1. Diverse Societies in Africa

3. Land of Geographic Contrast
Africa is the 2nd largest continent in the world
Sahara is the largest desert in Northern Africa
Sahel: area that the desert would take over more and more every year (located on southern edge of the Sahara desert
Savannas: grassy plains

4. Early Humans Adapt
Africa’s earliest people were nomadic hunter-gatherers
Later began to domesticate and raise a variety of animals for food
Growing food changed their lives they built permanent shelters
This required more organization

5. Early Societies in Africa
Religions
Keeping a History
Organized into family groups
Believed in one creator or god and also animism, a religion in which spirits play an important role in regulating daily life
Few civilizations in Africa had a written language
Oral storytelling was a way to share the history and literature of the cultures
Griots, storytellers, kept this history alive, passing it from parent to child

6. West African Iron Age
Nok
Djenne-Djeno
West Africa’s earliest known culture was that of the Nok.
Lived in what is now Nigeria
Djenne-Djeno: ancient Djenne, was uncovered by archaeologist and located on the Niger river
Some artifacts found that it is the oldest known city in Africa south of the Sahara

7. Migration: permanent move from one country or region to another.

8. Causes of Migration Three major reasons for migration:
Environmental, Economic, and political
When looking at migration historians talk of the push- pull factors (these factors either push people out of an area or pull them into an area
Can trace movements of people over time by studying the spread of languages
On your test!!!

9. Massive Migration
Bantu-speaking people: originally lived in the savanna south of the Sahara, continued to move southward throughout Africa spreading their language and culture
No exact reasons on why they moved
Brought new technologies and shared ideas about social and political organization

10. Kingdom of Aksum
Aksum: an African kingdom, in what is now Ethiopia and Eritrea, that reached the height of its power in the fourth century A.D.

11. Rise of the Aksum
Legend traces the kingdom of Aksum and the Ethiopian royal dynasty to the son of King Solomon
First mention of Aksum was in a Greek guidebook written around 100 A.D.
Zoskales thought to be the first king of Aksum
Adulis: chief seaport
Ezana occupied the throne during Aksum height, strong ruler and first to conquer the part of the Arabian peninsula that is not Yemen

12. International Culture Develops
Terraces or step like ridges constructed on mountain slopes, helped the soil retain water and prevents it being washed downhill in heavy rains
Aksumites: believed in 1 god and called him Mahrem
Later becomes Christian
Adapted to their rugged, hilly environment
Created a new method of agriculture, terrace farming

13. Fall of Aksum Lasted 800 years
Declined under invaders who practiced the religion of Islam
Moved capital over the mountains into what is now northern Ethiopia
Depletion of forests and soil erosion led to its decline as a world power