Empires of the Eastern HemisphereSlides 1-25

African African CivilizationsCivilizations

Sahara Desert- World’s largest desert, comprises most of North Africa

West Africa- Along the Atlantic Ocean and in the Niger River Valley

East Africa- Along the Red Sea and in the Nile River Valley

Sub-Saharan Africa- Region located below the Sahara Desert in South Africa

Regions of AfricaIdentify the Regions on the Identify the Regions on the MapMap

Date: 1ADDate: 1AD

Location: Ethiopian Highlands Location: Ethiopian Highlands and the Nile River of East Africaand the Nile River of East AfricaIs now the modern nation of Ethiopia

Founded by Arabs from the Founded by Arabs from the Southern Arabian Peninsula Southern Arabian Peninsula (draw (draw a line from Arabian peninsula to a line from Arabian peninsula to Axum)Axum)Eventually merged merged blended Arab and blended Arab and African CulturesAfrican Cultures

Axum

• Traded along the Red Sea withTraded along the Red Sea with, Egypt, and Egypt, and the Roman Empirethe Roman Empire

Cultural diffusion an EFFECT of trade, Cultural diffusion an EFFECT of trade, adopted Roman idesadopted Roman ides, the most important , the most important was was Christianity Christianity

Missionaries brought the Christian Faith to Axum around 320 AD

Axum’s King, Ezana converted to Axum’s King, Ezana converted to Christianity and made it the official Christianity and made it the official religionreligion

Axum- Christian Christian KingdomKingdom

St. Mary of Zion churchEthiopia

1000 A.D. to 1500 A.D. 1000 A.D. to 1500 A.D.

Located in sub-Saharan AfricaLocated in sub-Saharan Africa

Interior region of southeast Africa

Controlled The Zambezi and Controlled The Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers allowed Zimbabwe Limpopo Rivers allowed Zimbabwe to TRADE via the Indian Ocean to TRADE via the Indian Ocean despite being landlocked

Practiced various polytheistic polytheistic religionsreligions

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe was known for building huge Zimbabwe was known for building huge stone fortresses stone fortresses

The city “Great Zimbabwe” or great city “Great Zimbabwe” or great stone house was the capital of stone house was the capital of great Empiregreat Empire

The “Great Zimbabwe”

““Stone House” Stone House” refers to the large refers to the large

royal palace-royal palace-fortresses built fortresses built

for defense for defense against attackagainst attack

Zimbabwe• 1500 AD:Mono-1500 AD:Mono-

Motapa was the most Motapa was the most important ruler important ruler

• He expanded the He expanded the kingdom’s borders kingdom’s borders

• Increased commerce Increased commerce (trade) in the Indian (trade) in the Indian OceanOcean

West African Kingdoms

• Ghana, Mali, SonghaiGhana, Mali, Songhai• Rose & fell in succession from

300-1500 AD300-1500 AD• Traded (gold & salt) to Traded (gold & salt) to

build empires of immense build empires of immense (huge) wealth & military (huge) wealth & military powerpower

The civilizations in West Africa were located near prosperous gold mines

They traded the gold across traded the gold across the Sahara for salt and the Sahara for salt and other goodsother goodsGhana, Mali and Songhai all benefited from these mines

Gold & Salt TradeGold & Salt Tradeof the West African of the West African

KingdomsKingdoms

Early on these civilizations practiced animismanimism, , worshipping nature spiritsworshipping nature spirits

However, traders from the traders from the Middle East brought Islam Middle East brought Islam with them

Many West Africans adopted West Africans adopted IslamIslam

Religion of West Africa Kingdoms

Trans-Saharan Trade Trans-Saharan Trade RoutesRoutes

• These extended from the sub-Saharan West African kingdoms across the Sahara Desert to Europe

• Saharan Trade connected the Saharan Trade connected the African Kingdoms (Ghana, Mali, & African Kingdoms (Ghana, Mali, & Songhai) with the European WorldSonghai) with the European World

• (Use the map from the next slide (Use the map from the next slide and draw a line showing the and draw a line showing the trade route from West Africa to trade route from West Africa to EuropeEurope

West African Kingdoms

• Brought people from the African interior regions into contact with the Middle East

Established an empire in West Africa beginning in 300 -1200A.D.300 -1200A.D.

Located in the Niger Valley Niger Valley between the Sahara Desert and between the Sahara Desert and Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean

Traded gold for goods across Traded gold for goods across the Saharathe Sahara

Had a hierarchy of classes, ruled hierarchy of classes, ruled by a dynasty controlling a by a dynasty controlling a large, centralized bureaucracylarge, centralized bureaucracy

Ghana

Ghana

An Example of a Trans-Saharan

caravanTerritory

Ghana Ruled in red

Took control of West Africa around West Africa around 1235 A.D.1235 A.D.

Also prospered from trans-prospered from trans-Saharan tradeSaharan trade

Capital was Timbuktu Capital was Timbuktu

Timbuktu became a center for center for trade and cross-cultural trade and cross-cultural learninglearning

Mali

Mansa MusaMali King

Mali Controlled Africa until the death of the their great king, Mansa Musa in A.D. 1332King Mansa Musa made King Mansa Musa made a pilgrimage to Mecca a pilgrimage to Mecca and Cairoand Cairo, , bringing caravans of gold to trade with Arab Muslim leadersHis voyage made Mali His voyage made Mali famous in the Middle famous in the Middle East & EuropeEast & Europe

What is the name of the river?

What is their capital city?

Islam came to West Africa from Arab traders who traveled trade routes

Mali would adopt Islam under Mali would adopt Islam under Mansa MusaMansa Musa

The city of Timbuktu became the center of Islamic culture and education in West Africa

Timbuktu was also a center of trade

Islam in Mali

Replaced the Mali Empire Replaced the Mali Empire when it was weakened by weakened by civil warscivil warsRuled West Africa from A.D. A.D. 1493 until A.D. 15891493 until A.D. 1589Continued the gold/salt gold/salt tradetradeAlso practiced Islam practiced Islam Great builders, constructed constructed large mosques and civic large mosques and civic buildingsbuildings

Songhai

What River does Songhai lie What River does Songhai lie along?along?What is he name of the Capital?What is he name of the Capital?List the common characteristics List the common characteristics of the Kingdoms of Songhai and of the Kingdoms of Songhai and Mali.Mali.

Africa is made up of four distinct regions. The people who inhabit these regions are just as different. The kingdoms of Axum, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Mali and Songhai all played a major role in the development of Africa from the first years AD to the Middle Ages.

Conclusion