African Civilizations 1500 BCE CE 500 Factors that

African Civilizations 1500 BCE – CE 500

Factors that separated most of Africa from Eurasia • Sahara Desert – Large desert in North Africa • Sahel – Strip of land on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert – Means “coastline” – Acceptable to desertification • Steady process of drying of the soil • Savanna – Grassy plains – Throughout central Africa

Diverse Societies in Africa • Cultural Diversities – Many different environments in Africa – Low population density on a vast continent – Absence of any external conquerors • Shared Characteristics – Religion • Most tribes practiced a form of animism – Religion in which spirits played an important role in regulating daily life » Spirits – animals, plants, or natural forces – Languages • No written languages – Clans • Group of people from a common ancestor • Family is the organizing unit – Griots • Storytellers from West Africa

West Africa • Djenne’-Djeno – People that lived along the Niger River • Nok – Traded with Djenne’Djeno – Modern-day Nigeria • Farmers • Iron tools & weapons • Terra cotta sculptures & figurines – Terra cotta • Reddish-brown clay

Aksum Kingdom • East Africa • Aksum – Kingdom arose south of Kush (Nubia) on a rugged plateau on the Red Sea – Traded with Egypt, Arabia, Persia, India & Rome – Built stele to show king’s conquests & greatness • King Ezana – Strong ruler of Aksum – Converts to Christianity • Making Christianity popular in East Africa

Bantu-Speaking Peoples, 500 BCE – CE 1500 • Developed in modern day Nigeria • Word “Bantu” means “the people” • Spread south and east – Sahara Desert in north • Populated southern Africa – One-third of Africa • Spread language and culture throughout Sub. Saharan Africa

Bantu Culture • Farmers – Bananas – Other crops • Nomadic herders – Goats – Sheep – Cattle • Ironworking

Migration Through History • Environmental Change – Shift in climate, depletion of natural resources, drought, earthquake • Economic Pressure – Increasing population, famine, unemployment • Shifts in population • Redistribution of world’s population, blending of cultures • Political and Religious Persecution – Slave trade, war, ethnic cleansing, repression • Dislocation and oppression of peoples, spread of ideas and religions • Technological Development – Tools, agriculture, iron smelting, communications and transportation networks • Development of civilizations and empires

Massive Migrations Language = one major element that unites/divides people

Effects of the Migration • Intermarried with new people – Exchanged ideas • Created new culture with unique customs and traditions • Bantu language – Biggest unifying influence on the continent – Great diversity on continent of Africa – 60 million people in Africa speak one of the hundreds of Bantu languages

African Civilizations Power and Authority Interaction with Environment Some cultures governed by Bantu-speaking peoples left environments that family clan leaders or could not support them & migrated village chiefs Location of Djenne’-Djeno on tributary of Niger River Migratory people exerted enabled it to become center of trade their power by spreading Aksumites developed techniques to harness their beliefs environment, like terrace farming Aksum became large & strong & became a great kingdom Cultural Interaction Bantu-speaking peoples migrated throughout southern Africa spreading their language & culture Aksum was a major trading center that interacted constantly with other cultures Nok shared their ironworking & agricultural skills with other peoples like those in Djenne’-Djeno