortune for his people Primary responsibility for the king was to ensure good fortune for his people

Belief in gods that represented natural forces or animals, such as Re, the sun god; the falcon-headed Horus; the cat- headed Baset. Belief in gods that represented natural forces or animals, such as Re, the sun god; the falcon-headed Horus; the cat- headed Baset. Diversity in Africa resulted in a mixture of religious systems- each with their own gods, shrines, and ceremonies Diversity in Africa resulted in a mixture of religious systems- each with their own gods, shrines, and ceremonies Most recognized a supreme god as well as many lesser gods and spirits. Most recognized a supreme god as well as many lesser gods and spirits.

Christianity was the first foreign-born religion to take hold in Africa. Christianity was the first foreign-born religion to take hold in Africa. The conquest of northern Africa by Arab Muslims, which began in A.D. 639, reduced the number of Christians. The conquest of northern Africa by Arab Muslims, which began in A.D. 639, reduced the number of Christians. Coptic Church of Egypt and the Ethiopian Christian Church, both with very distinctive forms of worship, continue to survive even today. Coptic Church of Egypt and the Ethiopian Christian Church, both with very distinctive forms of worship, continue to survive even today. The influence of Islam was brought about through trade and conquest The influence of Islam was brought about through trade and conquest

Africans both north and south created magnificent and expressive visual art for a variety of reasons: Africans both north and south created magnificent and expressive visual art for a variety of reasons: Religious Art Religious Art Ceremonial Art Ceremonial Art Everyday Art Everyday Art Very diverse forms Very diverse forms and materials used

Ancient Egyptians were among the world’s greatest architects- Ancient Egyptians were among the world’s greatest architects- No trees to build with so they mastered the use of stone, created pillared temples as well as the famous pyramids No trees to build with so they mastered the use of stone, created pillared temples as well as the famous pyramids Perhaps the world’s first tourists were those that came from Greece and Mesopotamia to see the wonders in Egypt Perhaps the world’s first tourists were those that came from Greece and Mesopotamia to see the wonders in Egypt Great palaces covered several acres of ground. Great palaces covered several acres of ground.

Entertainment Religious and ceremonial dances and music Religious and ceremonial dances and music Drum was the most important African instrument- some made out of animal skins, others out of hollowed logs Drum was the most important African instrument- some made out of animal skins, others out of hollowed logs Dancers used their performance movements in everyday life and interpreted the polyrhythm of the drums Dancers used their performance movements in everyday life and interpreted the polyrhythm of the drums

In West Africa and some parts of central Africa, masked dances were a major part of ceremonial life. Occurred on/for: In West Africa and some parts of central Africa, masked dances were a major part of ceremonial life. Occurred on/for: Events in the agricultural year Events in the agricultural year Birth, adulthood, marriage death Birth, adulthood, marriage death Secret societies Secret societies Curing the sick Curing the sick Performance were public but only dancers could see the masks outside of performance Performance were public but only dancers could see the masks outside of performance

Egyptian hieroglyphics combined pictures and symbols to represent sounds Egyptian hieroglyphics combined pictures and symbols to represent sounds Both carved in stone and written on paper- made by pounding papyrus together Both carved in stone and written on paper- made by pounding papyrus together Only the upper classes in ancient Egypt could read Only the upper classes in ancient Egypt could read Writing was done by scribes- associated with the royal courts and temples Writing was done by scribes- associated with the royal courts and temples

Most African languages were not written down until the arrival of Arabic and Roman scripts. Most African languages were not written down until the arrival of Arabic and Roman scripts. Not including European languages introduced by colonizers, African languages can be grouped into 4 major language families Not including European languages introduced by colonizers, African languages can be grouped into 4 major language families Afro-Asiatic (Northeast Africa) Afro-Asiatic (Northeast Africa) Niger-Congo (Northwest Africa) Niger-Congo (Northwest Africa) Nilo-Saharan (north central Africa) Nilo-Saharan (north central Africa) Khoisan (click-languages spoken in the far south) Khoisan (click-languages spoken in the far south)

Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe~ Nigerian author By Chinua Achebe~ Nigerian author One of the first African novels written in English to receive global critical acclaim One of the first African novels written in English to receive global critical acclaim Title of the novel comes from William Butler Yeats’ poem “The Second Coming” Title of the novel comes from William Butler Yeats’ poem “The Second Coming”

Novel depicts the life of Okonkwo, who is a local leader and known wrestling champion in Umuofia (a fictional village in Nigeria) inhabited by the Igbo. Novel depicts the life of Okonkwo, who is a local leader and known wrestling champion in Umuofia (a fictional village in Nigeria) inhabited by the Igbo. It focuses on his 3 wives, his 8 children, and the influence of British colonialism and Christian missionaries on his traditional community during the late nineteenth century. It focuses on his 3 wives, his 8 children, and the influence of British colonialism and Christian missionaries on his traditional community during the late nineteenth century.