CIVILIZATIONS OF AFRICA
Savanna- areas of grassland and scattered trees Sahara- largest desert in the world(stretches across North Africa) (Sub-Saharan is the area just below the desert) Africa also has: Lakes Valleys Multiple mountain ranges
Bantu- Stands for the people in the tribe and the languages they speak Migration- movement from one region to another Bantu history is tough to piece together Think about how historians have been able to understand the history of civilizations, Discuss with a classmate why Saharan and Sub-Saharan Africa may be hard to learn about
Early Bantu’s were fishers, farmers, and herders Villages made up of CLANS What is a CLAN? Maternal families (possessions passed down through Mothers side) Each generation gradually migrated over the years Helped them develop new crops and raise new animals
The Bantu moved and either assimilated or conquered. Metal weapons Better crops Migrated all over Central and southern Africa Why is the migration important to African growth?
Pg 315 1- (A/B) 2- (A/B/C)
Ghana- another kingdom built on trade Salt and Gold (why salt?) Ghana was located on a major trade route Mali- Powerful kingdom in West African Savanna Sundiata founded the kingdom in 1230 AD Mansa-Musa- king of Mali in 1312 Major trade center (that’s how they got their wealth)(charged travel taxes)
The leading empire of West Africa in the 1400’s Power gained by trading gold and salt Songhai overruns the trading center of Tombouctou 100 years later the society falls to the guns and cannons of the Moroccan armies in North Africa This marks an end to the trading empires of Africa
The jungle tribes were polytheistic, whereas the savanna tribes were Muslim The two most dominant of the jungle cities were Ile-Ife (EE Lay EE Fay) and Benin (Beh Neen) Wealth made through trade
1000 AD Ile-Ife became a powerful center of trade Leaders were called Onis (Oh Neez) We know little about this city due to a lack of written info and artifacts Modern city is on the old one Artifacts are covered by jungle growth Moisture has rotted wood and metal artifacts
Large city in Africa, started in the 1200’s Wealth came from copper, gold, and iron mines Slave trade Obas (leaders of the tribe) 1500’s it was at its greatest size and power Ruled most of Nigeria Center for art and trade (similar art to Ile-Ife) These artists influenced modern artists
1. Name the 3 Western African Kingdoms 2. Trading made them rich, which two products were the most valuable? 3. What are the names of the 2 African Jungle Kingdoms we are covering? 4. What are the leaders called in each jungle kingdom:
Ancient Ethiopia- Capital city was Aksum Controlled from Aksum to the coast of the Red Sea Port of (Adulis) Controlled the trade of ivory Traders came in and out exchanging goods and ideas AD 300 King Ezana converted the Muslim nation into a Christian nation Aksum controlled the Red Sea ports until they were defeated by the Muslim empires of Arabia
Christianity continued to spread in Ethiopia, even though the surrounding areas had been forced back to Islam Christian churches spread throughout the Ethiopian countryside King Lalibela and his churches
After Muslims gained control they turned the whole Eastern African seaboard into sea ports Each port is an independent city-state Reason for success- Africa had a lot of gold and ivory, products hard to find outside of the continent In exchange Muslims brought in luxury goods from other nations that could not be found in Africa
Kilwa traded African Island goods with the Arabs who brought in foreign goods Swahili- a language spoken by East coast Africans that was a mixture of Bantu and Arabic In the 1500’s the Portuguese took over the region but Swahili has remained the major language and Islam the major religion
Most of the east African gold came from mines owned by the Great Zimbabwe Zimbabwe grew very rich and powerful through trade Reached its height by 1400’s Collapsed by 1500’s Reason for collapse: 1-Trading posts moved 2- farmers depleted the soil