2.  What are some of the methods scientists use to learn about the history and culture of early civilizations?  What do you remember from last year when we studied Africa?

3.  Sahara Desert  Mediterranean  Atlantic Ocean  Strait of Gibraltar  Red Sea  The Physical geography of Sub-Saharan Africa strongly influenced the growth of human societies.

4.  Sub Saharan Africa is a plateau  Congo, Niger, Zambezi Rivers are blocked by rapids  Because of the rivers, made trade and communication hard, but blocked them from invasion.  Sahara Desert covers about one-fourth of the African continent  Sahara desert use to be fertile, and well watered.  Changes in wind and weather patterns caused the area to become dry

5.  Shael- southern edge of the desert is a region known as “shore”  Rainfall is sparse and uncertain, also sometimes harsh droughts (may last years)  Farming difficult throughout the region.  South of Shael vast stretches of dry grasslands (Savannas) few trees and thorny bushes.  Farming techniques began to spread in Africa about 3000BC  Savanna farmers; grains, sorghum, millet and rice.  Savanna meets the desert people herded cattle.

6.  Rainfall is greater farther south, some places in central and western Africa receive more than 100 inches of rainfall  Tropical rain forest's are found in this area  Jungles- dense tangles of plants grow wherever there is sunlight.  Hot, wet climate of the rain forests provides breeding grounds for insects, some carry deadly diseases.  Malaria, yellow fever, carried by mosquitoes

7.  South of the rain forest: more deserts  The Kalahari Desert and the Namib Desert  Range from the center of southern Africa westward to the Atlantic coast.

8.  Natural Features  Lake Victoria is one of the worlds largest lakes.  Great Rift Valley  What different kinds of landforms, climates and features are in Sub-Saharan Africa?

9.  Linguists- scientists who study languages, have used computers to compare modern African words  Bantu-family of closely related African languages  “the cradle land” of Bantu lies in west central, present border of Nigeria and Cameroon.  Oral traditions- poems, songs and stories passed by word of mouth from generations to another.  Often hold moral lessons, griots  Griots- were highly trained speakers and entertainers who memorized the oral tradition of their village.

10.  Cultural exchange: between Africa and Asia  Scholars looked at musical instruments, language, plants.  Question: what evidence is there of cultural exchange between early Africa and Asia?

11.  Life in Africa:  Africans lived in small, independent farming, herding or fishing villages.  Women important both family and economically  Women primarily farmers,  Sub-Saharan Africa were matrilineal  People traced their ancestors and inherited property through their mothers rather than fathers.  Religion : sprits populated the world, lived in everything  Elders in villages, community leaders

12.  What are some political units of a village, Write down ideas and give a brief description of them. I will call on you…  Study for quiz Thursday and read chapter 8 (all of it)

13.  Kush:  Trade important, cities thrived on trading; Gold, ivory, ebony and ostrich feathers  Kush became a kingdom, capital Napata  Close economic and cultural ties with Egypt, 1520 BC Egypt’s New Kingdom brought Nubia and Kush under their control  Kush conquered Upper Egypt and a Kush dynasty ruled and unified Egypt 50 years.  671 BC the Assyrians armed with iron weapons invaded Kush, weakening the kingdom.  Kush lost trade routes

14.  Aksum:  Ethiopian Highlands south of Kush  Important trade routes stretching from the Red Sea into Egypt.  Kush declined and Aksum used this to their advantage.  Imported glass, metal ornaments and pottery, wine and olive oil  350 AD King Ezana of Aksum conquered Kush  Collected taxes on trade goods  Converted to Christianity made it the official religion of Aksum

15.  Aksum:  Christianity in this region laid the foundations of the Ethiopian Church.  Aksum major center of long-distance trade through coastal East Africa.  Decline of Aksum: environmental, problems (erosion, caused by excessive land use and the destruction of forests made land less productive)  Persians, gained control over much of the Red Sea trade, in 700 Ad. Rise of Islamic Arab power led to new economic and political competition with Aksum.  Declined as a commercial and political power.

16.  East Africa and Great Zimbabwe:  City-states emerged  Trade routes linked all shores of the Indian Ocean, Africans exported gold, ivory, hides and tortoise shells.  Imported porcelain and weapons, sold slaves  Islamic religion from Arabia to northeasters Africa spurred trade.  merchant, families and adventurers to Africa came to make money.  People from Indonesia settled on Madagascar.

17.  Swahili states:  Swahili- developed in East Africa, spoke Swahili a Bantu language with Arabic and Persian influences.  Swahilis were linked by language and trade.  Kilwa became a leading port (trade) Found massive trade centers and large mosque.

18.  Great Zimbabwe:  Demand of gold increased in 900 AD.  Kingdoms competed for control over both mining and shipping gold.  Shona- were a people who migrated onto the plateau of what is today Zimbabwe.  Took control over local people and the gold they mined and traded.  Believed to have gained great wealth and power.  Great Zimbabwe the largest and most important of these fortresses.  Center of the Shona state.

19.  Great Zimbabwe:  Unknown reasons Great Zimbabwe declined in the 1400s AD  Population grew too fast, outpaced dwindling supplies of food and water.

20.  West Africa:  Ghana, Mali and Songhai. Lay between Lake Chad and the Atlantic Ocean  The Wealth and strength of these kingdoms depended on control of the trade routes across the Sahara.  Gold mined south of the Sahel, traded for salt mined in the desert.

21.  West Africa:  Lay between Lake Chad and the Atlantic Ocean and included the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali and Songhai  Wealth and strength of these kingdoms depended on control of the trade routes across the Sahara.  At the desert’s southern edge commerce developed, gold mined south of the Shael.  Salt was mined in the desert.  Monarchs ruled the West African kingdoms,

22.  Ghana:  Earliest of the kingdoms  Established by the Soninke people sometime after 300 AD  Lived in western Sahel, northwest –day nation of Ghana  Ghanaian kings were powerful and wealthy from the gold  Most powerful rulers was Tunka Manin- ruled in 1067 AD  Commanded the army  Began to decline- Berbers invaded from the North, lose control of the salt trade, neighboring Malinke overthrew Ghana

23.  Mali:  Mali followed the fall of Ghana, came into power in the area that had been Ghana  Great Ruler, Mansa Musa  1300 AD supported education, the arts and public building.  Under his rule the city of Timbuktu became a leading center of learning.  Large Universities attracted scholars from Egypt and Arabia.  Musa famous for his historic pilgrimage to Mecca  Islamic holy place in Arabia

24.  Mali:  Rival members of the royal court fought for leadership of the empire.  Weakened central authority within Mali.  Kingdom kept control of the desert trade routes until 1400 AD  1468 AD rebel leader Sonni Ali captured Timbuktu and built up the kingdom of Songhai.

25.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RveLuguI tPI