1. Africa Early Civilizations

2. Tracking the Evidence Mary and Louis Leaky discovered bones in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania The 2 million year old bones have led scientists to suggest Africa was home to the first people Few specifics are known about the earliest people, partly because Africa’s climate destroys wood and bone

3. Records on stone Pictures on stone from Southern Africa to the Sahara have been found and show tools, weapons, and food-gathering methods Rock Art – displays everyday scenes of early life: a woman digging, herds of animals, even in the Sahara A Changing Environment – evidence shows about 4000 years ago the Sahara started to become a desert, less rain fell, lakes and rivers dried up, animals left, people followed

4. Nile Valley Civilization Farming communities developed as people began to cultivate plants; some people stopped hunting and gathering The Nile’s earliest civilization developed over 7000 years ago. As food production increased, the population grew Pharaohs – united the villages long the valley and became the rulers of the Nile Valley

5. Religion and Government Polytheistic Egyptians – they believed different gods controlled the forces of nature; Amon-Re: the Sun God was the chief god, Osris & Isis: underworld and Nile Pyramids – huge tombs to help pharaohs reach the afterlife, Happy Field of Food Pharaoh – descendents from the God, Amon-Re, Absolute Power with help from priests and nobles

6. Achievements of Egyptian Civilization Hieroglyphics – writing using pictures and symbols used by the Egyptians The calendar – developed from the Egyptians math and science skills Egyptian doctors studied the human body; their knowledge was shared with the people throughout the Mediterranean

7. The Kingdom of Kush (750 B.C. – 200 A.D.) Trade on the Nile River – the kingdom developed because of the trade route King Kastha, from Kush, controlled the Nile River and controlled Egypt Iron weapon wielding Middle Eastern Assyrians pushed the Kushites out of Egypt Iron deposits and tools – Kushites developed technology to produce iron tools; the waste from the iron industry can still be seen today Diffusion – Traders from Kush traveled as far Arabia, East Africa, and India

8. The Kingdom of Axum 4 th Century In modern Ethiopia – It was an important center of trade Trade sent spices, gems, and ivory all over Northern Africa and throughout the Mediterranean A Christian Kingdom – King Ezana converted to Christianity, therefore his empire became Christian The Egyptian Christian church has survived surrounded by Muslim nations