Great Civilizations of: Africa

1. Great Civilizations of: Africa Andrew Lucibella Brendan Stewart Dan Camilliere Mike Barry Period 7 6.8.11 GHANA MALI SONGHAI KUSH AKSUM

2. GHANA830-1235 Mike Barry Period 7 6.8.11

3. Geography of Ghana • A great empire 400 miles NW of present day Ghana. • Gained its power and wealth mainly through gold. • The capital Kumbi Saleh was a main center in the Sub-Saharan trade. A great empire 400 miles NW of present day Ghana. • Gained its power and wealth mainly through gold.

4. The Camel • Introduced the camel into “trans-Saharan” trade. • Increased drastically the amount of goods transported across the Sahara desert. • Allowed Ghana to become an even wealthier and was the first civilization that was able to cross the mighty desert. • This is considered one of Ghana’s most important accomplishments to society. • Camels are still used to cross the Sahara desert today.

5. The myth of bida • Also called the black snake • Required an annual sacrifice in return for a prosperous kingdom • Each year, a virgin was sacrificed until the fiancé of the sacrifice rescued her. • Bida, like the myth states, took revenge on the kingdom of Ghana and sent a horrendous drought onto the kingdom. • Gold mines were diminished • Archeologists found evidence of the drought, claiming that were many cows and sheep and goats lived, but after there was only a more drought-tolerant breed of goat.

6. GHANA’s Decline • The king of Ghana eventually lost his trading monopoly making the wealth of the empire decline. • Major droughts started to have long term effects on cattle and cultivation. • When the Ghana empire fell the Mali empire took over.

7. Medieval Mali1230-1600 Mansa Sundiata Keita Malian imperial banner created by Mansa Musa Mansa Musa University of Timbuktu Andrew Lucibella Period 7 6/6/11

8. Empire History • Evolved from the Ghanaian empire in Western Africa. • Made up of present day Guinea and Mali • Two notorious emperors: Sundiata and Mansa Musa. • Thrived on natural resources of gold, salt, and copper. • At its height, Mali controlled over 439,400 square miles and over 400 cities.

9. Empire History Cont. • Held the city of Timbuktu, the cultural center of Islam in W. Africa. • Home to the world’s first University in the University of Timbuktu. • Timbuktu became the wealthiest city in W. Africa because of the gold mines and salt trade. • Collapsed around 1450-1500 after an emperor died and his three sons fought over who would rule. There was not one true ruler which caused Mali to be taken over by Songhai.

10. Malian Timeline • 1230- Ghanaian empire declines, Mali rises to power under Mansa Sundiata Kieta after defeating Sumanguru • 14th century- Malian empire is at its height • 1310- King of Mali sets out to cross the Atlantic, does not return. Mansa Musa takes his place • 1324-Mansa Musa makes pilgrimage to Mecca • 1464-Sunni Ali rises to power in Songhai, conquers Mali • 1493-Askia Muhammad seizes power and expands Songhai.

11. Map at height of the empire (1350)

12. Mansa Sundiata Kieta • Defeated Sumanguruand Ghana, was named first king of Malian empire • Established capital of Mali, Niani. • He had crops such as beans and rice, grown and soon introduced cotton. • He devoted his life to building an army to overthrow the king and liberating his homeland. • Encouraged religion in Mali. • Subject of the Epic of Sundiata, which prophesized that his father, Naré Maghann Konaté, would, if he married an “ugly” woman, be the father of the first king of the Malian empire. • This epic is still a huge part of the rich Malian culture.

13. Mansa Musa • Ended a period of “confusion” when he took power in 1312 • Extended Malian boundaries and made Mali a world power • Established Islam in Mali as a way of uniting the hundreds of wildly different tribes. • His encouragement of trade between Mali, North Africa and the rest of the world, mostly in kola nuts, ivory, salt and gold, brought his land great prosperity • His emphasis on education brought Muslim scholars from throughout the world to Timbuktu, making it the cultural and educational center for Muslims in Africa.

14. Mansa Musa, cont. • He added the important towns of Timbuktu and Gao to his kingdom • The well-know hajj in 1324 spread Mali’s wealth and regal ways not only throughout Africa but to all corners of Europe. • After this famed pilgrimage, Mali reached the peak of its prosperity and prominence. • Mansa Musa was the first true architect, according to Habeeb Solloum, author of “Mansa Musa, an African Builder” he, “introduced into Mali a new development in architecture, especially in the building of mosques and palaces. He brought into Malian construction burnt bricks, the flat roofs of North Africa and the pyramidal minaret, all which were to become the vogue throughout the empire.”

15. Natural Resources/Agriculture • Due to its location along the Niger river, Mali was able to grow many crops that much of the rest of Africa could not. Along with gold and salt mines, Mali became rich due to its many natural and agricultural resources which include: Gold Mines, Salt Mines, Beans, rice, onions, sorghum, millet, papaya, gourds, cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, cotton, and peanuts.

16. University of Timbuktu • Made up of three different schools: Masajid of Djinguereber, the Masajid of Sidi Yahya and the Masajid of Sankore. • At its height, it averaged 25,000 students • Focused on studies of the Qur'an but included topics of literature, science, math and medicine in the school • Four tiers of degrees: • Primary degree • Primary degree • Superior degree • Circle of Knowledge

17. Medieval Songhai(1340 A.D. – 1591 A.D. Brendan Stewart & Andrew Lucibella Period 7 6-8-11

18. Geography of Songhai • Western Coast of Northern Africa • Land was filled with Gold • Farm land • The room for farming and the gold mines created a secure and strong economy for Songhai

20. Timeline of Songhai history • 100 A.D- Songhai starts to become a civilization under Malian rule in the city of Gao • 1340 A.D- Songhai becomes an independent empire after the decline of Mali and begins to expand • 1464-1493 A.D.-Sonni Ali becomes emperor and rules during the Sonni Dynasty • 1493-1528 A.D- Askia Muhammed rules during the Askia Dynasty • 1528-1591 A.D- Askia’s sons overthrow him from power. A civil war erupts and Songhai falls in 1591.

21. Sonni Ali- One of Many great Rulers • First Emperor • 1464-1493 A.D • He Conquered what was left of Mali’s empire • Ali captured Timbuktu and other important trade centers in Western Africa • Under his Rule, Songhai became the largest civilization in Africa during the time period • Ali’s policies and firm hand of rule caused Songhai to flourish until 1591.

22. Askia Muhammad the Great • Took over Role of Emperor after Sonni Ali Died • Made alliances with other civilizations in Africa • Muhammad reorganized the land Ali captured into provinces • Went on a Hajj to Mecca and like Mansa Musa, brought wealth back to Gao (the capital) • His sons revolted against him, and he died

23. What led to the fall of Songhai? • After Askia Muhhamad died, his son took the throne. • He was eventually overthrown, and there was no heir for another emperor • A civil war broke out among the citizens • The civil war divided the Empire of Songhai beyond repair • In 1591 A.D, the Songhai Empire falls

24. Medieval Kush(730 B.C – 350 A.D.) "The Kushites were the first truly African people to achieve a position of power and to win the respect of the civilized world as it was at the time”(Margaret Shinnie, Ancient African Kingdoms) Brendan Stewart Period 7 6-6-11

25. Geography of Kush • Along Nile River • South of Egypt • East Coast of Africa • Land was rich in Iron and hardwood timber • Their geographical features allowed the Kingdom of Kush to take over Egypt during the 25th dynasty, and to advance in civilization.

27. Background Info. • Capital : Meroe • Became International trading Center • Large City with Inner City • Shrines/Temples • Gardens with pools and fountain • Iron • Another Important city: Napata • Sacred Spiritual Center of Kush

28. History of Kush • Kush was founded in 1000 B.C when the Nubians began to build an independent civilization • In 730 B.C, King Taharqua invades Egypt in hopes of eliminating the Egyptian rule over the Kushites • In 661 B.C, the Assyrians invade Egypt and force Kush to relocate south of Egypt • In 332 B.C, Alexander the Great attempts to invade Kush and fails. • Kush thrives until 350 A.D. It falls due to agricultural failure(overuse of soil), lack of trade across Red Sea, and the Rise of the Axum civilization

29. Timeline of Kush • 1000 B.C.-Nubians begin to build the independent civilization of Kush • 730-661 B.C.- King Taharqua and King Tanutamon invade Egypt and take Control (25th dynasty) • 661 B.C- Kush is driven out of Egypt by the Assyrians and they are forced to create their capital south of Egypt along the Nile • 660 B.C-350 A.D-Kush flourishes as a civilization. Culture and science are developed • 350 A.D- Kush declines and eventually falls(Axum becomes next great civilization on the East Coast of Africa)

30. Kush Culture • Apedemek: God that the Kushites worshipped • Had the head of a lion, body of a human • Art represented Apedemek (Paintings/drawings) • Temples were built in honor of Apedemek

31. Kush Culture (Cont.) • Large amount of sculptures, drawings, and paintings • Functional and Display uses for sculptures • Developed writing and language system: too complex to decipher even today

32. Egypt influences Culture of Kush • Many great ideas were transferred between the civilizations of Egypt and Kush • Religion: Islam • Pyramids: For burials • Form of Government: Women and Men can Rule as well as having small towns with elected leaders • Influence of Mediterranean civilizations/countries

33. Legacy of Kush • The greatest achievement of the Kush civilization was the manufacture of iron • Spread all over the world due to Kush’s location along the Nile and by the Red Sea. • When the capital of Meroe was moved south of Egypt, the citizens discovered the land was rich in iron and hardwood timber. Using the timber, the Kushites were able to create a chemical process that smelted the iron. The smelted iron was then used for weapons, tools, and household products.

34. Aksumite Empire Important Facts: Capital: Axum Land Area: 1,250,000 km² Language: Ge’ez Time of Empire: 100 A.D. -900 A.D. Dan Camilliere Period 7 6-8-11

35. Aksumite Empire At its height in power the empire covered northern Ethiopia, Sudan, and Yemen, most of Eritrea, and southern Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

36. Aksumite Empire The empire of Axum is known widely for having its own written language called Ge’ez.

37. Aksumite Empire Giant Obelisks called Stelae were made to mark emperor's tombs and supposedly were influenced by prior civilizations. The design is found in monuments all over the world.

38. Aksumite Empire It was the first civilization in Africa that was Christian and to have minted their own coins. Additionally, they were the first to ever put a cross on their coin.

39. Religion • Before conversion to Christianity, Aksumites practiced a polytheistic religion. • Astar was the main God of the Aksumites. • King Ezana converted the people of Aksum to Christianity after he was influenced by Frementius, founder of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

40. Africa Is Important in the World