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African Civilizations 1500 BC – 700 AD

African Civilizations 1500 BC – 700 AD. Section 1 – Diverse Societies in Africa. Geography. 2 nd largest continent Central Africa is basically one massive plateau Impossible rivers to the interior. Challenges. Deserts Sahara – north

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African Civilizations 1500 BC – 700 AD

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  1. African Civilizations1500 BC – 700 AD

  2. Section 1 – Diverse Societies in Africa

  3. Geography • 2ndlargest continent • Central Africa is basically one massive plateau • Impossible riversto the interior

  4. Challenges • Deserts • Sahara – north • Sahel borders it to the south and becomes more desert every year • Kalahari – south • Rainforest – west-central • Uninhabitable because light does not get through the canopy • Savannas – grassy plains; most inhabitable region

  5. Early Nomads • First people lived in the Great Rift Valley(origin of all people) • Early people survived as hunter-gatherers, moving as soon as the land stops providing • Some groups had begun herding(pastoralists)

  6. Transition to Settled Life • Lack of options because of the Saharaled to people moving to the savannas, which supported agriculture • With agriculture, life changed drastically for most • Largerfamilies • New activities (specialization): metal working, pottery, and jewelry • Biggercommunities – required new ways of governing

  7. Things in common • Familywas the most important social unit • Included extended family (clans) • Religion – blended elements of onecreator with spiritsplaying a major role in daily life(animism) • History – writtenlanguage was rare so history is passed on orallythrough the griots(historians)

  8. Iron Age • West Africa skippedthe Copperand BronzeAges, going straight to iron around 500 BC. • The Nokculture seems to be the earliest West African group

  9. Djenne-Djeno • Cities began develop south of the Sahara around 600 BC • Djenne-Djeno is the oldest known city in sub-saharan Africa, with artifacts dating back to 250 BC

  10. Section 2 - Migration

  11. Causes of Migration • Three categories • Environment • Economic • Political • Reasons • Push-Pull Factors • Jordan/Syria = -4% • Qatar = +4%

  12. Effects • Population density = overcrowding • Ideas/technology improved • Quality of life improves • Cultural clashes • Environmental damage • Lowering Employment • Cultural blending– languagesare one of the easiest ways to trace migrations

  13. Bantu Migrations: Origins • Bantu, which literally means “the people,” refers to a cultural group • They used slash-and-burn farming, forcing them to have to move every few years

  14. Bantu Migration: Causes • Best guess: Farming techniques led to population growththat the land could not sustain. People moved to get their own land • No choice but to go southor southeastbecause the Sahara was to the north

  15. Bantu Migrations: Effects • Territorial wars often broke out with hunter-gatherers • Bantu had iron weapons, far superior to the other groups • Passed on their culture to new groups • Farmingtechniques • Ironworking • Social/political organization • Created a languagefamily in sub-saharan Africa

  16. Section 3: The Kingdom of Aksum

  17. Origins of Aksum • Blending of Arabs(Middle East) and Kushites(African) • Kushites had prospered for nearly 1000 years after fleeing Egypt but are eventually replaced by Aksum

  18. Controlling Trade • Location made it a center for traderoutes • Adulisbecame a center of trade for people from Egypt, Arabia, Persia, India, and Rome • Between 325 and 360, Aksum reached it’s peak under Ezana

  19. Aksumite Religion • Diverse culture from the beginning • Especially Adulis • Believed in one god • The kingwas a descendent • Also animists that offered sacrifices • Eventually Christianitywill gather some East African followers

  20. Becoming Christian • Ezana was educated by a Christian captive • When Ezanatakes power, he will convert to Christianity and make it the official religion • There are still millionsof Christians in East Africa

  21. Aksum Innovations • One of only a few African kingdoms that had a writtenlanguage • StoneArchitecture • Minted coins • Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity • Agricultural developments • Terracedfarming • Canals • Damsand cisterns(tanks)

  22. Fall of Aksum • Lasted 800 years, then Islam began • Initially maintained control by protecting Muhammad’s family • Eventually the Muslims destroyed Adulis(710), cutting Aksum off from the Christianworld • Tradeand environmentwere both affected

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