1. Early African Societies and the Bantu Migrations
Chapter 3
Early African Societies and the Bantu Migrations
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2. Warm Up
Explain the relationship between humans and the gods in ancient civ:
What impact does the Code of Hammurabi have on the people of ancient times?
What military technologies have come about and what advantages do they have?
Explain the idea of a patriarchal society:
Explain the commonality between the Christians and Muslims:

3. Development of African Agriculture
Sahara region used to be grassy steppe lands with water (10,000 BCE)
Abundant hunting, fishing, wild grains
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
People are driven into river regions--Nile
Annual predictable flooding makes rich soil for agriculture
“Gift of the Nile”
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5. Early Agriculture in Nile Valley
5000 B.C.E. people domesticate donkeys and cattle (from Sudan), and grow wheat and barley (from Mesopotamia)
Adaptation to seasonal flooding of Nile through construction of dikes, waterways
Villages dot Nile by 4000 B.C.E.
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6. 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
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.
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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 drove Nubians to the south
Established kingdom of Kush, ca B.C.E.
Interaction through diplomacy, Nubian mercenaries, and intermarriage
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10. Egyptian Urban Culture
Well-defined social classes
Pharaohs to slaves
Patriarchal societies, notable exceptions: female pharaoh Hatshepsut (r B.C.E.)
Egpyt: peasants and slaves (agriculture), pharaoh, professional military and administrators
Nubia: complex and hierarchical society
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11. Patriarchy in both but women have more influence than in Mesopotamia
Women act as regents, like female pharaoh Hatshepsut
Nubia: women serve as queens, priestesses, and scribes

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Nomadic horseman, Hyksos, invade Egypt
Used bronze weapons, chariots, and bows (Egypt does not have)
Captures Memphis in 1674 BCE
Assyrians with iron weapons invade from the north
After sixth century BCE series of foreign conquests
Trade along Nile River:
More difficult in Nubia due to cataracts
Sea trade in Mediterranean
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13. Transportation: sailboats, carts, and donkey caravans
Trade networks
Egypt and Nubia: exotic goods from Nubia (ebony, gold, gems, slaves) and pottery, wine, linen, decorative items from Egypt
Egypt and the north: especially wood, like cedar from Lebanon

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Hieroglyphs
“Holy inscriptions”
Writing appeared at least by 3200 B.C.E.
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.
Scribes live very privileged lives
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15. 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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16. 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
Becomes associated with Nile, crops, life/death, immortality
Held out hope of eternal reward for those who lived moral lives
Show second clip from Ancient Egypt, Sphinx through mummification
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Bantu Migrations, B.C.E.
The dynamics of the Bantu expansion
Bantu-language group from west central Africa
Live along banks of rivers; use canoes
Trade with hunting/gathering forest people
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18. Bantu Migrations, 2000 B.C.E.-1000 C.E.
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19. Early migrations of Bantu (3000-1000 B.C.E.)
Absorb much of the population of hunter/gather/fisher people
By 1000 B.C.E. occupy most of Africa south of the equator
Features of the Bantu
Use canoes and settle along banks of rivers; spread from there
Agricultural surplus causes them to move inland from rivers
Become involved in trade

20. Bantu rate of migration increases after 1000 B. C. E
Bantu rate of migration increases after 1000 B.C.E. due to appearance of iron
Iron tools allow them to clear more land for agriculture
Iron weapons give them stronger position

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Bantu Religions
Some worship single, impersonal divine force representing good and bad
Deistic views as well
Prayers to intercessors, e.g. ancestor spirits
Great variations among populations
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