African Kingdoms With Bantu Migration Action Geography of
African Kingdoms With Bantu Migration Action!
Geography of Africa p p 2 nd largest continent Continent divided into 5 regions: n Northern coast- moderate n Dry grasslands- too dry to rainfall and dry temps n Southern coast- moderate rainfall and dry temps n Deserts- 1/3 of Africa’s land farm but suitable to graze n Rain forest- deadly animals (tsetse fly- the natural protector
Varying Lifestyles Develop in Africa p Nomads n Hunting and gathering n Before the Sahara became desert p Was a Grassland, became desert-y about 6000 BCE p Pastoral n Cattle People
Nok (500 BCE-200 CE) Occupied what is now central Nigeria p Skilled farmers p Used iron to make tools and develop a unique sense of art p n Never went through the Bronze or Copper ages, iron working brought from N. Africa
Kush 2000 -1000 B. C. p Traded with Egypt p p Egypt took them over, they took Egypt over Greatly influenced by Egyptian culture n n n Wrote in hieroglyphics Imitated pyramid building Adopted the idea of king-god like the pharaoh
Kush 2000 -1000 B. C. p 751 B. C. - Kushite king, Piankhi, conquered Egypt Piankhi and his decadents became Egypt’s 25 th Dynasty p Dynasty was short lived p Assyrians took over p Rebuilt on the city of Meroë p n Statue of King Piankhi participated in trade with Africa, Arabia, and India
Golden Age of Meroë Traded iron weapons and tools p exchanged iron goods for jewelry, fine cotton cloth, silver, and glass bottles p p Fall of Meroë n n reasons unknown Maybe rising power of Aksum/Axum p Rival city about 400 miles southeast
Aksum: Power and Authority Aksum became a major trading center for Indian Ocean and Arabian trade p also became the center of Christianity in Africa p
The Power of Aksum p p A legend tells King of Aksum descended from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba Spread influence from the Red Sea to the Blue Nile Became major player in trading n Salt, ivory, emeralds and gold were traded for cloth, brass, olive oil, iron, and copper ***Salt Ivory and Gold Major African trade goods***
The Reign of Ezana p Aksum reached its height during the reign of Ezana (325 -360 AD) n n p captured and burned Kush as well as part of the Arabian peninsula Ezana converted to Christianity and made it the kingdom’s official religion Aksumites developed a cosmopolitan heritage including a variety of peoples from Greece, Rome, Persia, India, and Egypt
Innovations of Aksum Minted its own coins p Had own writing p n Only 3 African kingdoms did: Egypt p Kush p Aksum p p Terraced Farming
The Pillars of Aksum Used no mortar p Carved great stones together p Created false doors, windows, as well as tall peaks p The Pillars are often dedicated to the Christian God p
The Fall of Aksum- Rise of Islam p After 800 CE the kingdom declined n p Islamic invaders Aksum became isolated Christian kingdom n n 750 AD it declined No longer was considered a world power
Hunters and Gatherers and Stateless Societies SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Hunter-Gatherer Societies p p p found in rainforests (like in Congo) or in deserts (like the Kalahari) Small, family-based groups Non-permanent settlements No formal laws or government Gender Relations n Men p p n Hunting Older males – respected for opinions Women p gatherers
Stateless Societies Clan/Lineage-based villages p No centralized government p p Council of clan/village leaders = government i. e. . Ibo of Nigeria p May be matrilineal or patrilineal p
Bantu Migration (2000 BCE- 1500 CE) p 2000 BCE people in Western Africa began migrating east n n p Probably due to population Continued until 1500 CE Spread knowledge of: n n n Cattle raising Farming the edge of rainforest ironworking
Africanity p p Bantu migration also spread Bantu language Syncretic language: n n p p Animistic religion Oral traditions preserved by Griots (storytellers) All property communal Society organized into age grades n Modern Griot Swahili: mix of Arabic, Indian, and Bantu Still major language today Age group that shared responsibilities
Berbers: Almoravids and Almohads NORTHERN AFRICA
Maghrib- Berber Muslim civilizations p Almoravid Empire n n n 11 th century AD Mauritania to Morocco and southern Spain Capital: Marrakech Origins: Berber pilgrims convinced a leader to return to Mauritania with them Major Conquests Ghana p Spain p
The Maghrib – Berber Muslim Empires p The Almohad Empire n n Takeover in 1148 AD They have stricter interpretation of Islam. Capital: Marrakech Split up in late 1200 s AD
Trans-Saharan, Indian Ocean AFRICAN TRADE ROUTES
Indian Ocean Trade p p p “Zone of interaction” First ocean to be crossed “Sailor's ocean” n n n p Warm water Fairly placid waters Wind patterns: one way = north of equator, the other = south of the equator Lateen Sail allowed sailors to sail across the Indian ocean, could sail into wind
Trade Goods p p p p Teak from India Mangrove swamps in East Africa Arabian horses to India Spices from Southeast Asia & Spice Islands Frankincense from Arabia and Africa ***Desired far beyond the Indian Ocean world Slave trades & labor migrations n n Slaves from East Africa to Arabia/India From Southeast Asia to Southern Africa
Spread of Ideas p Religion n p Indian merchants brought Brahmin priests Muslim scholars brought by Arab merchants Christian merchants brought priests Trading Language n Swahili: mix of Arabic, Indian, and Bantu (African)
Trans-Saharan Trade p p p A series of powerful trading kingdoms emerged in West Africa. The West African kingdoms controlled important trade routes that connected North Africa and West Africa. Beginning of Trans. Saharan Trade n n n North Africa was rich in the salt that West Africa lacked. West Africa was rich in gold. The Trans-Saharan trade led to an exchange of salt for gold.
Ghana p Ghana (ca. 7001200 AD) n Origins: Trans. Saharan trade Camel caravans as far back as 3 rd Century AD p Kings controlled local trade and taxed merchants p Howdy! I’m a Camel!
Ghana: 500 -1200 CE p Ghana was called the “land of gold” but it did not have gold. n p p The kingdom of Ghana emerged as early as 500 C. E. It collapsed in the 11 th century. Used wealth to build a powerful army n p Instead, the trade routes passed through Ghana and all entering and exiting the kingdom were taxed kept the peace within empire. Almoravids invaded and destroyed Ghana in the 1100 s.
Mali: 1250 -1400 p p p After decline of Ghana, the West African Kingdom of Mali emerged as a great trading empire. Took control of Gold Trade Sundiata n n Sundiata was known as the “lion Prince” and, supposedly the story of the Lion King is based on his life n n took over from cruel leader Became first emperor (mansa) conquered Ghana & other cities led to peace and prosperity
Mansa Musa p Most famous king: Mansa Musa n n n set up a great center of learning in Timbuktu Expanded empire Converted to Islam and went on Hajj p p Gave away tremendous amount of gold After return from Mecca § Many mosques built in places like Timbuktu and Goa p Ibn Battuta n n n visited Mali, saw wealth of area wrote about salt mines in desert African women, not as strict as other Muslim women p p After Mansa Musa died, more turmoil Empire collapsed by 1400
Songhai: 1450 -1600 p p Once controlled by Mali The West African kingdom of Songhai was the largest of the three trading kingdoms n n Muslim controlled the profitable Trans-Saharan trade p n Gold Discovered in Songhai Timbuktu becomes major learning center, DjennéDjeno had large university
Songhai Leaders p Sunni Ali (r. 1464 – 1492 AD) § united empire § Military leader, professional army (included horse soldiers, river canoes) § took Timbuktu – 1468 § took Djenné-Djeno 1473, after 7 year siege p Askia Muhammad (r. 1492 – 1529 AD) § Drove Sunni Ali’s son out of power because he was not a devout Muslim § Set up a bureaucracy and provinces § Efficient tax system p Askia Muhammad Eventually, the kingdom of Songhai fell to invading armies from Morocco in 1591 (they had guns)
City-States of West Africa p Hausa n p Yoruba n p Divine king; known for art Benin n n p On trade route Large army, sculptures Portuguese bought slaves here City-states fought each other, so they never established empires
East Africa p Kilwa n n Rich Muslims took control of Sofala (gold trading city) became most powerful city on East Coast 1488 AD Portuguese wanted to control trade p p p Took Sofala, Kilwa and Mombasa Portuguese also sold slaves here Great Zimbabwe 1200 -1400 AD n n p – Swahili city-state Zimbabwe- Bantu for stone enclose controlled trade routes-gold to coast political, economic and religious center 1450 abandoned city, don’t know why Mutapa Empire ca. 1429 -1500’s AD n n man named Mutota left Great Zimbabwe and traveled north, established new city sold gold, sent to Swahili coast to trade for luxury goods.
Dailies: Africa Why was salt such an important commodity? p What did Mansa Musa do in Egypt? p What is Swahili? p Why is the Bantu migration so important to African History? p Why is studying African history sometimes difficult? p
- Slides: 35