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The Birthplace of Humanity
Africa The Birthplace of Humanity
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Map 1.1 Africa A Huge and Diverse Land: Second largest continent in the world From North to South A succession of climatic zones Desert, savannah, rain forest, mountain ranges Rain forest A dense growth of tall trees characteristic of hot, wet regions MAP 1-1 AFRICA: CLIMATIC REGIONS AND EARLY SITES Africa is a large continent with several climatic zones. It is also the home of several early civilizations.
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Skeleton discovered at Afar, Ethiopia
The Birthplace of Humanity: Origins of humanity in savannah region Homo habilis, earliest human Modern humans, homo sapiens, evolved from Homo erectus Multiregional model Out-of-Africa model Hunting and gathering societies: Small societies dependent on hunting animals and collecting wild plants rather than on agriculture This drawing is based on a partial, fossilized skeleton discovered at Afar, Ethiopia, in The anthropologists who found the remains concluded in 2009 that the bones are those of a female Ardipithecus ramidus (nicknamed “Ardi”) who lived 4.5 million years ago. Ardi shows that hominids diverged from apes much earlier than previously believed and fortifies existing evidence that human origins lay in Africa.
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Ancient Civilizations and Old Arguments: Egypt earliest civilization in Africa
Argument over Egyptian racial identity began in nineteenth century Sought to refute claims of African inferiority Recent debate between Afrocentricists and traditionalists Hierarchical Refers to a social system based on class rank.
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Map 1.3 The Empires of Ghana and Mali
West Africa: African Americans’ birthright in West Africa West Africa physically, culturally, ethnically diverse Extensive trade formed Western Sudanese empires Savannah A flat, nearly treeless grassland typical of large portions of West Africa. Berbers A people native to North Africa and the Sahara Desert. MAP 1-3 THE EMPIRES OF GHANA AND MALI The western Sudanese empires of Ghana and Mali helped shape West African culture. Ghana existed from as early as the fourth century CE to Mali dominated western Sudan from 1230 to 1468.
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Map 1.3 The Empires of Ghana and Mali
MAP 1-3 THE EMPIRES OF GHANA AND MALI (continued) The western Sudanese empires of Ghana and Mali helped shape West African culture. Ghana existed from as early as the fourth century CE to Mali dominated western Sudan from 1230 to 1468.
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The West African Forest Region
Patchwork of diverse ethnic groups Slave traders and victims Benin (Nigeria) skilled artisans and wealth Prosperity depended on European slave trade Nearby Igboland expands slave trade to Americas
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Map 1.5 Trans-Saharan Trade Routes
Ancient trade routes connected sub-Saharan West Africa to the Mediterranean coast. Among the commodities carried southward were silk, cotton, horses, and salt. Among those carried northward were gold, ivory, pepper, and slaves.
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Kongo and Angola Large minority of African Americans
Also ensnared in slave trade Kingdom of Kongo ruler wanted Christianity, European model Unrest, Portuguese greed breaks-up kingdom
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Families and Villages Families either patrilineal or matrilineal
Family community of grandparents, aunts uncles, cousins Villages larger on savanna Tools and weapons Grinding stones, ceramic vessels, bows, spears Farming was difficult Cultivated millet, rice, sorghum Lineage A type of clan, typical of West Africa, in which members claim descent from a single ancestor. Matrilineal Descent traced through the female line. Nuclear family A family unit consisting solely of one set of parents and their children Polygynous family A family unit consisting of a man, his wives, and their children
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Women Women enjoyed impressive freedom
Sometimes served as government officials Sometimes inherited, owned property More sexual freedom than European women Sexual freedom more apparent than real Secret societies dictated ethical standards Secret societies Social organizations that have secret ceremonies that only their members know about and can participate in.
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Example of one program in Britain
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Class and Slavery Hierarchical social structure
Slavery not always permanent War captives as slaves Some masters guardians of slaves Some slave children protected from being sold Some slaves had power over free people Assimilation The process by which people of different backgrounds become similar to each other in culture and language.
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Religion Two religious traditions, Islamic and indigenous
Islamic monotheistic, Allah only God Indigenous recognized many divinities Invoked spirits of ancestors Polytheistic The worship of many gods. Animistic The belief that inanimate objects have spiritual attributes.
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Art and Music Religion influenced art
Masks, figurines represented gods Benin bronze sculptures portrayed kings, nobles West African music served religion Fetishes A natural object or an artifact believed to have magical power. A charm.
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Six-string wooden harp
This six-string wooden harp is a rare example of the type of instrument West African musicians and storytellers used to accompany themselves.
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Example of call & response
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Literature: Oral Histories, Poetry, and Tales
Literature part of oral tradition Court poets, recalled history, praised rules Griots traveled from place to place Prose tales Animal tales, entertained and taught Human tales of creation, love, magic Allegories for African Americans, white masters in America
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Technology Iron refining and forging
Textile production and architecture Trade, Islamic influence led to commercial textile production Architecture embodied Islamic, indigenous elements Rice cultivation practices re-emerged in colonial South Carolina
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Conclusion History of African Americans begins in West Africa
Much remains to be learned Evolution of man Role of Ancient Egypt and its relationship to other kingdoms West Africans taken to America preserved heritage Legacies continue to influence American life
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Choose one question Chapter 1
Discuss the controversy concerning the racial identity of the ancient Egyptians. What is the significance of this controversy for the history of African Americans? OR Describe West African society on the eve of the expansion of the Atlantic slave trade. What were the society’s strengths and weaknesses?
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