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Early African Civs

Early African Civs. World Studies February 26. I. General Culture. Environmental factors determined aspects of culture Population size, ability to trade, etc Most communities were small; didn ’ t have formal government Decisions were made by a council Religious beliefs varied greatly

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Early African Civs

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  1. Early African Civs World Studies February 26

  2. I. General Culture • Environmental factors determined aspects of culture • Population size, ability to trade, etc • Most communities were small; didn’t have formal government • Decisions were made by a council • Religious beliefs varied greatly • Both mono- and polytheistic • Will be influenced by Islam and Christianity

  3. Family organization • Most were patrilineal (land and inheritance pass from father to son) • Others were matrilineal (passed from mother to daughter) • Very few had written languages • Some used griots, professional poets who memorized history

  4. II. Gold-Salt Trade • When communities had surplus(extras) they would trade w/ neighbors for something else • Eventually a system was established that linked up to the Middle East • People in west Africa had gold • People in north Africa/Sahara had salt • Where the trade went, cities developed

  5. III. Ghana • Trade routes passed through Ghana; the king collected taxes on all trade • Became very wealthy & powerful • Had an army of 200,000 • Converted to Islam through trade • When gold mines ran dry, others would be found, which shifted trade routes

  6. IV. Mali • Becomes more powerful as the trade (& taxes) shift east • Two rivals fought for power; the winner kills the loser & all of his sons, but one • That one son (Sundiata) gets revenge & forms the kingdom of Mali by 1235

  7. One of his descendents was Mansa Musa • In 1324, he travels to Mecca • 4800 miles on the backs of ill-tempered camels • Traveled through Egypt, giving away enormous hunks of gold like they were nothing • Got European attention on West Africa • Mansa Musa sets up a good, fair gov’t that lasts 200 years

  8. V. Songhai • Mali weakens in fights over succession & the gold shifts again • Sonni Ali takes control, creating the largest empire ever in W Africa • Timbuktu becomes a flourishing city

  9. Moroccans haul guns & cannons across the desert & take control of the gold • But can’t maintain order from so far away • W Africa becomes many small groups

  10. VI. Atlantic Slave Trade • Africans practiced slavery • Conquered enemies, small scale • At least 10 million Africans were forcibly removed from their homes to be slaves in Europe or the Americas • Had a very negative impact on communities • The healthiest, strongest were taken

  11. The voyage across the Atlantic is known as the middle passage • Africans were dehumanized • Not allowed to wear clothes, fed like animals • Very unhealthy, filthy conditions • Were packed in very tightly; chained down • Many died on the trip

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