A frica Wildly Beautiful

Geography Savannas-vast stretches of grasslands Tropical rain forests- receive over 100 inches of rain a year and include areas of jungle Jungles- dense tangles of plants and trees that grow wherever sunlight reaches

Lakes Lake Chad Lake Victoria-the source of the Nile in northern Uganda

Bantu Bantu originated in west-central Sub- Saharan Africa Linguists have determined the migration of Sub- Saharan people by following the growth of Bantu

Power of Words The history and culture of Africa has been discovered through oral traditions. Storytelling, poems, and songs passed by word of mouth.

Kush and Aksum Kingdoms of Africa

Kingdom of the Nile  Kush was located in the Egyptian region called Nubia  Culture very close to Egyptian  Major trading center from Red Sea to the Nile  Gold, ivory, ebony, and ostrich feathers  1600 B.C., Karmah emerged on the Nile  Nubian roots may be tied to Karmah

Kush Is Annexed  Kush became a distinct kingdom  1520 B.C., Egyptian rulers brought Nubia and Kush under their control for 500 years  Between 1100 B.C. and 1000 B.C. Egypt and Kush were less involved with each other  710 B.C.-Kush conquered Upper Egypt and ruled for 50 years

Weak, but still holding on…  Kush attacked by Assyrians  Defeated by Egyptian force  Reorganized the military and fought back  New age in culture and economy emerged  Meroë became new capital  Many diverse cultural influences  Believed in Greek gods

Aksum Takes Over the Hood  Aksum took over the weakening kingdom of Kush  Located in Ethiopian Highlands  Thriving by A.D. 100’s based on ivory  King ‘Ez ā n ā conquered the remains of Kush

Aksum Prospers  Aksum prospered under King ‘Ez ā n ā  Taxes collected, coins minted  Converted Aksum to Christianity  Christianity grew throughout the eastern region of Africa  Like Constantine in Rome  Foundations for the thriving Ethiopian Church

Nothing Lasts Forever  A.D. 300 to 600, Aksum was greatest trading kingdom in eastern Africa  Erosion from excessive land use caused land to become ruined  By A.D. 700, the Persians gained control of trade on both sides of the Red Sea