1. Early African Societies and the Bantu Migrations
Chapter 3
Early African Societies and the Bantu Migrations
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2. Development of African Agriculture
Sahara desert originally highly fertile region
Western Sudan region nomadic herders, ca B.C.E.
Domestication of cattle ca B.C.E.
Later, cultivation of sorghum, yams, increasingly diverse
Widespread desiccation of the Sahara ca B.C.E.
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The Gift of the Nile
Gradual, predictable flooding
Alluvial deposits support productive agricultural society
“Gift of the Nile”
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4. Early Agriculture in Nile Valley
10,000 B.C.E. migrants from Red Sea hills (northern Ethiopia)
Introduce collection of wild grains, language roots of Coptic
5000 B.C.E. Sudanic cultivators, herders migrate to Nile River valley
Adaptation to seasonal flooding of Nile through construction of dikes, waterways
Villages dot Nile by 4000 B.C.E.
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5. Impact on Political Organization
As in Mesopotamia, a need for formal organization of public affairs
Need to maintain order and organize community projects
Egypt: simple, local irrigation projects
Rural rather than heavily urban development
Trade networks develop
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Unification of Egypt
Legendary conqueror Menes, ca. 3100, unifies Egyptian kingdom
Sometimes identified with Narmer
Tradition: founder of Memphis, cultural and political center of ancient Egypt
Instituted the rule of the pharaoh
Claimed descent from the gods
Absolute rulers, had slaves buried with them from 2600 B.C.E.
Most powerful during Archaic Period ( B.C.E.) and Old Kingdom ( B.C.E.)
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The Pyramids
Symbols of the pharaoh’s authority and divine status
A testimony of the pharaohs’ ability to marshal Egypt’s resources
Largest Khufu (Cheops), 2.3 M limestone blocks, average weight 2.5 tons
Role: burial chambers for pharaohs
Show construction of Temple here from Ancient Egypt VH 5431
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Relations with Nubia
Competition over Nile trade
Military conflict between 3100 and 2600 B.C.E.
Drove Nubians to the south
Established kingdom of Kush, ca B.C.E.
Trade, cultural influences continue despite military conflict
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The New Kingdom
Few pyramids, but major monumental architectural projects
Engaged in empire-building to protect against foreign invasion
After New Kingdom, local resistance drives Egypt out of Nubia
Kingdom of Kush revives ca B.C.E.
Invasions of Kushites, Assyrians destroy Egypt mid-sixth century B.C.E.
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10. Egyptian Urban Culture
Major cities along Nile River, especially at delta
Memphis ca B.C.E., Heliopolis ca B.C.E.
Nubian cities include Kerma, Napata, Meroë
Located at cataracts of the Nile
Well-defined social classes
Pharaohs to slaves
Archaeological discoveries in Nubia also support class-based society
Patriarchal societies, notable exceptions: female pharaoh Hatshepsut (r B.C.E.)
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11. Economic Specialization
Bronze metallurgy introduced late, with Hyksos invasion
Development of iron early, ca. 900 B.C.E.
Trade along Nile River
More difficult in Nubia due to cataracts
Sea trade in Mediterranean
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Hieroglyphs
“Holy inscriptions”
Writing appeared at least by 3200 B.C.E.
Pictographic, supplemented with symbols representing sounds and ideas
Survives on monuments, buildings, and sheets of papyrus
Hieroglyphs for formal writing, hieratic script for everyday affairs used from 2600 B.C.E. to 600 C.E.
Greek alphabet adopted – demotic and Coptic scripts
Meroitic writing: flexible system borrowed from hieroglyphs, represents sounds rather than ideas
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13. Development of Organized Religious Traditions
Principal gods Amon and Re
Religious tumult under Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten) (r B.C.E.)
Introduces sole worship of sun god Aten
One of the world’s earliest expressions of monotheism
Death of Akhenaten, traditional priests restore the cult of Amon-Re to privileged status
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14. Mummification and the Afterlife
Inspiration of the cycles of the Nile
Belief in the revival of the dead
First: ruling classes only, later expanded to include lower classes
Cult of Osiris
Lord of the underworld
Power to determine who deserved immortality
Held out hope of eternal reward for those who lived moral lives
Nubian worship of Apedemak and Sebiumeker
Show second clip from Ancient Egypt, Sphinx through mummification
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Bantu Migrations, B.C.E.
Bantu: “people”
Migration throughout sub-Saharan regions
Population pressures
Over 500 variations of original Bantu language
90 million speakers
By 1000 B.C.E., occupied most of Africa south of the equator
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16. Bantu Migrations, 2000 B.C.E.-1000 C.E.
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Bantu Religions
Evidence of early monotheism
Deistic views as well
Prayers to intercessors, e.g. ancestor spirits
Great variations among populations
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