African Civilizations Africas Geographic Contrasts Second largest continent

African Civilizations

Africa’s Geographic Contrasts � Second largest continent • 4600 miles from east to west • 5000 miles from north to south • Africa occupies 1/5 of the earth’s landmass � Environments • Deserts: Sahara is the worlds largest, roughly the size of the United States. • Rainforest: Filled with large canopies of trees and their leaves. Also filled with the disease carrying tsetse fly, which prevents cattle and or human inhabitance • Savannas- Grassy plains including highlands and swamps cover 40% of the continent • Coastlands- Northern coast and southern tip have Mediterranean climates and are densely populated

Climatic Zones of Africa

Kingdom of Aksum (Axum) � Located in modern Ethiopia � Origins of the empire include a legend that traces the royal dynasty to the son of Solomon and the Queen of Sheeba. The dynasty lasted until Haile Selassie died in 1975. � Kingdom reaches its height around 350 AD under the rule of Ezana, under his rule Aksum expanded into Kushite territories. � Axum was a key link in the trade between Central Africa and the caravans of the Middle East.

Kingdo m of Aksum c. 300700 AD

Christianity in Aksum � Ezana converted to Christianity after being educated by a young man from Syria � It is the longest lasting achievement of the Aksumites, today Ethiopia is home to millions of Christians

Trans Saharan Trade �Trans Saharan Trade • Around 200 AD Berber nomads began to regularly trek across the Sahara using camels and the trans Saharan trade was borne. • Gold-Salt Trade �Gold was dug or sifted from areas between the Niger and Senegal Rivers. Until around 1350 it is estimated that 2/3 of the world’s gold came from this part of Africa �Salt was carried by Berber traders along with cloth, weapons, and manufactured goods.

Trans Saharan Trade

West African Kingdoms � Ghana • By 800 AD Ghana had become an empire • The king controlled the price of gold by hording large amounts in his palace • He served as the military commander, the chief judge, and political leader. • Eventually Ghana’s rulers converted to Islam which led to an increase in literacy among the converts • In 1076 the Almoravids conquered Ghana and disrupted the gold trade. Ghana never regained its power

West African Kingdoms

West African Kingdoms �The Empire of Mali • In 1235 Mali had emerged as a wealthy and powerful trading state • Sundiata, Mali’s first great leader, conquered the lands of Ghana and expanded the empire’s borders. • Reestablished the gold-salt trade • Dies in 1255

West African Kingdoms

West African Kingdoms � Mansa Musa • Most famous Muslim ruler of Mali • Grandnephew of Sundiata ruled from • • 1312 -1332 Went on a hajj to Mecca in 1324, upon his return he ordered the building of mosques in the cities of Timbuktu and Gao. His hajj impacted the world price of gold Timbuktu becomes a center of Muslim learning, attracting doctors and other scholars to come and study there After Musa’s death the empire declined

West African Kingdoms �Empire of Songhai • After Mali’s decline in the 1400’s the Songhai broke away and established a new kingdom to the east • In 1468 Sunni Ali, a Muslim, captured the city of Timbuktu later he took Djenne by marrying its queen • The empire was well governed and thrived • In 1591 the a Moroccan force invaded and conquered Songhai

West African Kingdoms

The Great Zimbabwe � Great Zimbabwe • By 1000 AD people had settled the area between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers • From 1200 to 1400 it became the center of an important trading center linking the inland with the coastal cities • By 1450 it was abandoned leaving only its impressive ruins