Chapter 8 - Africa

1. Chapter 8 - Africa 1800 BC � 1500 AD

2. Africa Many scientists are convinced that the continent of Africa may very well have been where our species began. Continent gave birth to one of the earliest and greatest civilizations. This chapter will introduce you to early civilizations that emerged, flourished, and then gave way to succeeding cultures in other parts of the African Continent.

3. Nubians The Nubians, who were controlled by Egypt, acted as middlemen in trade along the Upper Nile. In time, they started asking for a tax on the goods that went through their land. In 1472 BC Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt had five ships carried across the desert to avoid the Nubian-controlled Upper Nile. Eventually the Nubians gained control of the trade routes from the Red Sea to the Nile and established the kingdom of Kush.

4. Section 1 � Africa�s Early History The Main Idea: Although the geography of Africa varies, many early societies there shared common cultural traits. Geography of Africa � Map overview North Africa � Egypt � contact with Europeans � trade � cultural diffusion � religion �.

5. Sub-Saharan Africa Vast portion of continent is called Sub-Saharan Africa � location on map Many African-Americans look to Sub-Saharan Africa as the homeland of their ancestors Much of Sub-Saharan Africa is a plateau Few natural harbors Most major rivers were blocked by rapids � protected the interior from invasion � made trade and communication among Africans harder

6. Geography Sahara Desert covers about � of African continent � (Always a desert?) Sahel � southern edge of desert South of the Sahel are vast stretches of grasslands called savannas Hot/wet climates (rain forests) � breeding ground for insects � disease � malaria, yellow fever, sleeping sickness � lack of medicine Tallest mountain in Africa = Mt. Kilimanjaro Map on page 183

7. Linguists Linguists: scientists who study language Bantu � a family of closely related African languages Study of languages shows how people have moved throughout Africa (Cultural Diffusion) Some Bantu languages spoken today: Zulu � South Africa - Makua � Mozambique Shona � Zimbabwe - Bemba � Zambia Swahili � Tanzania - Ganda � Uganda Kongo � Congo - Fang - Cameroon

8. Passing on Learning Oral Traditions: poems, songs, and stories passed by word of mouth from one generation to another Moral lessons, history, tradition� Source of information (historical research today) Griots: oral historians (Alex Hayley � Roots)

9. Cultural Exchange Xylophones in East Africa were used in Indonesia � Southeast Asia Banana is native to Asia � prevalent in Africa Archeological evidence shows that many early Sub-Saharan cultures were complex, well organized, and wealthy

10. Women Women in Africa played a vital role � matrilineal societies � traced ancestors and inherited property through women Religion was important � spirits Life was paced by seasons � planting and harvesting Village elders were important Most early Africans lived in small, independent farming, herding, and fishing villages

11. Section 2 � The Kingdoms of Kush and Aksum Main Idea: The kingdoms of Kush and Aksum dominated much of Sub-Saharan Africa. Some people lived in small, independent villages Others lived in small city-states, kingdoms, and even empires � for example, the kingdom of Kush Kush began along the Upper Nile in an Egyptian area known as Nubia Connected to Egypt in culture

12. Kush Kush thrived as an important corridor of trade Caravans hauled goods from Red Sea to barges on the Nile Over centuries Kush became of distinct kingdom At first Kush maintained close economic and cultural ties with Egypt, but for a time Egyptian pharaohs ruled the area In about 710 BC, Kush conquered Upper Egypt and a Kush dynasty ruled a unified Egypt for about 50 years

13. Kush 671 BC � Assyrians with iron weapons invaded Kush � greatly weakens the area Kush does reorganize and forms a new, and powerful, capital Greeks wrote about their interactions with this African kingdom Area reaches high point around 250 BC � 150 AD Period of decline sets in possibly due to lack of fertility in land, or, possibly due to losing trade routes

14. Aksum In Ethiopian Highlands � south of Kush This area was also on trade routes As Kush declined, Aksum would compete for control of trade in East Africa Collect taxes on trade goods King Ezana converts to Christianity during his reign � making Aksum the first Christian kingdom in Africa � his conversion is compared to that of Constantine�s conversion Big impact on the region and culture � lasts to this day

15. Aksum Was a power in long distance trade throughout coastal East Africa Power and prosperity begin to decline around 600s AD: Environmental problems (erosion) Persians as a trade rival Rise of Islamic Arab power

16. Section 3 � Trading States of Africa The Main Idea: Trade strongly influenced cultures on the east and west coasts of Africa Trade kept Africa well connected to the rest of the world Several city-states dominated the coastal trade in the Indian Ocean Slave trade will begin, primarily on the West Coast Opportunity to make money attracted merchant families and adventurers to Africa Elements of Africa, Asia, and Islam will blend in the East

17. Swahili States Swahili: unique African culture that develops over several generations in East Africa Spoke Swahili, a Bantu language with Arabic and Persian influences Not a single ethnic group Bound together by language and association with trade Among the earliest of the trading city-states along the Indian Ocean was Mogadishu

18. Great Zimbabwe Very advanced � great cultural achievements Gold brings power Excavations show well protected city and fortification In some areas the building stones were cut so finely that they stayed together without mortar Even though we learn a great deal through excavations, the reasons for the city�s decline are unknown � possibly due to quick growth of population � outpaced supplies of food and water

19. West Africa Several important societies flourished in West Africa � kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai Knowledge of these areas comes from oral accounts, writings of African scholars, and Islamic traders Wealth and power depended on control of the trade routes across the Sahara Gold for salt trade Where trade took place cities would grow Monarchs ruled these West African kingdoms Primary Source � p. 193 � different than Europe?

20. Ghana Earliest of West African kingdoms Profited from the gold for salt exchange between North and West Africa Reached peak around 1050 In about 1235 AD the neighboring people overthrew Ghana and established empire of Mali

21. Mali Power reached peak under Mansa Musa � early 1300s AD Supporter of education, the arts, and public building Timbuktu became a leading center of learning � its large university attracted scholars from Egypt and Arabia Very wealthy � History Maker (p. 194) Islamic travelers and historians were impressed by Mali Disputes over Mansa Musa�s successor weakened Mali 1468 AD � rebel leader (Sonni Ali) captured Timbuktu and built up the kingdom of Songhai

22. Songhai Covered an area even larger than Mali Timbuktu became great commercial center � goods came from Europe, India, and China Thriving cultural center Supported a revival of Islamic scholarship based around the university Decline begins in part due to fighting among the subject people The empire had many powerful neighbors � in 1591 AD a Moroccan army equipped with firearms defeated Songhai troops � creating the end of the empire