1. 8 African Civilizations 1500 B.C.–A.D. 500 Diverse Societies in Africa
QUIT 8
CHAPTER
African Civilizations B.C.–A.D. 500
Chapter Overview
Time Line
SECTION 1
Diverse Societies in Africa
MAP
SECTION 2
The Kingdom of Aksum and East African Trade
GRAPH
SECTION 3
Patterns of Change: Migration
Visual Summary

2. 8 African Civilizations 1500 B.C.–A.D. 500
HOME 8
CHAPTER
African Civilizations B.C.–A.D. 500
Chapter Overview
Africans create diverse cultures as they adapt to the varied environments of the continent. Cities with advanced cultures and technologies become great trading centers in West and East Africa while the migrations of Bantu-speaking peoples into southern and eastern Africa create new and unique cultures.

3. 8 African Civilizations 1500 B.C.–A.D. 500 HOME Time Line 1500 B.C.
CHAPTER
African Civilizations B.C.–A.D. 500
Time Line
1500s B.C. Africans who dwell south of the Sahara live in scattered farming communities or are nomadic herders or hunter-gathers.
250 B.C. Djenné-Djeno established in West Africa.
A.D. 303 King Ezana rules Aksum. In time, he converts to Christianity.
1500 B.C.
A.D. 500
500 B.C. Nok people make iron tools.
A.D. 100s Bantu migrations underway.

4. Diverse Societies in Africa Key Idea 1
HOME 1
Diverse Societies
in Africa
Key Idea
Africa is a land of contrasting geography. Early Africans adapt to these varied environments, developing diverse cultures in West and East Africa unique to the particular area.
Overview
Assessment

5. Diverse Societies in Africa Overview 1 • Sahara • savanna • Sahel
HOME 1
Diverse Societies
in Africa
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• Sahara
• savanna
• Sahel
• desertification
• extended family
• clan
• animism
• griot
• Djenné-Djeno
• Nok
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
African peoples developed diverse societies as they adapted to varied environments.
Differences among modern societies are also based on people’s interactions with their environments.
Assessment

6. Diverse Societies in Africa 1 1
HOME 1
Diverse Societies
in Africa
Section 1
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. Describe the main events that followed the development of agriculture on the African savannas.
Development of Agriculture
people build permanent shelters
settlements expand
new activities/jobs are created
governing bodies form
continued . . .

7. Diverse Societies in Africa 1 1
HOME 1
Diverse Societies
in Africa
Section 1
Assessment
2. How does adapting to different environments lead to the development of diverse cultures? THINK ABOUT
• natural resources
• Nok accomplishments
• migrations of different groups of people
ANSWER
Adapting to each environment requires different survival skills and leads people to develop unique ways of life. These different ways of life determine what people believe, how they expend their energy, and how they behave—in short, their culture.
Possible Response:
End of Section 1

8. The Kingdom of Aksum and East African Trade
HOME 2
The Kingdom of Aksum and East African Trade
GRAPH
MAP
Key Idea
The Kingdom of Aksum in East Africa takes control of Red Sea trade routes and becomes an international trading center. Aksum adopts Christianity and creates a cosmopolitan culture but declines as a trading power when Islamic invaders seize control of Africa’s east coast.
Overview
Assessment

9. The Kingdom of Aksum and East African Trade
HOME 2
The Kingdom of Aksum and East African Trade
GRAPH
MAP
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• Aksum
• Adulis
• Ezana
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
The kingdom of Aksum became an international trading power and adopted Christianity.
Ancient Aksum, which is now Ethiopia, is still a center of Eastern Christianity.
Assessment

10. The Kingdom of Aksum and East African Trade
HOME 2
The Kingdom of Aksum and East African Trade
GRAPH
MAP
Section 2
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts.
List the achievements of Aksum.
Aksum’s achievements
Controlled international trade
Built stelae
Developed terrace farming
Spread Christianity
continued . . .

11. The Kingdom of Aksum and East African Trade
HOME 2
The Kingdom of Aksum and East African Trade
GRAPH
MAP
Section 2
Assessment
2. Why did the kingdom of Aksum decline? THINK ABOUT
• the rise and spread of Islam
• Aksum’s relocation
• changes in the environment
ANSWER
Possible Responses:
Aksum could not hold off the onslaught of Islam and became isolated religiously and geographically. Depletion of natural resources hastened its decline.
continued . . .

12. The Kingdom of Aksum and East African Trade
HOME 2
The Kingdom of Aksum and East African Trade
GRAPH
MAP
Section 2
Assessment
3. Do you think that the kingdom of Aksum would have reached the same heights if Ezana had not become king? Explain your answer.
ANSWER
Possible Responses:
• No—Ezana’s conversion to Christianity enabled him to unite the kingdom and form close ties with Christian empires.
• Yes—Aksum’s location gave it a unique chance to become a major trade center. Any competent leader could have developed its potential.
End of Section 2

13. Migration Key Idea CASE STUDY: Bantu-Speaking Peoples 3
HOME 3
Migration
PATTERNS
OF CHANGE
CASE STUDY: Bantu-Speaking Peoples
Key Idea
Mass movements of people are an important influence on world history. From 500 B.C. to A.D. 1500, migrations of Bantu-speaking peoples into the southern half of Africa create new cultures as they adapt their skills to the lands they occupy and intermix with other people.
Overview
Assessment

14. Migration Overview CASE STUDY: Bantu-Speaking Peoples 3
HOME 3
Migration
PATTERNS
OF CHANGE
CASE STUDY: Bantu-Speaking Peoples
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• Bantu-speaking peoples
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Throughout history, people have been driven to uproot themselves and explore their world.
Migration continues to shape the modern world.
Assessment

15. Migration 3 CASE STUDY: Bantu-Speaking Peoples 3
HOME 3
Migration
PATTERNS
OF CHANGE
CASE STUDY: Bantu-Speaking Peoples
Section 3
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. List five reasons why people migrate. Give an example of a migration that occurred for each reason.
Reasons for migration
Example
environmental change
prehistoric people
population pressure
prehistoric people
economic pressure
European settlers
empire building
Ottomans
religious freedom
European settlers
continued . . .

16. Migration 3 CASE STUDY: Bantu-Speaking Peoples 3
HOME 3
Migration
PATTERNS
OF CHANGE
CASE STUDY: Bantu-Speaking Peoples
Section 3
Assessment
2. How might the migrating Bantu speakers and the peoples they encountered have reacted to each other? THINK ABOUT
• Bantu culture
• territorial wars
• cultural adaptation
ANSWER
Possible Responses:
• They might have been curious about each other, willing to share ideas.
• Bantu speakers might have been viewed as aggressors to defend against.
End of Section 3