1. Early Civilizations and Medieval Societies
Africa
Early Civilizations and Medieval Societies

2. Early Civilizations of Africa
Geography- savannas (grassy plains), cataracts (waterfalls)
Trade- salt, gold, iron and copper were major commodities. Camels became important. Why would camels be essential to trading in Africa?
Nubia- kingdom along the upper Nile (present day Sudan)
North Africa- Phoenicians build Carthage, Rome rules North Africa, Islam Spreads

3. Kingdoms of West Africa
Ghana: The Land of Gold. Actually in present day Mali. Capital at Kumbi Saleh. Strong Muslim influence.
Kingdom of Mali “where the king dwells”- swallowed up Ghana.
Mansa Musa- greatest ruler, converted to Islam, but ensured religious tolerance
Mansa Musa’s hajj in established new ties to the Middle East
Built Islamic university at Timbuktu

4. Empire of Songhai Located in present day Mali and Niger
Took over kingdom of Mali
Capital was Gao
Empire also tied to Middle East through Hajj
Eventually overtaken my the Moroccans

5. Smaller Societies of West Africa
Kingdom of Benin
Located in the rain forest
Kings called oba
Capital at Benin City
Famous for their bronze works of art
City-States of the Hausa
Walled cities for protection
Hausa goods were sold in North Africa and southern Europe
Islam was very influential
Many women rulers

6. Kingdoms and Trading States of East Africa

7. Axum Located in present day Ethiopia and Eritrea Language called Geez
Great location for trading
Christianity becomes the official religion in the 300s
Kingdom declined as Islam gained a foothold in the region…. Why?

8. Ethiopia Ethiopia is a Greek term
Isolated geographically and religiously
King Lalibela and his churches
Christian services still conducted in the ancient Geez language
Sizeable amount of Jews also in Ethiopia

9. Great Zimbabwe Zimbabwe means “stone houses”
Reached its height around 1300
Not much is known about its government
Trading heavily with the Middle East, India, and China

10. Societies in Medieval Africa Common Elements: Family, Government, Religion, and Art
Family Patterns
Nuclear family
Extended family
Patrilineal
Matrilineal
Lineage- groups of households who claimed a common ancestor
Age grade

11. Political Patterns
Power usually shared in smaller medieval African communities
Women took leadership roles in some places (West Africa)
Decisions made by consensus
Old equals wise and respected
Kingdom of the Kongo 1500
Many villages were grouped into districts and governed by an appointed official
Money paid to king in goods or cowrie shells
No standing army
King chosen by a group of electors

12. Religious Beliefs
Polytheistic with a belief in a supreme being that was above lesser gods and goddesses
Ancestor worship- turned to ancestors for advice and guidance
Christianity and Islam were widespread by 1000
Absorbed local practices
Associated Muslim or Christian god with “supreme being”

14. Art and Literature Art usually served a social and religious purpose
Pyramids in Egypt and Nubia, rock churches in Ethiopia, rock paintings
Ancient Egypt, Nubia, and Axum left written records
Artists worked with gold, ivory, wood, bronze, cloth
Masks used to feel the spiritual force that the mask represented
Patterns usually had special meaning i.e. royalty or family clan
Arabic was a common written language
Oral traditions
Griots- professional storytellers