- Lucy, discovered in Ethiopia in 1974, was a 3.2 million year old ancestor of humans who migrated from Africa to Asia. - Ancient Egypt developed along the Nile River beginning around 7,000 BC, establishing agriculture, government, religion, and writing. They built pyramids and controlled the flooding of the Nile. - Beginning around 1000 BC, the Bantu people migrated out of Nigeria, conquering with iron weapons and spreading their language, agriculture, and ironworking throughout central and southern Africa.

1. A Brief History
of Africa

2. Origins of Humankind
• “Lucy” – 3.2 million years old
• Ancestor of true man
• Migrated to Asia

3. Lucy

4. Lucy

5. Ancient Egypt
• Built around Nile River – 7,000 b.c.
• Free movement of people:
a. Spread Egyptian ideas
b. Aided in development
c. Expansion of empire
• Improved agricultural techniques – food
surplus
• Develop gov’t, religion & writing

6. Ancient Egypt cont.
• Agriculture & trade
• Pharaohs (Kings)
a. Control 3100 – 1000 b.c.
b. Pyramids
c. Control Nile’s flooding
• Sahara becomes desert --- Nile now
major trade route

7. Bantu Migration
• Nigeria
• Migrate out
a. Overpopulation
b. Slash & burn farming
• Conquer with iron weapons
• Important
a. Central to development
b. Spread Niger-Congo language,
agriculture & iron-working

8. Kingdoms: West Africa
• Ghana, Mali & Songhai
• Factoids
1. Gold
2. Islam (brought by traders)
3. Use of slave labor or sold slaves for $$

9. Kingdoms: South Africa
• Great Zimbabwe
• Bantu
• Built a large city w/ huge walls
• Significance
a. Trade
b. Architecture

10. Europeans Arrive
• Trade on Mediterranean Coast
• Portugal, Britain & Netherlands
-15th century – coastal areas
- Why?
Gold, route to India, Christianity
-Later, slave trade

11. Slave Trade
• Common practice
• Took slaves when conquering neighboring
tribes

12. Triangular Trade
• Slave trade expands w/ Europeans
• West Africa to Colonies to Europe
• 10 – 20 million slaves
• Effects
1. Broke up families
2. Deplete population in
rural areas
3. Destroys villages

13. Middle Passage
• Trip from Africa to colonies
• Last up to 6 months
• Packed in (18 in. space)
Disease spreads easily
Chained together

14. End of Slave Trade
• Opposition b/c of ethics & morals
• Industrial Revolution – products more
valuable
• Europe & U.S. abolish trade by early
1800s
• Slavery remains legal
(Some trade continues on the sly)

15. Prior to Whitey

16. Imperialism
Partition
• Berlin Conference (1884)
“Scramble for Africa”
• Ground rules for gaining territory – respect
each others space

17. Imperialism cont.
Purposes
• Power (Land = power)
• Strategic waterways
• Resources for industry
• Spread Christianity –
civilize the natives
• Settlements –
move natives into poor land

18. Effects of Imperialism
• Cultural
1. Create borders with no regard to ethnicities
(Combine enemies & separate allies)
2. Centralized gov’t
3. Oppression
• Economy
1. Loss of resources
2. Neglected infrastructure
***Root cause of the violence today!!!!

19. Desire for Independence
• Resent European presence
• Inequalities of colonialism – treated as 2nd
class
• World Wars opened eyes to racism in
Africa
• WWII drained many European powers
• Most countries gain independence by 1975