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Medieval Africa

Medieval Africa. Addressing the California Seventh-Grade Standards Laura J. Mitchell History Department, UCI mitchell@uci.edu. From Human Origins to Complex Societies. Domestication of livestock +/- 10,000 ybp Domestication of agriculture (crops) +/- 8,000 ybp

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Medieval Africa

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  1. Medieval Africa Addressing the California Seventh-Grade Standards Laura J. Mitchell History Department, UCI mitchell@uci.edu

  2. From Human Origins to Complex Societies • Domestication of livestock +/- 10,000 ybp • Domestication of agriculture (crops) +/- 8,000 ybp • Iron working technologies +/- 4,500 ybp • Increasing population concentration

  3. Major Social/Linguistic Groups • Khoisan • (Bushmen; !Kung) • Niger-Congo • (Bantu) • Nilo-Saharan • (Masaai) • Afro-Asiatic • (Ethiopian, Berber) Afro-Asiatic Afro-Asiatic Niger-Congo Nilo-Saharan Khoisan

  4. Khoisan Tradition • Gathering and hunting economies • Small, nomadic groups • Small, round houses • No hereditary leadership • Music & dance: single rhythmic beat • Stringed instruments; emphasize dance footwork • Rock art • Trance dancing • Non-theistic beliefs [!Kung, /Xam, Nama]

  5. Afro-Asiatic Tradition • Earliest wild grain collectors • Clan-based communities • Clan diety worship • Rectangular houses; flat or sloping roof • Music: single melody & rhythm • Stringed instruments; no drums • Dance: swaying body; various footwork [Ethiopian, Berber]

  6. Nilo-Saharan Tradition • Fishing in addition to hunting & gathering • Stone blades and spears • Non-theistic beliefs [Masaai]

  7. Niger-Congo Tradition • Fishing technology; yam cultivation • Hook and line; baskets • Clan based; matrilineal • Hereditary clan chief • Compact village; rectangular houses • Skilled crafts: weaving, pottery, wood carving • Music and dance • Percussion, polyrhythmic • Polytheistic religion [Bantu: Mande, Swahili, Zulu]

  8. Bantu Migration • Bantu language family • Niger-Congo tradition • Hypothesis of population movement based on linguistics

  9. Examples of Early State Formation • Pharaonic Egypt • Nubia • Aksum • Djenne-Jeno

  10. Pharaonic Egypt Nubia Djenne-Jeno Aksum

  11. Nubia • Kush 730 BC conquered Egypt • Napata 600 BC retreat from Egypt • Assyrian armies conquered Egypt • Meroe 300 BC to +/- 100 AD • Technology migration @ collapse?

  12. Aksum 200 BC-800 AD • Written language: Ge’ez • Stone construction • stelae • Centralized power • Hierarchical society • Plants: ‘tef, ensete, coffee • Trade: port of Adulis Afro-Asiatic Tradition

  13. Djenne-Jeno200 BC - 1400 AD • Ancient City • Complex society • Trade & Agriculture • Pre-Islamic Niger-Congo Tradition

  14. Djenne-Jeno200 BC - 1400 AD • 1600 years of occupation • Indigenous growth of trade • Social complexity • Economic specialization • Not coercive/centralized • Mande speakers Niger-Congo Tradition

  15. Elements of Civilizations(Based on European Assumptions) • Plough • Grain surplus/storage • Literacy • Complexification v. Centralization • Economic specialization African examples challenge these assumptions in significant ways!

  16. Environmental Factors • Water • River floods • Source of wood/fuel • Especially for iron smelting • Tropical locations • Disease implications

  17. Rise of Cities • Social stratification • What kind? What classes? • Trade • What goods? What trading partners? • Ideology • religion • Art & Architecture • Cities v. Citadels

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