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Peoples of the Forests and Plains ( Central Africa). Chapter 8 (4 of 4). BY 1000, people of interior Africa mostly farmers or herders, used iron tools and weapons. Most people preliterate, yet made great strides in arts, building, and statecraft.
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Peoples of the Forests and Plains(Central Africa) Chapter 8 (4 of 4)
BY 1000, people of interior Africa mostly farmers or herders, used iron tools and weapons Most people preliterate, yet made great strides in arts, building, and statecraft People mostly lived in small villages, but some states emerged
Ile-Ife Nok City in Nigeria that was cultural center Village in central Nigeria Built terra-cotta objects, demonstrates advanced art skills Terra-cotta objects and bronze heads, used wood and ivory too – some of finest African art of all time Used iron tools People spoke Yoruba Yoruba states agricultural, dominated by ruling family and aristocracy Today, Nigeria made up of 3 large groups: Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo
Yoruba State-Building Kings had royal court, with many wives, magicians, and bodyguards of soldier-slaves Kings ruled the city-states: Divine rule but not absolute (ex = Oyo – king who appointed princes to rule provinces) Yoruba highly urbanized with artisans, similar to Italy or Germany (though many farmed in surrounding countryside)
The Edo People Edo people lived east of Yoruba and were similar to them Benin = city-state formed in 1300s. Had big population, large roads, and ruler was called the Oba - 1480s = Portuguese come to Benin, and are impressed with the power of the ruler - Benin artists used images of Portuguese soldiers Benin had magnificent art in ivory and bronze (learned bronze from Ile-Ife but then created own style) Art centered on celebrations of power, majesty and royal rule
Bantu had spread from Nigeria, through this area, and eventually all way to east coast (provided common language) Central African Kingdoms Region south of Lake Victoria and the rainforests By 1000s, kingdoms emerged in interior Africa, replacing kinship-based (stateless) societies The interior of Africa was mostly away from Muslims influence
The 3 Major Central African Kingdoms • Katanga • Kongo • Great Zimbabwe
KatangaState formed by the Luba peopleSet up bureaucracy to rule, but only members of divine family held power positions
Formed by the Shona speaking people (a Bantu langauage) Great Zimbabwe no relation to modern day Zimbabwe Had most advanced stone buildings in world
Rapidly expanded in the 1400s and controlled most of southeast Africa Controlled areas with gold, so had big trade advantage Great Zimbabwe Had a king, whose title was MweneMutapa
By the 1500s, internal divisions broke kingdom apart By 1800s, the Shona people still controlled area, but was smaller (interior only) and people were mostly farmers (not like when they had great cities)