1. African Kingdoms
Standard 4.3

3. African Geography
Africa is incredibly diverse in terms of geography, climate and people.
Regions:
Congo – Dense rainforest and jungle in central Africa
Savannah – Grassland covers about 40% of Africa central region
Sahara Dessert – Largest desert on earth. Creates a major divide between N. and S. Africa

4. Kush and Axum Kush Agriculture first appeared in the lower Nile valley
The site of the first true African kingdom
Migration south from Egypt resulted in the independent state of Kush
Kush became a major trading state
Little known about the society of Kush
Seems to have been wealthy
Axum
Conquered Kush in 4th century C.E.
Trading empire
Location on trade routes responsible for prosperity
Competed for control of ivory trade
Practiced Christianity
Would be renamed Ethiopia

5. Rise of Islam Islam rises in Africa in 622 AD
641 Arab forces capture Egypt
Arab Muslims rule North Africa coast to strait of Gibraltar
Relationship with Christian Axum is peaceful
12th century Muslim states moved inland to control trade
Muslim traders had significant impact on North Africa

6. Ghana and Mali Ghana Majority of people were farmers
Primary reason for Ghana’s growth was gold
Trans-Saharan trade with Egypt becomes very important
Kings did not convert to Islam, but many of their subjects did
Mali
Series of wars bring the fall of Ghana by the twelfth century
New states of Mali and Songhai were born
Greatest state was Mali
Gold trade
Farming in the savanna region
Mansa Musa ( ), king, encouraged Islam
City of Timbuktu becomes center of trade, religion and learning

7. Trans-Saharan trade routes
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8. Swahili Mixed African/Arab culture arises.
Muslim religion and Arabic architecture become part of African society
Swahili language arises as well
African Bantu trade with Arabic people.
Language mixes both Bantu and Arabic
Swahili language spreads North and West with Ivory and Slave trade.
Swahili Primary language region

9. Stateless Societies in Southern Africa
From the basin of the Congo River to the Cape of Good Hope
Stateless society – A group of independent villages loosely connected by clan ties but with no central government.
Zimbabwe
Capital known as Great Zimbabwe
Benefited from trade between interior and coast
Evidence of great wealth, but Great Zimbabwe abandoned
Great Enclosure (purpose unknown)