African African CivilizationCivilization

Birthplace of humanity?Birthplace of humanity?

African StereotypesAfrican Stereotypes

• When you think of Africa, what When you think of Africa, what comes to mind?comes to mind?

• Describe how you see the people of Describe how you see the people of Africa dressed.Africa dressed.

• What color is their skin?What color is their skin?

• What do they live in?What do they live in?

• Are they very “civilized”Are they very “civilized”

Trade routes to Africa through the middle east led to the growth of African cultures, as well as the spread of Christianity and Islam. This is why so much of Africa is Islamic today.

Africa

The climate of Africa ranges from some of the most dry to some of the wettest climate on earth.

This greatly influenced the pattern of people occupying the continent, and also decided where certain trade routes would run.

Ideas, language, religion, and politics were also subject to these climate areas.

Africa has many natural resources. The key has always been getting to them, and then getting them to market.

This map show some of the most prosperous trade routes through areas such as Egypt and Timbuktu.

TradeTrade

• Two of the most prominent natural Two of the most prominent natural resources in West Africa are salt and resources in West Africa are salt and gold.gold.

• Early Africans had to use caravans to Early Africans had to use caravans to get natural resources to market.get natural resources to market.

• The caravans were in use up to the The caravans were in use up to the 2020thth century, and could have as many century, and could have as many as 12,000 camels.as 12,000 camels.

• These trade routes not only carried These trade routes not only carried goods, but culture also.goods, but culture also.

Earliest People in AfricaEarliest People in Africa

• Some believe that the actual birthplace of Some believe that the actual birthplace of civilization was on the continent of Africa, civilization was on the continent of Africa, and not in Mesopotamia as other think. and not in Mesopotamia as other think.

• Historical record has found remains of Historical record has found remains of humans some thousands of years old. humans some thousands of years old.

• One of the most prominent finds is that of One of the most prominent finds is that of Lucy. Some researches say she was Lucy. Some researches say she was human, others say we don’t have enough human, others say we don’t have enough evidence to support that claim.evidence to support that claim.

Discovered by Donald Johanson and Tom Gray in 1974 at Hadar in Ethiopia (Johanson and Edey 1981; Johanson and Taieb 1976). Its age is about 3.2 million years. Lucy was an adult female of about 25 years and was assigned to the species Australopithecus afarensis. About 40% of her skeleton was found, and her pelvis, femur (the upper leg bone) and tibia show her to have been bipedal, although there is evidence that afarensis was also partly arboreal (tree-dwelling). She was about 107 cm (3'6") tall (small for her species) and about 28 kg (62 lbs) in weight.

Trade and CivilizationTrade and Civilization

• Massive Trade began in West and Massive Trade began in West and South Africa around 400 B.C.South Africa around 400 B.C.

• The majority of the continent The majority of the continent remained unexplored to people from remained unexplored to people from the north until the 1700s. the north until the 1700s.

• This explain the reason so many This explain the reason so many people referred to Africa as the dark people referred to Africa as the dark continent.continent.

Nations of AfricaNations of Africa

• Several prominent nations grew in Africa Several prominent nations grew in Africa during the A.D. era.during the A.D. era.

• Ghana, Mali, and the Songhai were all Ghana, Mali, and the Songhai were all empires that grew during this time.empires that grew during this time.

• These empire grew in size and wealth These empire grew in size and wealth larger than many kingdoms in Europe. The larger than many kingdoms in Europe. The main reason for their growth was the main reason for their growth was the abundance of natural resources.abundance of natural resources.

• However, because of their location and However, because of their location and difficulty reaching them, they were not difficulty reaching them, they were not know about until much later.know about until much later.

African HistoryAfrican History

• The major reason history of Africa was The major reason history of Africa was unknown until recently, was because of the use unknown until recently, was because of the use of of griotsgriots

• GriotsGriots were special members of the cultures were special members of the cultures who recorded the story in their memories. They who recorded the story in their memories. They would then pass the stories down to the next would then pass the stories down to the next generation of griots to tell. These stories generation of griots to tell. These stories became known as epics.became known as epics.

• These epics were a primary source of These epics were a primary source of information about African culture.information about African culture.

DO NOT COPYDO NOT COPY

• What were two main natural What were two main natural resources of Africa?resources of Africa?

• Why was African civilization limited?Why was African civilization limited?

What were the three main What were the three main civilizations that grew in civilizations that grew in west Africa?west Africa?• What, besides trade, also traveled What, besides trade, also traveled

along trade routes?along trade routes?

• How did African history pass?How did African history pass?

AFRICAN SOCIETY AFRICAN SOCIETY

• Many African nations adopted ruling classes Many African nations adopted ruling classes similar to those of Europe and Asia, by similar to those of Europe and Asia, by choosing a king or queen to rule them.choosing a king or queen to rule them.

• This is significant because of the idea that This is significant because of the idea that women could rule men. It is also mentioned women could rule men. It is also mentioned in the Bible.in the Bible.

• However, one significant difference between However, one significant difference between European rulers and African rulers hinged European rulers and African rulers hinged around the way they treated their subjects.around the way they treated their subjects.

• African rulers were much kinder to their African rulers were much kinder to their subjects.subjects.

Division of PowerDivision of Power

• One kingdom developed a system of ruling One kingdom developed a system of ruling that has been copied as late as the U.S.that has been copied as late as the U.S.

• Ghana grew into a very large kingdom. So Ghana grew into a very large kingdom. So large in fact, that it was divided into large in fact, that it was divided into sections. Each section had a ruler. This sections. Each section had a ruler. This ruler oversaw his sections and if it was ruler oversaw his sections and if it was large enough, he divided his section as large enough, he divided his section as well.well.

• This continued on to the clan level.This continued on to the clan level.