1. The Muslim World and Africa (730 B.C.-A.D. 1500)
Lesson 5 Early Civilizations of Africa

2. The Muslim World and Africa (730 B.C.-A.D. 1500)
Lesson 5 Early Civilizations of Africa
Learning Objectives
Understand how geography affected migration, cultural development, and trade in Africa.
Describe the rise and decline of Nubia.
Explain how outside influences led to change in North Africa.

3. The Muslim World and Africa (730 B.C.–A.D. 1500)
Lesson 5 Early Civilizations of Africa
Key Terms
savannas,
Sahara,
cataracts,
desertification
Bantu,
Nubia,
Piankhi
Meroë
Septimius Severus,

4. The Geography of Africa
Africa is the world’s second largest continent, larger than Europe, China, and the United States combined. Its geography is immensely varied, but certain features have had a major impact on its development. Its size and location have contributed to its range of climates, vegetation, and terrains as well as the diverse cultures that developed within Africa.

5. The Geography of Africa
Climate and Vegetation Zones
From North to South
Mediterranean
Dessert
Savannah
Rainforest (equator)
Savannah and/or Dry Woodland
Geographic Features
Rivers
Cataracts and Waterfalls near coasts
Highways on the interior
Resources and Trade
Salt, gold, iron, and copper commanded early trade
Much later, in the 1800s, desire for gold and diamonds was one cause that led Europeans to seek control of lands in Africa.
Trade between Africa and Asia increased with the introduction of the camel. By a.d. 200, camels had been brought to North Africa from Asia. These hardy “ships of the desert” revolutionized trade across the Sahara.

7. The Geography of Africa
Rivers snake through African rain forests, creating a transportation network across much of the continent by which trade flowed among regions.

8. Migration of People and Ideas
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that points to the Great Rift Valley as home to some of the earliest ancestors of modern people. Gradually, their descendants migrated out of Africa and beyond to people in every corner of the Earth.

9. Migration of People and Ideas
Stone Age Cultures
By 5500 b.c., Neolithic farmers had learned to cultivate the Nile Valley and to domesticate animals. As farming spread across North Africa, Neolithic villages even appeared in the Sahara, which was then a well-watered area. Scientists have found ancient rock paintings that show a Sahara covered with rich grasslands and savanna.
About 2500 b.c., a climate change slowly dried the Sahara. As the land became parched, the desert spread. This process of devoured thousands of acres of cropland and pastureland. The ever-expanding desert forced many people to move, or migrate.
The Bantu Migrations
Between 1000 B.C. and 1000 A.D. – West Africans migrated south and east bringing with them skills in iron working and farming to the peoples there. We know this because of the spread of a common root language: Bantu.

10. Migration of People and Ideas
At first, trade in the Sahara Desert was hindered by inhospitable conditions, but new forms of transportation, including the use of the camel, revolutionized commerce in the region.

11. Migration of People and Ideas
Make Predictions West African farmers called the Bantu migrated to the south and east between 1000 b.c. and a.d How did local populations react to the influx of Bantu-speaking people?

12. Egypt and Nubia Flourish
While Egyptian civilization was developing along the northern Nile River, another African civilization took shape on a wide band of fertile land of the southern Nile. The ancient kingdom of Nubia, also called Kush, was located in present-day Sudan. Archaeologists and historians have just begun to document the shifting tides of Nubia’s 4,000-year history.

13. Egypt and Nubia Flourish
From time to time, ambitious Egyptian pharaohs subdued Nubia, but the Nubians always regained their independence. Nubian rulers adopted many Egyptian traditions:
built palaces and pyramids modeled on Egyptian style
used Egyptian titles
worshiped Egyptian deities.
About 730 b.c., the Nubian king Piankhi (pyahn kee) conquered Egypt. For a century, Nubian kings ruled Egypt. But Nubian armies could not match the iron weapons of the Assyrians who invaded from southwest Asia. Forced to retreat from Egypt, the Nubians returned to the south.
Nubian Trade and Iron
By 500 b.c., Nubian capital moved to Meroë (mehr uh wee)
commanded both the Nile’s north-south trade and the east-west trade from the Red Sea to North Africa.
Nubia sent gold, ivory, animal skins, perfumes, and slaves to the Mediterranean world and Southwest Asia.
Equally important to location, was the region’s resources. Meroë was rich in iron ore. Fueled by the region’s large quantities of timber, the smelting furnaces of Meroë produced the iron tools and weaponry needed to feed, control, and defend the kingdom. Today, giant heaps of iron waste remain as evidence of ancient Meroë’s industry.

14. Egypt and Nubia Flourish
Nubians and Egyptians worshiped many of the same gods and goddesses, including Amon, the king of all the gods, who was often depicted as a ram.

15. Egypt and Nubia Flourish
Nubia shared many of the same gods and goddesses with Egypt.

16. North Africa in the Ancient World
Early African civilizations had strong ties to the Mediterranean world. Trade linked Egypt with Greece and Mesopotamia. Later, Egypt was ruled, in turn, by the Greeks and Romans. These powers also knew of the rich civilization that lay south of Egypt and valued Nubian exports. Over time, however, Nubia lost touch with the Mediterranean world.
Splendor and Decline
Although Nubia absorbed much from Egypt, Nubian culture later followed its own course. For example, after gaining independence from Egypt, Nubians worshiped their own gods, including Apedemak, a lion-headed warrior god. At Meroë, artistic styles reflected a greater sense of freedom than Egyptian styles did. Nubians also created their own system of writing, using an alphabet instead of hieroglyphics. Unfortunately, the Nubian alphabet has not yet been deciphered.
After the joint reign of King Natakamani and Queen Amanitere in the first century a.d., the splendor of Nubia’s golden age dimmed. Finally, about a.d. 350, King Ezana’s armies from the kingdom of Axum overwhelmed Nubia.

17. North Africa in the Ancient World
Phoenicians and Carthage
As Nubia thrived along the Nile, Carthage began to rise as a great North African power.
Founded by Phoenician traders as a port on the Mediterranean coast, Carthage came to dominate trade in the western Mediterranean.
From 800 b.c. to 146 b.c., Carthage forged an empire that stretched from present-day Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco to southern Spain and beyond.
As Rome expanded, territorial and trade rivalries erupted between the two powers. After a series of fierce wars, Rome eventually defeated Carthage and totally destroyed the capital city.
Rome Controls North Africa
Rome expanded its rule over much of North Africa from the coast to the Sahara and into Egypt.
Romans built roads, dams, aqueducts, and cities. They developed North African farmlands to harvest bumper crops of grain, fruit, and other foods.
They imported lions and other fierce animals to Rome to do battle with gladiators. North Africa also provided soldiers for the Roman army, including one who would later become a Roman emperor.
Under Roman rule, Christianity spread to the cities of North Africa.

19. Islam Spreads
In the 690s, Muslim Arabs conquered and occupied the cities of North Africa. By the early 700s, they had successfully conquered the Berbers, a largely nomadic North African people. Islam also spread peacefully as, over time, Muslim traders from North Africa carried Islam into West Africa. Muslim civilization blossomed in cities such as Cairo, Fez, and Marrakesh, which became famous for their mosques and universities.
Muslim, Jewish, and Christian traders and merchants lived, bartered, and interacted with one another as commerce expanded throughout North and West Africa. Jewish communities formed near Muslim and Christian enclaves, including those in Ghana, Mali, and, later, Songhai. Some African societies adopted aspects of the religions into their cultures, while many Africans continued to practice traditional religions such as ancestor worship.
Islam eventually became the dominant religion in many regions of Africa, and Muslim caliphates governed many African kingdoms. The caliphates established a centralized system of government and a vast trade network to India and China, which allowed the movement of goods between both regions to flourish.
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20. North Africa in the Ancient World
Analyze Maps Islam, Judaism, and Christianity all influenced African culture. By looking at the map, what can you generalize about each of the three religions?

21. Quiz: The Geography of Africa
Camels revolutionized trade across the Sahara because
A. they were faster than chariots.
B. they could carry heavy loads and travel miles without water.
C. there was a lack of horses in North Africa.
D. they battled disease better than any other animal.

22. Quiz: Migration of People and Ideas
Desertification influenced African culture and history because
A. it forced people to settle other areas.
B. it created a barrier through which trade could not pass.
C. it allowed people to more densely settle the Sahara.
D. it increased cropland and pastureland in North Africa.

23. Quiz: Egypt and Nubia Flourish
What influence did Egypt have on Nubian society?
A. Nubian society was not influenced at all by Egyptian culture.
B. Nubian society absorbed some aspects of Egyptian culture.
C. Nubian society crumbled under the weight of Egyptian domination.
D. Nubian society was assimilated into Egyptian society and culture.

24. Quiz: North Africa in the Ancient World
Muslim caliphates helped bring prosperity to many African kingdoms by
A. creating a vast trade network to India and China.
B. defeating the Phoenicians in battle for control of North Africa.
C. keeping other religions out of North Africa.
D. absorbing each other’s culture and language.