African Civilizations1500 BC – AD 700

Chapter 8World Studies Summer School

Africa: Diverse Geography

• Coastal Plains• Snow capped Mountain Peaks• Desserts and Constant Drought• Rain Forrests w/200+ inches of rain per year• Many unique cultures and societies• 4600 Miles East to West• 5000 Miles North to South

Adapting to the Environment

• Nomadic Lifestyles– Hunter-Gatherers• Men Hunt/Woman Gather

– Movement based on where the food is

– Herders• Kept cattle, sheep, goats• Drove their animals where they could eat and find

water

• Agriculture begins around 6000 BC– Allows for groups to settle and build first

Early Societies – South Sahara• Societies share common element of Family.– Extended families were part of one large family or clan.

• Religion: some form of god or creator– Animism: religion where spirits play role of regulating

life. Spirits are present in animals plants and other natural elements. Take the forms of souls of their ancestors.

• History– Few written languages. Traditions passed down orally

by Griots or storytellers.

Early West African Cultures• West Afican Cultures jumped right into Iron Age.• The Nok– Lived in Nigeria between 500 BC and AD 200– First to Smelt Iron– Vast overland trade routes

• Djenne-Djeno– Oldest African City South of the Sahara– Over 50,000 residents at its height– Reed round huts plastered w/ mud– Later enclosed houses made of mud brick– Fished Niger river, herded cattle, and raised rice

The Kingdom of Aksum AD 300 – AD 700• Located on the Red Sea in present day Ethiopia

and Eritrea. • Traded heavily with Arabs, Persians, and

Egyptians• Massive trade and seaport at Adulis on Red sea• Very diverse cultural heritage due to trade and

mixing with many different cultures. • Great Leader Ezana: Expands Empire and

Converts to Christianity

Aksum Continued

• One of the first large Empires to convert to Christianity– Spread fast through society– Ethiopia still home to millions of Christians today

• Innovations– First State south of Sahara to mint own coins– Developed own written language– Terrace Farming– Canals and channels for irrigation– Dams to store water

Aksum’s Decline

• Islamic invaders destroyed Adulis in 710.• Without port, they became isolated.• Move capital further into Ethiopia to avoid

spread of Islam and become more isolated and decline as power.

• Although they reached great heights and achievements, Aksum never really spread out of their relatively small geographic area.

Assignment

• Complete Questions:–p. 219 # 1-7–p. 229 # 1-7

African Societies 800-1500

Summer School – 2011Chapter 15

North and Central African Societies

• The Efe (AY-Fay)– Hunting and Gathering Society living in the forests

of present day Congo. – Small groups of 10-100 people– Social Structure based on Lineage– Society not governed by formal laws

North and Central African Societies

• The Igbo– Southern Nigeria in 9th Century. – Also Hunter Gatherers – Ruled by Lineage– Patrilineal vs. Matrilineal– Age-Set System

North and Central African Societies

• Muslim States– Northern African Mediterranean coast (Maghrib)– Spreads between 670-1000– Ruled by Islamic Law– Almoravid and Almohad Empires– Unite Northern Africa 11th and 12th centuries

West African Civilizations

• Empire of Ghana– Area grew rich by 700s with increased trade

across Sahara due to use of Camels.– Gold and Salt most important trade items– Until 1350, 2/3 of worlds gold came from West

Africa.– West Africa needed Salt. – Due to trade, slowly influenced by Islam– Conquered by Almoravids 1076

West African Civilizations

• Empire of Mali– Emerges around 1235– Built on Gold

• Sundiata– First great leader– Takes over old Ghana kingdom– Expands East– “The world knows no other master but Sundiata”

• Goes Muslim• Declines in 1400s

West African Civilizations

• Empire of Songhai– Break away from Mali and move further east.– 2 great Muslim Rulers• Sunni Ali• Askia Muhammad

– Both were powerful military leaders– Both could not expand further due to the lack of modern

weapons.

– 1591 Moroccans defeat Songhai warriors ending nearly 1000 years of powerful west African empires.

Southern Empires

• Great Zimbabwe - first great city– Shona People settle around 1000– Fertile soil – Along two major trade routes leading to sea– Gold and Ivory trade were greatest– 1450 City abandoned – No one knows why!

Assignment

• Complete Questions: –p.412 #1-7–p.419 #1-5–p.427 #1-5