Sub Saharan Africa

 Anthropologists believe humanity first arose in East Africa  Early culture mostly influenced by Egyptian civilization and the Mediterranean world  Romans built roads, dams, aqueducts and cities across N. Africa; spread Christianity  Camels brought in around 200 A.D. allowing future trade across Africa possible

 AD-Ethiopia threatened by Muslims, isolated from Christian Europe  AD Bantu migrations across Sub-Saharan Africa  1000 AD-Islam established south of Sahara  1250’s C.E.- Zimbabwes built (stone houses)  1260 C.E.- Ife Ife (Yoruba) create terra cotta and bronze statues  C.E.- Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca  Swahili cities set up along Indian Ocean coast

 750 AD-Kingdom of Ghana developed between Senegal and Niger Rivers  1000 AD-Islam established south of Sahara  1200’s AD- Mali Empire rises  1400’s A.D.-Songhai Empire rises

 Slow advance of Islam across West Africa  Independence of Ethiopia (NEVER conquered)  Sea trade along East Coast with Islamic Empires and India)  Trans-Saharan trade (including slaves)-Gold in the west, west lacked salt (Gold/Salt trade)  Importance of salt-vital to human survival to prevent dehydration and preserve food

Djenne, Mali (mosque) Music (communication) Great Zimbabwe Bronze sculpture from Benin

 Most languages derive from Bantu  Few records until after Muslims brought writing to Africa.  Islam INFLUENCED but didn’t REPLACE ancient customs  Griots- storytellers  High social rank  Whole inter-generational groups helped tell stories to pass on history

 Cattle = wealth  Lack of written history means that it is harder to study than other civilizations  Slave trade relocated millions of Africans worldwide, also distributed culture  African traditions affect how American culture is transmitted  Islamic influence still evident across Africa

 Gained control over major trade routes allowing them to tax all gold and salt flowing through  Invaded by Muslims in 1076 and never recovered and dissolved into smaller states

 Conquered the old capital of Ghana  Brought gold and salt mines under their direct control  Converted to Islam  Ruler Mansa Musa expanded the empire and built a mosque and palace in Timbuktu

 Sultan Sunni Ali captured Timbuktu  Grew rich from trade and expanded the trade network  Timbuktu continued to be a center of Muslim scholarship  Invaded by Moroccans (used guns)

 Successors of the Bantus  Built stone walls  Center for manufacturing