African Civilizations 1500 BCE CE 700 World Studies

African Civilizations 1500 BCE – CE 700 World 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.

African Societies 800 -1500 Summer School

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 9 th 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 11 th and 12 th centuries

West African Civilizations • Empire of Ghana – Area grew rich by 700 s 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 1400 s

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!

Assignments • • P. 344 #1, 3 -6 P. 351 #1, 3 -5 P. 356 #1, 3 -5 P. 361 #1, 3, 5 -6