Societies & Societies & Empires in East Empires in East & South Africa& South Africa

East Africa RegionEast Africa Region

South African Region

Kush Kush EmpireEmpire Kush (Nubians) => S of Kush (Nubians) => S of

Egypt, beyond 1Egypt, beyond 1stst cataract cataract Long controlled by EgyptLong controlled by Egypt Source of many products, slavesSource of many products, slaves

1000 BC – Egypt in decline 1000 BC – Egypt in decline from “People of the Sea” & from “People of the Sea” & Libyan invasionLibyan invasion

Kush gains independence Kush gains independence and attack Egypt to and attack Egypt to “liberate” it“liberate” it

751 BC – King Piankhi led 751 BC – King Piankhi led army down Nilearmy down Nile Captured Egyptian throneCaptured Egyptian throne Became 25Became 25thth Dynasty Dynasty

671 BC – Assyrians invade, 671 BC – Assyrians invade, conquer Egypt; Kush retreat conquer Egypt; Kush retreat up Nileup Nile

Kush Empire – Meroe Kush Empire – Meroe Golden Age of Meroe Golden Age of Meroe

(Mehr-oh-ee)(650 BC-350 (Mehr-oh-ee)(650 BC-350 AD)AD) Despite loss of Egypt Despite loss of Egypt

experienced Golden Ageexperienced Golden Age Lots of rain – great agricultureLots of rain – great agriculture Vast amounts of iron ore – Vast amounts of iron ore –

Meroe’s ironworkers became Meroe’s ironworkers became most talented in Africamost talented in Africa

Trade Center for Nile, Red SeaTrade Center for Nile, Red Sea Strong leaders kept nation Strong leaders kept nation

safe (Queen Candace vs. safe (Queen Candace vs. Alexander the Great)Alexander the Great)

Decline of MeroeDecline of Meroe Poor leadership led to Poor leadership led to

declinedecline Rise of Askum (Ax-oom) – Rise of Askum (Ax-oom) –

defeat Meroe in 350 ADdefeat Meroe in 350 AD

Pyramids around Meroe

Kingdom of AskumKingdom of Askum Background – SE of KushBackground – SE of Kush

First kings traced back to Solomon & First kings traced back to Solomon & Queen of ShebaQueen of Sheba

Began conquering neighbors, Began conquering neighbors, establishing their kingdomestablishing their kingdom

Control of TradeControl of Trade Traded from Nile to Red Sea to Med Traded from Nile to Red Sea to Med

to Indian Oceanto Indian Ocean Hub of trade for luxuriesHub of trade for luxuries Maintained strong navy – Askum Maintained strong navy – Askum

considered world powerconsidered world power King Ezana (325-360 AD)King Ezana (325-360 AD)

Converted to ChristianityConverted to Christianity Expanded empire by invading KushExpanded empire by invading Kush Askum considered a world powerAskum considered a world power

Askum, at greatest extent

Askum gold coins, 3d C. ADAskum gold coins, 3d C. AD

AksumAksum Culture of AksumitesCulture of Aksumites

Variety of languages Variety of languages spokenspoken

Spread of Christianity Spread of Christianity after Ezana after Ezana converted, made it converted, made it state religionstate religion

Architecture – used Architecture – used stone to create great stone to create great palaces, obeliskspalaces, obelisks

Farming - terraced Farming - terraced fields fields

Developed written Developed written language and coinagelanguage and coinage

Obelisk of Aksum

Typical AksumArchitecture(church pictured)

Fall of AksumFall of Aksum Islam on rise, creating caliphate Islam on rise, creating caliphate 710 – Islamic invaders capture 710 – Islamic invaders capture

all Red Sea ports, blocking all Red Sea ports, blocking Aksum from trade routesAksum from trade routes

Christian Aksum was Christian Aksum was surrounded by the Islamic surrounded by the Islamic EmpireEmpire

Isolated geographically, Isolated geographically, culturally, Aksum was no longer culturally, Aksum was no longer a world powera world power

Aksum trade routes (red lines)Glass gobletsof Aksum, c.30 AD

Great Zimbabwe (1100-Great Zimbabwe (1100-1450)1450)

Rainfall was great for Rainfall was great for farming, grazingfarming, grazing

Trade routes linked Trade routes linked inland to coastal cities inland to coastal cities

Leaders taxed all trade Leaders taxed all trade going through regiongoing through region

Demanded tribute from Demanded tribute from surrounding areassurrounding areas

Became center of Became center of economics, politics in economics, politics in South South

Mysterious decline by Mysterious decline by 1450s1450s

Stateless SocietiesStateless Societies Hunter gatherersHunter gatherers

Much of Southern AfricaMuch of Southern Africa Small lineage (family) Small lineage (family)

groups of 50 or fewergroups of 50 or fewer Generally nomadic, Generally nomadic,

moving to a new area moving to a new area when resources ran outwhen resources ran out

Men hunt, women Men hunt, women gather foodgather food

Traded with settled Traded with settled people for needed toolspeople for needed tools

Led by elder male, BUT Led by elder male, BUT each group free to make each group free to make own decisionsown decisions

Hunter gatherer camp, c. 1800 (S. AfricanMuseum display)

Stateless Societies of Stateless Societies of Central AfricaCentral Africa System of Gov’t based on System of Gov’t based on

LINEAGE GROUPSLINEAGE GROUPS LG were descendants from a LG were descendants from a

common ancestorcommon ancestor Power shared among all families Power shared among all families

so no one had too much power so no one had too much power over othersover others

No centralized system of No centralized system of powerpower Ibo, Tiv, & Nuer were related Ibo, Tiv, & Nuer were related

lineage groups from C Africalineage groups from C Africa Nuer = 250,000 people without Nuer = 250,000 people without

a formal rulera formal ruler Lived in area of South Sudan / Lived in area of South Sudan /

West EthiopiaWest Ethiopia All resolve disputed by elders All resolve disputed by elders

from different lineage groupsfrom different lineage groups Able to defend selves against Able to defend selves against

Europeans during 17Europeans during 17thth, 18, 18thth C C

Nuer riding upon his Dinka slave(circa 1930)