Africa Geography Geography The Continent of Africa After

Africa

Geography • Geography: The Continent of Africa – After Asia, Africa is the second largest continent, covering 1/5 of the Earth’s land surface – Geography is varied, certain features had a major impact on its development

• Climate Zones – Tropical rainforests cover less than 5% of the land (mostly on the equator) • Trees and roots make it unstable for farming – Savanna: Grassy plains, that stretch north and south of the forest zone • • Largest and most populated climate zone Generally has good soil and enough rainfall to support farming Irregular patterns of rainfall cause long deadly droughts Cattle herding is a common occupation

• The Sahara Desert: In the northern part of Africa, it is the world’s largest desert – Size and harsh terrain limited movement – The Kalahari & the Namib are in the south • Smaller but equally forbidding • Mediterranean Coast of the North and South – Fertile farmland

• Movement – Africa is surrounded by Oceans and Seas – Rivers → Zambezi, Congo, Niger, and Nile all serve as open highways – Despite some geographic barriers, people were able to migrate, both within Africa & to neighboring continents • Red Sea & Indian Ocean linked Africa to the Middle East • North Africa allowed for travel to Europe

• Resources – Wealth of minerals has spurred trade in many regions • Salt, Iron, Gold & Copper – In the 1800’s, desire for Gold and Diamonds was once cause that led Europeans to seek control of territories in Africa • More recently, nations such as Nigeria and Angola have exported large quantities of oil

• Migration of Peoples – Archaeologists have uncovered evidence to pinpoint the Great Rift Valley of East Africa, as the home of the earliest people • Gradually their descendants, traveled to almost every corner of the Earth

• Stone Age Cultures – In Africa, Paleolithic people developed skills as hunters and gathers – By 5500 BC, Neolithic farmers had learned to cultivate the Nile Valley & to domesticate animals • Settled into permanent villages that eventually supported the great civilization of Ancient Egypt – Farming spread across North Africa – Neolithic villages even appeared in the Sahara region (At the time, it was a well watered zone) • Ancient paintings show the Sahara filled with forests and rivers

• The Sahara Dries Out – About 2500 BC, climate change dried out the Sahara – As the land became parched the desert spread • This process of desertification, had continued to the present, devouring thousands of areas of cropland each year – As the region dried, people retreated • Some moved North to the Mediterranean coast, others migrated south to the Savannah or Rain Forests

• The Nile Kingdom of Nubia – Also referred to as Kush, was located in present day Sudan • Archaeologists & historians have just begun to document shifting tides of Nubia’s 4000 years old history • Nubia and Egypt – From time to time, ambitious Egyptian pharaohs subdued Nubia, but Nubia would always gain their independence • As a result of conquest & trade, Nubian rulers adopted many Egyptian traditions • Built palaces & pyramids, modeled on Egyptian styles

• North Africa in the Ancient World – Early African civilizations had strong ties to the Mediterranean World • Trade linked Egypt with Greece and Mesopotamia • Later Egypt was ruled by the Greeks and the Romans

• Carthage – Rose as the great North African power • Wealth came from trade – Created by Phoenician traders, Carthage came to dominate the Western Mediterranean – Between 800 BC-146 BC, it forged an Empire that stretched from Maghreb (present day Tunisia, Algeria & Morocco) to southern Spain & Sicily – As Rome expanded, territorial & trade rivalries erupted between the two powers • Despite efforts of Hannibal, Rome eventually crushed Carthage

• Roman Rule – Romans built roads, dams, aqueducts & cities across North Africa • Imported lions and other fierce animals from North Africa, to do battle with Gladiators • Also provided Roman soldiers – Christianity spread to cities of North Africa

• Camel Revolutionizes Trade – By 200 AD, Camels had been brought to North Africa from Asia – Traders had earlier made attempts across the desert in horse drawn carriages • Camel caravans created new trade networks • Spread of Islam – In the 600 s Arab armies carried Islam into North Africa • Islam replaced Christianity, which was the dominant religion of North Africa • Arabic replaced Latin as the language • North African traders carried Islam to West Africa

Kingdoms of West Africa • The West African Landscape – When the Sahara dried out, Neolithic people migrated southward into Western Savanna • Farmers grew beans, melons, & a wide variety of cereal grains • By 100, settled farming villages were expanding along the Senegal & Niger rivers around Lake Chad – In time some villages grew into towns

• Trading Patterns – Villages traded any surplus food they produced – Gradually, a trade network linked the Savannah to forest lands in the south • Then funneled goods across the Sahara to the Mediterranean and the Middle East – From West Africa caravans crossed the Sahara, carrying leather goods, Kola nuts, cotton cloth and slaves – Gold For Salt: Gold and Salt dominated the Sahara trade • Gold was plentiful in present day Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal • Salt, from West Africa, is an abundance in the Sahara – Needed to prevent dehydration, preserve food – Built homes from Salt Blocks

Trading Kingdoms of West Africa • Ghana – King was semi-divine figure • Dispensed justice, kept order, had a huge army of foot soldiers with Calvary – Women in Ghana had a high status & played an active role in the economic life of the empire • Some held positions in the government

– Influence of Islam • Muslim merchants formed their own communities • Islam spread slowly at first • The King employed Muslims as counselors and officials • Muslims introduced their written language, coinage, business methods and styles of architecture – City dwellers adopted Islam

• Mali – Greatest Emperor was Mansa Musa • Came to the throne in 1312 – Expanded Mali’s borders westward to the Atlantic Ocean – For 25 years he worked to restore peace and order in his empire – Converted to Islam and based his system of justice on the Quran • Didn’t adopt all customs, women were not secluded to the home

– The Emperor’s Hajj • Journeyed across the Sahara • Musa was accompanied by 500 slaves, each bringing a Gold staff – Had 100 camels decorated with gold • Musa spent so lavishly that the value of Gold in Cairo dropped for 10 years • Finally got to Arabia, reaching Mecca and visited the Kaaba and prayed – Made long journey back across the Sahara to Mali – The Hajj had taken over a year

– Results of the Hajj • Mansa Musa showed his devotion to Islam • Made new trading and diplomatic ties with Muslim states, such as, Egypt and Morocco • Returned home with scholars and artists – Newcomers introduced Arab styles in the palaces and Mosques of Mali • Word of Mali’s enormous wealth spread across the Muslim World – European rulers developed an interest in African Gold » Recently began using Gold coins

• Songhai – In the 1400’s, civil wars weakened Mali – By 1450 a new West African Kingdom, Songhai had emerged – Sonni Ali used his powerful army to forge the largest state that had ever existed in West Africa • Did not adhere to practices of Islam • Followed traditional beliefs – Askia Muhammad became Emperor after Sonni’s death • Set up a Muslim dynasty

– Further expanded the territory of Songhai and improved government – Set up a bureaucracy with separate departments for farming, army, & the treasury • The King appointed officials to supervise each department – Also made a pilgrimage to Mecca – Prospered until 1586, due to civil war • Ruler of Morocco sent his armies south to seize the West African Gold mines • Moroccans'’ were unable to rule an empire across the Sahara

Trading Kingdoms of East Africa • Axum – Ruled: 900 BC- 600 – Religion: Christianity – Traded: Ivory, hides, rhinoceros horns, fur, slaves, and gold • Great Zimbabwe“Great Stone Building” – Ruled: 900 -1500 – Religion: “God-King” – Traded: Gold

• Ethiopia – Ruled: 1275 -1550 – Religion: Christian – Traded same as the Axumiles • Were their ancestors • City States: Mogadishu, Kilwa, Zanzibar – Ruled: 1000 – International trade created a mix of cultures • Traded with Arabia • Blend of cultures created the language, Swahili

• The Kingdom of Kongo – Reached its height in 1500’s – Consisted of many villages grouped in districts and provinces • Governed by officials appointed by the king • Each village had it’s own chief – King was chosen by a board of electors and governed traditional laws – Portuguese eventually obtained many of their slaves from the Kongo