1. Chapter Seven

2. Section One

3. The Land of Africa and the Climate of Africa
Africa is the second largest continent
Asia is the largest
Stretches for almost five thousand miles and is surrounded by two seas and two oceans
Many geographical zones
Mountains along the Mediterranean coast
The Sahara—the world’s largest desert
Grasslands south of the desert
Tropical jungles cover the portion of Africa jutting into the Atlantic Ocean

5. The Land of Africa and the Climate of Africa
In the East part of Africa
Snowcapped mountains
Upland plateaus
Lakes
Great Rift Valley—area where mountains rise about deep canyons and wild animals populate grasslands

6. The Land of Africa and the Climate of Africa
Farther south lies the dense vegetations of the Congo basin
Congo River
Farther south rain forests fade into hill, plateaus, and then deserts

7. The Land of Africa and the Climate of Africa
Four distinct climate zones
Each with a different way of life
Mild climate—moderate rainfall and mild temperatures
Northern coast and southern tip creates fertile land and abundant crops
The Sahara in the north and the Kalahari desert in though south cover 40% of Africa
A third climate zone is the rain forest along the equator
Covers 10% of the continent
Heavy rains and heat make for dense forest and disease-carrying insects
Tsetse fly—carries the sleeping sickness
People in the area do not raise animals in an effort to keep the fly away
Farming and travel is minimal in these areas

8. The Land of Africa and the Climate of Africa
Final climate zone is the savannas
Broad grasslands dotted with shrubs and small trees
Lie north and south of the rainforests
Cover about 40% of Africa
Rainfall allows for faming and animal herding
Rain is unreliable

9. Emerging Civilizations and the Rise of Islam
Farming gave rise to the first African civilizations
Seven or eight thousand years ago
Egypt, Kush, and Axum
Trade of ivory, ebony, and leopard skins between Egypt and Nubia developed by 2000 B.C.
Around 1000 B.C. Nubia liberated itself from Egypt & became Kush

10. Emerging Civilizations and the Rise of Islam
By 750 B.C. the Kushites conquered Egypt
But the Assyrians’ iron weapons overmatched the bronze and stone of the Kushites drove them out of Egypt
Kushites returned to their original land
Kush economy first based on farming
Soon became a trading state
Center was the city of Meroë
Large supply of iron for tools and weapons

11. Emerging Civilizations and the Rise of Islam
Kush trade provided iron, ivory, gold, ebony, and slaves to the Roman Empire, Arabia, and India
Received luxuries such as jewelry and silver lamps
Kush flourished from 250 B.C. to A.D. 150
New power—Axum—caused its decline

12. Emerging Civilizations and the Rise of Islam
Axum was founded by a colony of Arabs in what is now Ethiopia
Became an independent state that combined Arab and African cultures
Axum prospered because it was located on the Red Sea and the trading route between India and the Mediterranean
Exported ivory, myrrh, and slaves
Imported textiles, metal goods, wine, and olive oil

13. Myrrh

14. Emerging Civilizations and the Rise of Islam
For a time Axum and Kush competed for control of the ivory trade
In the fourth century A.D., King Ezana of Axum conquered Kush

15. Emerging Civilizations and the Rise of Islam
Axumite civilization’s most distinctive feature was its religion
About A.D. 330, King Ezana converted to Christianity and made it the official religion of Axum
Shipwrecked Syrians had introduced Christianity to Axum
Within a few centuries, Islam brought important challenges to the kingdom of Axum

16. Emerging Civilizations and the Rise of Islam
By the eighth century, a number of Muslim trading states has been established on the African coast of the Red Sea
For centuries the relations between Christian Axum and the Muslim state were fairly peaceful
In the twelfth century, problems arose
The coastal Muslim states moved inland to wrest control of the slave trade and ivory trades from Axum

17. Emerging Civilizations and the Rise of Islam
By the early fifteenth century, Axum and the Muslim state of Adal were in a growing conflict

18. Questions
How does the geography of Africa compare to the geography of the United States?
Within a few hundred years of its beginning, Islam spread through much of the northern half of Africa. In what areas of the world did Christianity spread after the fifteenth century (1400s)?

19. Kush vs. Axum occupations, natural resources, imports, and Exports

20. Writing
Christian Axum traded peacefully with its Muslim neighbors. Do you think that two major religious groups can be peaceful neighbors?