1. Early African Civilizations

2. I. Nubia / Cush By 2000 B.C., trade emerged between Egypt and Nubia.
Nubia fell under Egyptian control, but freed itself by 1000 B.C.
to become the independent state of Cush,
then conquered Egypt in 750 B.C.
Cush became a major trading state
which flourished from 250 B.C. to A.D. 150

3. They conquered Cush in the fourth century A.D.
II. Aksum
Aksum was located on the Red Sea and was founded by people from the Arabian Peninsula; it combined African and Arab cultures.
Because it was located on a major trade route between India and the Mediterranean Sea, Aksum became an important trade state.
They conquered Cush in the fourth century A.D.

4. III. The Kingdom of Ghana
Ghana emerged by A.D. 500 and became the first great trading state in West Africa (not located in present-day Ghana).
Kings of Ghana were strong and wealthy leaders who governed without laws by using their large, well-trained armies.

5. Most trading was done by Berbers, nomads with camel caravans.
Ghana’s blacksmiths turned iron into popular tools and weapons; their gold and salt also helped make them an important trade site.
Most trading was done by Berbers, nomads with camel caravans.
Kings imposed taxes on trade, so Ghana became very wealthy.

6. IV. Other Societies in Africa
East Africa had many communities based on subsistence farming, growing crops for personal use, not for trade.
In the southern part of Africa most people lived in stateless societies – groups of independent villages led by a local ruler. Some of these societies united over time.
Great Zimbabwe -

7. V. African Society
Most people lived in small villages in the countryside
and were bonded together by their lineage groups –
communities of extended family units.
Elders in these villages were highly respected
and were looked up to as leaders.

8. rather than patrilineal, tracing descent through fathers.
Many societies were matrilineal, meaning they traced descent through mothers,
rather than patrilineal,
tracing descent through fathers.

9. Slavery was practiced throughout Africa;
slaves included people captured in war,
people who owed money they couldn’t pay back,
and criminals.

10. History, legends, and religious traditions were passed on
through griots –
a special class
of storytellers.