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Diverse Societies in Africa

Diverse Societies in Africa. Land of Geographic Contrast. Africa is the 2 nd largest continent in the world Sahara is the largest desert in Northern Africa Sahel: area that the desert would take over more and more every year (located on southern edge of the Sahara desert

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Diverse Societies in Africa

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  1. Diverse Societies in Africa

  2. Land of Geographic Contrast • Africa is the 2nd largest continent in the world • Sahara is the largest desert in Northern Africa • Sahel: area that the desert would take over more and more every year (located on southern edge of the Sahara desert • Savannas: grassy plains

  3. Early Humans Adapt • Africa’s earliest people were nomadic hunter-gatherers • Later began to domesticate and raise a variety of animals for food • Growing food changed their lives they built permanent shelters • This required more organization

  4. Early Societies in Africa Religions Keeping a History Few civilizations in Africa had a written language Oral storytelling was a way to share the history and literature of the cultures Griots, storytellers, kept this history alive, passing it from parent to child • Organized into family groups • Believed in one creator or god and also animism, a religion in which spirits play an important role in regulating daily life

  5. West African Iron Age Nok Djenne-Djeno Djenne-Djeno: ancient Djenne, was uncovered by archaeologist and located on the Niger river Some artifacts found that it is the oldest known city in Africa south of the Sahara • West Africa’s earliest known culture was that of the Nok. • Lived in what is now Nigeria

  6. Migration Migration: permanent move from one country or region to another.

  7. Causes of Migration • Three major reasons for migration: • Environmental, Economic, and political • When looking at migration historians talk of the push-pull factors (these factors either push people out of an area or pull them into an area • Can trace movements of people over time by studying the spread of languages On your test!!!

  8. Massive Migration • Bantu-speaking people: originally lived in the savanna south of the Sahara, continued to move southward throughout Africa spreading their language and culture • No exact reasons on why they moved • Brought new technologies and shared ideas about social and political organization

  9. Kingdom of Aksum Aksum: an African kingdom, in what is now Ethiopia and Eritrea, that reached the height of its power in the fourth century A.D.

  10. Rise of the Aksum • Legend traces the kingdom of Aksum and the Ethiopian royal dynasty to the son of King Solomon • First mention of Aksum was in a Greek guidebook written around 100 A.D. • Zoskales thought to be the first king of Aksum • Adulis: chief seaport • Ezana occupied the throne during Aksum height, strong ruler and first to conquer the part of the Arabian peninsula that is not Yemen

  11. International Culture Develops • Aksumites: believed in 1 god and called him Mahrem • Later becomes Christian • Adapted to their rugged, hilly environment • Created a new method of agriculture, terrace farming • Terraces or step like ridges constructed on mountain slopes, helped the soil retain water and prevents it being washed downhill in heavy rains

  12. Fall of Aksum • Lasted 800 years • Declined under invaders who practiced the religion of Islam • Moved capital over the mountains into what is now northern Ethiopia • Depletion of forests and soil erosion led to its decline as a world power

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