1. The 2nd largest continent and 1/5th of the Earth’s land surface
Africa
The 2nd largest continent and 1/5th of the Earth’s land surface

2. Geography Less than 5% is rainforests-mostly along the equator
Largest climate zone=the savanna - grassy plains that have good soil and irregular rainfall.
Major deserts:
Sahara-world’s largest
the Kalahari
the Namib
Geography

3. Resources: salt; gold; iron; copper; oil; and diamonds*
Along the Mediterranean coast and the southern most tip is fertile farmland
Major Rivers:
Nile
Niger
Zambezi
Resources: salt; gold; iron; copper; oil; and diamonds*
“blood diamonds”

4. Sahara spread due to desertification (dry land region becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies of water as well as vegetation and wildlife)
Bantu Migrations-West African farmers and herders that migrated to the South- speak: Bantu
Camels from Asia-huge role in trade
Early Africa

5. Arab armies brought Islam…cities like Cairo, Fez, and Marrakesh thrived on the Muslim community
Early Civilizations:
Egypt
Carthage-fell to Rome during the Punic Wars
Nubia/Kush (Land of the Bow)
Nubian capital-Meroe
Extremely wealthy in natural resources: gold and iron ore
Worshiped Apedemak (god of war)
Fell to Assyrian armies

6. Kingdoms of West Africa
Gold and salt dominated the Saharan trade
Ghana was considered “land of the gold” due to their wealth made from selling gold
Capital: Kumbi Saleh
Absorbed Muslim traditions
Almoravids: pious Muslims of North Africa who launched a campaign to spread their form of Islam and eventually swallowed control of Ghana to set up the Kingdom of Mali
Led by the “Lion Prince”
Kingdoms of West Africa

7. Mankas, or kings, expanded influence over gold and salt trade
Greatest Emperor: Mansa Musa of Mali
Expanded borders westward and northward
25 year reign
Wanted to ensure peace in his empire
Completed the Hajj-pilgrimage to Mecca
Forged diplomatic and economic ties with other cities
Helped Timbuktu become the city of learning
Mali- page

8. Forest Kingdom of Benin
In the rainforest of Guinea
Farming villages who traded pepper, ivory, and slaves
Kings were called Oba-they ruled both politically and religiously
A 3 mile long wall surrounded the city
Forest Kingdom of Benin

9. Kingdom of Axum profited greatly from their strategic location of its 2 main cities: Adulis on the Red Sea and Axum on the upland
Axum commanded a triangular trade network that connected Africa to India
They traded everything from ivory and gold to wine and olives
Trade Routes

10. What Else did Trade bring?
Christianity
Axum’s great king, Ezana, converted to Christianity
Christianity strengthened ties between Africa and the Mediterranean world
Islam was simultaneously spreading and cultural ties in Africa were created
Although Axum slowly declined politically-its cultural legacy thrived in Ethiopia which also maintained ties to the Holy land
What Else did Trade bring?

11. International trade created a rich blend of cultures in Africa
Africans, Asians, Middle Easterners, Indians and even Europeans
A Blend of Cultures

12. Great Zimbabwe ”Great Stone buildings”
Very important trading location: silk, glass, beads, carpet, pottery, minerals, ivory, coconut oil
Inhabited by the Bantu- speaking peoples
They perfected building methods
At its largest, reached from the Zambezi River to the Indian Ocean.
Decline around 1500 is believed to be a result of over farming and exhausted soil.
Great Zimbabwe

13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvnU 0v6hcUo