Part I Becoming African Chapter 1 Africa

I. A Huge and Diverse Land Second largest continent in the world!!! From North to South Many different climatic zones Desert, savannah, rain forest, mountain ranges

II. Birthplace of Humanity Out-of-Africa model Fossil evidence that modern humans emerged 200,000 years ago Homo habilis – Homo erectus – Homo sapiens Migrated to the rest of the world 100,000 years ago “Eve” model All modern humans from a single African woman

III. Ancient Civilizations Egypt and the Nile River Annual flooding irrigates River banks and deposits new Transportation and communications artery Produced Wheat, barley, goats, sheep, and cattle

Egyptian Society Patriarchal Society Hierarchy Women Male dominated Warriors, priests, merchants, artisans, peasants Women Owned property, educated children, held public office, and served as priests

Egyptian Society (cont.) Polytheistic religion (many gods) Re (Ra): the sun god Osiris: god of the Nile Immortality Elaborate funeral and burial to prepare for after-life

Trade and Conquest Nubia Kush Meroe Axum Egyptian colony ~ copper and gold deposits Kush Nubian independent kingdom Meroe Africa’s first industrial center Iron deposits and geographic location Axum First Christian state in sub-Saharan Africa Influenced by Hebrew culture

Pyramids at Meroe

IV. West Africa Physically, ethnically, and culturally diverse Savannah and forest regions Variety of cultures and languages Lived in villages with large, extended families Cultivated crops Produced iron tools and weapons Trade with North Africa Essential to the economy

Ghana Ghana was the first known kingdom in West Africa Founded between 800BC – 400BC Warfare and iron weapons created an empire Commerce and Trade Camel used to travel across the Sahara Imported silk, cotton, glass beads, horses, mirrors, dates, and salt Exported pepper, slaves, and gold mined in another region and taxed passing through

Empire of Mali, 1230-1468 Empire of Mali created after Battle of Kirina Led by Sundiata, known as the “Lion King” Reigned 1210-1260 Larger than Ghana Greater rainfall More crops Control of gold mines Population reached eight million

Empire of Mali (cont.) Commerce and Trade Most merchants and rulers converted to Islam to gain favor with Arab traders from North Africa Timbuktu Major trading city (Gold, slaves, and salt) Center of Islamic learning ~150 Islamic schools Religious and ethnic toleration common

Empire of Mali (cont.) Mansa Musa became the next leader Reigned 1312-1337 Pilgrimage across Africa to Mecca in Arabia Distributed lots of gold!!! Empire declined with Musa’s death

Empire of Songhai, 1461-1591 Empire of Songhai was the last and largest of the West African empires Led by Sunni Ali Reigned 1464-1492 Askia Muhammad Toure became the next leader Reigned 1492-1528 Established strict trade regulation Used his power to spread Islam within the empire

Empire of Songhai (cont.) Songhai failed to adapt to changing political atmosphere Portuguese established trading centers along the Guinea coast Morocco (North Africa) defeated the Songhai army and empire fell apart in 1591 West Africa left without a government powerful enough to stop the Portuguese

VI. West African Society and Culture Lifestyle Most were farmers living in villages Extended families and clans Produced cotton for clothes Variety of crops Millet, rice, sorghum, peas, okra, watermelons Yams replaced grains in the forest regions

Class and Slavery Upper classes Landed nobles, warriors, peasants and bureaucrats Lower classes Artisans and laborers: blacksmiths, butchers, tanners, and oral historians called griots Slavery Common in West Africa but not necessarily a permanent condition

Religion Islam introduced by Arab traders More prevalent in cities The religion of wealthy merchants and nobles Fostered learning and building mosques in West African cities

Religion (cont.) Indigenous religions Strongest in forest areas Polytheistic and animistic One creator God and a host of lesser gods Saw the force of God in all things Ancestor worship, magicians, and oracles Ceremonies and animal sacrifices

Art and Music Related to religious practices Excelled in woodcarving and sculpture Wooden masks and terra-cotta figurines Used in funerals, medical practices, and in coming-of-age ceremonies Musical instruments Drums, xylophones, bells, flutes, and mbanzas

Terra-cotta sculpture

Literature Oral histories, poetry, and tales Specially trained poets and musicians Served kings and nobles Views of common people also represented Stories with human characters Tales about creation, success, romance Stories with animal characters Entertained and taught lessons

VII. Conclusion The history of African Americans begins in West Africa. Family organization, work habits, language, religious beliefs, legends, and traditions came to America and not only influenced the way African Americans lived but all those living in their new land.