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African Civilizations (8:1-3)
1) African societies developed in diverse ways depending on their environments, with some taking nomadic lifestyles while others transitioned to settled agriculture. 2) The kingdom of Aksum in Ethiopia became a powerful trading nation by controlling trade routes between Africa, India, and Europe. It adopted Christianity in the 4th century AD. 3) Starting around 1000 BC, Bantu-speaking peoples migrated southward from their homeland, spreading their languages and skills across much of sub-Saharan Africa over the next 1500 years. Their migrations were driven partly by population growth, environmental changes, and conflicts between tribes.
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African Civilizations (8:1-3)
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- 2. In Your Notes: •Check to make sure you have all main ideas that are underlined in your notes. If you do not, add them. If you do, mark/circle them to find them more easily.
- 3. Section 1: DiverseSocieties in Africa • Main Idea= African peoples developed diverse societies as they adapted to varied environments • Why it matters now? Differences among modern societies are also based on people’s interactions with their environments • THEMES: how geography affects societies
- 4. Setting the Stage •“Geography is the mother of history” • First human inhabitants • Early civilizations: Egypt, Carthage and Kush
- 5. Geography • Second largestcontinent in the world • Occupies 1/5 of the earth’s land surfaces • Coastline has few harbors and ports • Africa lies on the equator (tropics) • From plains to snowy mountains • From drought to rainfall • From rocky to rain forests
- 6. From Deserts toRain Forests • Desert makes up 40% of continent • Deserts can reach 136 degrees • Sahara and Kalahari Deserts • Rainforests- ½ of the middle of Africa
- 7. From Fertile Farmlandsto Grassy Plains • Fertile land on the northern and southern tips • Largest amount of people live on the savannas (grassy plains) • Savannas cover 40% of continent • Desertification= a transformation from fertile land into desert
- 8. Early Humans Adaptto Environment • People moved outward from the area’s first migration and adapting to the different geography • Developed technologies to adapt
- 9. Nomadic Lifestyles • Roamedfor food • Still nomadic hunter- gatherers roaming Africa today • Eventually, domesticated animals • Many modern Africans are pastoral herders
- 10. Transition to aSettled Lifestyle • Agriculture probably began in 10,000 BC • To survive many moved to the Nile Valley and into West Africa • Savannas had the best agricultural lands • With an increased amount of food, some could practice other activities (metal, pottery, jewelry)
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- 12. Organizing Africa • Differentactivities led to organizing into communities with simple governments • Village chief • Centralized powers • These communities developed into great kingdoms
- 13. *African Common Characteristics •1. Importance of basic social unit, the family – Extended family – Clan= a group that shared common ancestors • 2. Belief in one creator, or god – Animism= religion in which spirits played an important role in regulating life – Spirits sent to animals, plants and natural forces • 3. Oral stories kept history alive – Griots= storytellers
- 14. Early Societies inWest Africa • How we know about Africa? – *oral history – Recent archaeology findings
- 15. Djenne-Djeno • *Djenne= ancientcity in Africa, objects dated from 250 BC, oldest known city in Africa south of the Sahara • Uncovered in 1977 • Excavated a huge mound with hundreds of thousands of artifacts • 50,000 residents • Knew how to smelt iron • Houses of mud bricks • Trading center
- 16. The Nok Culture •Nok= earliest known Western African culture • Present day Nigeria • 500- 250 BC Farmers • *First people to know how to smelt iron • Might have taught Djenne people • Might be direct ancestors of some modern Africans
- 17. Section 2: TheKingdom of Aksum & East African Trade • Main Idea: The kingdom of Aksum became an international trading power and adopted Christianity • Why it matters now? Ancient Aksum, which is now Ethiopia, is still a center of Eastern Christianity • THEMES: religion spread through trade
- 18. Setting the Stage •Before Nok, Kush in the east was powerful enough to conquer Egypt • Assyrians came in and drove Kushites south • Kush remained powerful until it was conquered by another more powerful kingdom
- 19. The Rise ofthe Kingdom of Aksum • Aksum= kingdom located in modern day Ethiopia • Legend traces back to King Solomon of ancient Israel • May have begun when Arab people crossed the Red Sea into Africa • Mingled with Kushites and passed along their written language, skills with stone and building aqueducts
- 20. Aksum Controls International Trade •Location made it an important trading center • Red Sea coastline gave it influence over sea trade on the Med. Sea & Indian Ocean • Along caravan route to Egypt and Meroe • Adulis= Aksum’s chief seaport • *International trading power • Traded: salt, rhino horns, tortoise shells, ivory, emeralds, gold
- 21. A Strong RulerExpands the Kingdom • Ezana= great ruler that brought the kingdom of Aksum to its height • Conquered Yemen, then Kush • Burned Meroe to the ground
- 22. A Cosmopolitan CultureDevelops • Aksumites had a diverse culture • Adulis (port) was cosmopolitan – Included people from: Egypt, Arabia, Greece, Rome, Persia, Indian and Byzantium • Out of all the languages of Aksum, *Greek stood out as the international language of the time
- 23. Spread of Christianity •One god= Mahrem • Believed their king was directly descended from him • Animists, honored nature and dead ancestors • Offered sacrifices to those spirits, Mahrem and the Greek god of war, Ares • Christianity spread from trade
- 24. Split over Christianity •Dispute: nature of Christ, whether he was divine, human or both • Coptic Church of Egypt and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (22 million members) formed
- 25. Aksumite Architecture • Usedstone instead of mud bricks • Carved stone to fit perfectly
- 26. Language & Agriculture •Askum was the only ancient African kingdom known to have *developed a written language • First south of the Sahara to mint coins • Terrace farming • Dug canals to bring in water, dams, holding tanks to store water
- 27. The Fall ofAksum • Lasted 800 years • Declined under invaders who practiced Islam • Muslims conquered and spread religion along as they went • Ports were cut off, and the kingdom declined in international power
- 28. Section 3: BantuSpeaking Peoples • Main Idea: Throughout history, people have been driven to uproot themselves and explore their world • Why it matters now? Migration continues to shape the modern world • Theme: Migration
- 29. *Causes for Migrations •Environmental changes • Economic pressure • Political and religious persecution • Technological development • Best way to study patterns of movement is to study the movement of languages
- 30. Massive Migrations • *900languages in the Niger-Congo all stemmed from the parent language, Proto-Bantu • Bantu-speaking peoples • Bantu= “people” • Bantu went south spreading their language
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- 32. Bantu Culture • Notone people but a group of people • Nomads • Skill of ironworking* • Spread their skills • Within 1500 years they were able to reach the southern tip of Africa
- 33. *Why did theBantu migrate? • 1. Agriculture fed more people and therefore population increased and they had to move (not enough land to go around) • 2. Advancing Sahara Desert (desertification) • 3. War between tribes
- 34. *Effects of theBantu Migration • Spread of culture • Intermingling and intermarrying • Were a unifying influence throughout Africa
- 35. “Guns, Germs &Steel: Bantu & Ancient Africa”