Africa has diverse geography including plateaus, mountains, deserts, grasslands, and jungles. It is the second largest continent, nearly 4 times the size of the United States. Ancient civilizations like Egypt, Carthage, and various kingdoms in Northeast Africa established some of the earliest civilizations on the continent. Major West African empires like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai flourished due to gold and trade along the Niger River. East African city-states engaged in trade with Arabs and Persians. Forest kingdoms provided goods to the city-states and the Kingdom of Benin had great artistic accomplishments. African culture was based around family, clan, and tribe with diverse religious beliefs and reliance on farming

1. chapter 6pages 167-173Africa

2. Topography:Much of Africa is a large plateau, but its mountains, deserts, grassy flatlands, and jungles give it beautyGeography:Africa is the second largest continent

3. Covers nearly 1/5 of the earth’s land surface

4. Nearly 4 times the size of the USHistory:The Egyptians established the earliest recorded civilization in Africa

5. Carthage built a thriving civilization in North Africa

6. After the collapse of Rome, Muslims brought the region under Islamic dominationA. Ancient African CivilizationEarliest kingdom in northeastern Africa was Kush The capital of Kush was Meroë Kush grew in power and by 700 B.C. had overthrown Egyptian rule and conquered all of Egypt and established its own dynasty of pharaohs The Assyrians drove out the Kushites about 660 B.C., but the Kushite kingdom continued for almost 1000 years longer2. Aksum eventually conquered Kush in 330 A.D. a. Aksum embraced Christianityb. The kingdom’s conversion to Christianity was the work of Frumentius who was a Syrian Christian3. Askum became the center of the modern state of Ethiopia.

7. B. Central and Western Africa1. Knowledge of the civilizations in central and western Africa is a bit vague because histories were passed down orally instead of being written downa. Oral tradition, archaeology, and some accounts written by non-Africans give some picture of these culturesKingdon of Kanem-Bornu thrived on the shores of Lake Chada. It had profit from the camel caravan trade and it built a strong military forceb. Kanem-Bornu lasted 1,000 years because of the trade and military

8. There were 3 important kingdoms of western Africa: Ghana, Mali, and Songhai (each was larger than the previous)a. All 3 built prosperous societies whose wealth derived from the gold mines within their empires and the camel trade of gold, silver, and precious itemsb. The Niger River provided a base for these empires because its waters drew travelers crossing the SaharaKingdom of Ghana was 1st in prominence-Its peak was from 700-1200 A.D. a. Muslims attacked in the 11th century and weakened Ghana but were unable to conquer the regionb. The kingdom of Mali rose in Ghana’s place, dominating from 1200-15005. Most famous ruler was Mansa Musaa. Musa was Muslim and in his pilgrimage to Mecca was greatb. He took, in his traveling group, 60,000+ men and 10,000lbs+ goldc. Mansa’s capital, Timbuktu became the most important trade center

9. d. People also paid a price for Musa’s leadership-the king was supposed to be superior to commoners and he was but he often spoke to his court behind a curtain and no one could watch him eate. This emphasis on perfection meant that if he fell ill or became infirm with age, he was expected to commit suicide or be smothered6. In the 15th century, Songhai Empire overthrew Mali Empire7. An invasion by the Moroccans in 1591 brought an end to Songhai and an end to the western African empires

10. 1. Each independent city-state had its own trading port2. The ports continued to flourish as outlets for gold, iron, ivory, and animal skins to Arabs and Persians3. Kilwa was a prosperous city-state that received goods from the tribes and kingdoms in the interior and sold them to Arab sea traders4. The city-states grew wealthy and cultured because of their seaside locations5. City-states shared a common culture-a mixture of Arab, Persian, and Africana. Architecture was Arab and language of city-states was Swahili with elements of Arabic, Persian, and Indian6. City-states enjoyed centuries of prosperity but after 1500, they were crushed by the EuropeansC. East African City-States

11. D. Forest KingdomsThe kingdoms provided the goods for the eastern city-states to sellThe best known kingdoms are those with which the Europeans came into contact with after the Middle AgesKingdom of Benin was importanta. It appeared around 1300 and lasted until the 19th centuryb. Benin was more than a trade center-it produced fine statues and relief sculptures in bronze and had great artistic accomplishments in metalworking

12. E. African CultureDaily life was focused on smaller social organizationsFamily was the most basica. Polygamy was common so families were larger and more complex than European onesb. Several families could trace their decent back to a common ancestor and they formed a clan from this knowledge (2 or more clans formed a tribe)c. The tribe may have been the most important cultural organizationd. Many African kingdoms were dominated by one ethnic group