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Early History of Sub-Saharan Africa
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Get out your history worksheet!!!
Map quiz: tomorrow!
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Thousands of years ago…
Climate became hotter & drier in Northern Africa plants destroyed, rivers evaporated People forced to move southward Nile Valley (Egypt) remained fertile and civilizations emerged along the Nile River Delta
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African Kingdoms & Empires: A Preview
Ghana - cultural hearth Large, effectively organized states existed in Africa for centuries before European contact The Great Bantu migration Occurred in waves starting about 5000 years ago
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Ghana: The Kingdom of Gold
First great W. African trading empire (700 CE) Gold was VERY plentiful here = $$$$$$$ Practiced traditional African religions, but very tolerant of Muslim traders (to the north) Power came from ability to use iron weapons to control gold and salt trade Taxed all trade—tax collection system put into place Weakened w/ Berber attacks enter Islam
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Berbers SALT GOLD
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CAMEL CARAVANS!
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Kingdom of Mali Rose to power after Ghana (about twice the size)
Most powerful under rule of Mansa Musa Also became rich from the gold-for-salt trade Encouraged Islam (officials had to read/write in Arabic) Made the hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia
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MANSA MUSA’S INFLUENCE
Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim and went on a hajj to Mecca in 1324 Mansa Musa distributed an enormous amount of gold as charity during his hajj.
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The Great Mosque at Djienne, Mali
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Timbuktu & Major Trade Routes
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Songhai Empire Replaced Mali gradually Islam became official religion
Expansion of lands Ended in 1600s
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Bantu Migrations Had already established societies in central & southern Africa during the “empire period” in the north Historians estimated that Bantu spread over 1/3 of continent CULTURAL DIFFUSION How did they impact Africa then and today? Founded central African kingdoms (kingdom of Kongo/Congo) Iron tools allowed more efficient work Established colony-like states Absorbed other people into their society 60 to 150 million people speak a Bantu language today! Influenced modern-day countries: Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe
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Swahili Trading States
Independent city-states linked by: Language (Bantu) Trade Traded gold, slaves, ivory, leopard skins, etc. with Persia, India, & China Religion (Islam) Height: 13th-16th century Another Bantu grp.
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East African Swahili City-States 800-1505 CE
Beginning in the 8th century CE Arab Muslim traders began to settle in ports along the East African Coast. The result was a string of City-State trading ports. Some people and traders of Mogadishu, Mombasa, Zanzibar and Kilwa grew quite wealthy from trade with India, China and West Africa.
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European Arrival Natural wealth of Africa Europeans interested!
Began in 1200s, mainly by the Portuguese By 1600s & 1700s, Europeans were trading gold, ivory, textiles (cotton) and SLAVES Got the idea from Africans (kings & chiefs of African kingdoms had taken prisoners-of-war and traded them with Arabs….for a really long time)
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The Slave Trade
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Triangular Trade
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Berlin Conference: 1884 How did the Industrial Rev. impact colonialism in Africa? Need cheap labor, raw materials, new markets, and competition b/w countries Why was the Berlin Conf. called? On paper: legally divide continent between European powers (sounds legit) In reality: it was a power struggle to see who could control slave trade, become SUPER rich off of Africa’s natural resources What was the doctrine of “effective occupation”? To own coastal land, had to prove you were capable of protecting freedom of trade & transit (wealthy and powerful enough to handle it). “Sphere of Influence”
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Berlin Conference: A Summary
14 European powers divided up Africa without any consideration of cultures Result of boundaries: Ignored cultures, divided homelands Set African groups against each other by European rule Migration routes cut off Small, local farms HUGE plantations for cash crops (coffee & tea) European missionaries promoted Christianity/European culture weakening of African culture By 1914, all but two areas (Liberia & Ethiopia) were colonized by the Europeans
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British French Which two European powers ruled
much of Sub-Saharan Africa? British French
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Pros! Cons New educational opportunities
Cities developed under European rule Economy set up to benefit the EUROPEANS, not the Africans No room for African involvement in government Not given an example for democracy This is important! When these countries won independence later (after World War II), they didn’t know how to run themselves as a democratic government conflicts as different groups within countries competed for power
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African independence
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Independence movements really took off after WWII – weakening of Europeans
Used Africans for military- Larger group of educated Africans what impact did this have on independence?
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