Flowering of African Civilizations Chapter 7

1. Flowering of African CivilizationsChapter 7 Section 1 Early Africa John 3:16

2. Main Idea • A variety of societies and cultures emerge in early Africa • 1500 B.C. to 1500 A.D. John 3:16

3. Terms to Define • Oral tradition • Plateau • Savanna • Matrilineal • Age set John 3:16

4. People to Meet • Piankhi • Ezana • The Nok John 3:16

5. Places to Locate • Nubia • Kush • Axum John 3:16

6. Earliest Civilization • Left few written records • Most information passed through oral traditions—legends and history passed from one generation to another by word of mouth • Learned from legends and artifacts John 3:16

7. Earliest Civilizations • Early African cultures developed technologies and trade based on regional natural resources • Civilizations came and went, based movement of people and the way natural resources were developed John 3:16

8. Geography and Environment • Multiple climates • Three times the size of the United States • Deserts • Mountains • Grasslands • River valleys John 3:16

9. Regions of Africa • North Africa • East Africa • West Africa • Central Africa • Southern Africa John 3:16

10. Regions—(cont) • North Africa—thin coastal plain, bordering the Mediterranean Sea and inland desert area • Coastal Africa—mild temperature and lots of rain • South of the of the “green belt”—a vast desert known as the Sahara—the world’s largest desert—extending 3,500 miles John 3:16

11. The Sahel • A plateau—a relatively high, flat area • Moderate rainfall • Sustains the ‘savannas’—treeless grasslands—that cover the plateau • The Sahara and the Sahel: 40% of Africa John 3:16

12. African Landscapes • Rising above the plateau are two major mountains • Mount Kenya • Mount Kilimanjaro John 3:16

13. West Africa • Major Rivers: Niger and Zaire • Not well navigated • Few natural harbors • Limited river travel • Foreign invasions difficult John 3:16

14. Central Africa • Lush tropical rain forests—sunlight cannot reach the surface • Further south—another desert—the Kalahari John 3:16

15. African Landscapes • Near equator is lush rainforest so think that sunlight can’t penetrate • Still further south is highland in present-day country of South Africa • The African continent has provided rich resources for its people • Early cultures developed where rainfall was plentiful or near lakes or along rivers like the Nile John 3:16

16. Nubia and Kush • By 3000 B.C. a militarily skilled people established a kingdom called Nubia in the southern part of the Nile River Valley • Mastered the bow and arrow • Conquered neighbors John 3:16

17. Nubia and Kush • The Nubians maintained close contacts with Egypt to the north • Archaeologists uncovered Nubian king tombs containing precious stones, jewelry, and pottery • Some believe ideas like monarchy, eating utensils, boats, etc., were really Nubian ideas passed to the Egyptians John 3:16

18. Nubia and Kush • By 2000 B.C., the Nubian river civilization had developed into the kingdom of Kush, which was under Egyptian rule for 500 years • They had been defeated in warfare by the Egyptians • Egyptian pharaohs stationed troops in Kush to collect duties from goods moving through the area John 3:16

19. Kush • The Kushite cites of Napata and Meroe stood where trade caravans crossed the Nile—great trade location • Gold • Elephant tusks • Timber • Kings grew wealthy John 3:16

20. Nubia and Kush • 1000 B.C. Kush broke away from Egypt and became politically independent • The Kushites under king Piankhi (pee.AHNK.hee) in 724 B.C. defeated Egypt in war and became rulers over both Kush and Egypt John 3:16

21. Nubia and Kush • Kush Kingdom • Capital: Napata • Sandstone temples • Monuments • Pyramids John 3:16

22. Nubia and Kush • Assyrains invade Egypt and easily defeat the Kushites • Easily defeated the Kushites with iron weapons • The Kushites moved back to their home—the bend in the upper Nile John 3:16

23. Nubia and Kush • Although the Assyrians in 671 B.C. easily defeated the Kushites, the Kushite kingdom, now based in the Upper Nile, managed to thrive for 150 years, becoming a major center for iron production • They had learned iron making from the Assyrians • Built this capability in Meroe—major center for making iron • Built fine houses with courtyards modeled after those of Rome John 3:16

24. Nubia and Kush • Kushite kingdom thrived for 150 years • New power—Axum—located near the Red Sea • Invaded Kush • Ended Kushite domination of northeastern Africa John 3:16

25. Axum • The Kushites thrived for 150 years then the Axum invaded and conquered them • Axum—located near the Red Sea • Trading power • Because of its Red Sea location • Elements of the Roman culture John 3:16

26. Axum • Christian conversion of King Ezana • Two Christians from Syria shipwrecked and brought before the king • Convinced Ezana to become Christian • Christianity became dominant in Egypt and Kush too John 3:16

27. Sub-Saharan Africa • A West African culture called the “Nok” established itself in the fertile Niger and Benue River valleys between 700 and 200 B.C., making use of metal to farm their land more effectively John 3:16

28. Sub-Saharan Africa • As West African farmers produced more food, the population increased, eventually leading to widespread food shortages and a great migration that took small groups to the less populated areas of West Africa • Over 1000 years this great migration took place John 3:16

29. Axum • Axum declined after the rise of the religion of Islam during the A.D. 600s • Axum’s rulers then set up the Christian kingdom of Ethiopia John 3:16

30. Bantu Migrations • Historians call this mass movement the Bantu migrations because descendants of the people who migrated throughout the continent share elements of a language group known as Bantu • Did not follow a single pattern • Following rivers • Following rainforests • Savannas • etc John 3:16

31. Bantu Migrations • As people pushed into new areas, they met other African groups that adopted their ways of life • In time, Bantu-speaking peoples became the dominate group in Africa south of the Sahara John 3:16

32. Village Life • Divided into hundreds of ethnic groups • Each with its own religious beliefs, marriage and family customs, and traditions • Communities formed into large households often from one set of grandparents • Many villages were “matrilineal”-tracing their descendents through mothers John 3:16

33. Age Sets • Boys and girls of similar ages • Assigned jobs • Boys 10-12: herded cattle • Girls 10-12: plant, tend, harvest crops • etc John 3:16

34. Religious Beliefs • All social laws and traditions were from one god • Lesser deities flourished below the one god • Storms • Mountains • Trees • Spirits of dead ancestor lived with them John 3:16

35. The Arts • Sculptor was important art form • Wearing of masks at ceremonial dances symbolized link between the living and the dead John 3:16

36. The Arts • Music rich in rhythm was woven into fabric of everyday life • Music provided the motivation for doing tedious chores • Variety of drums, harps, horns, etc. John 3:16

37. The Arts • Excelled in oral literature • Passed down form one generation to the other • Fables • Histories • Proverbs • Traditions • Values John 3:16

38. Kingdoms in West Africa Section 2 John 3:16

39. North African • Absorbed many customs and cultures from other lands—adopted many ideas • Persian • Indian • European • etc John 3:16

40. The Arts • Various arts developed throughout Bant-speaking Africa, including music rich in rhythm and sculpture created for ceremonial and everyday use; oral literature passed down from one generation to the nest recorded the past and taught traditions and values • Wearing of masks in ceremonies symbolized the link between the living and the dead • Rhythm often provided the motivation for digging ditches and doing other laborious work • Variety of drums used • Oral literature taught traditions and values John 3:16

41. Kingdoms in West Africa Chapter 7, Section 2 John 3:16

42. Main Idea • Trade was an important aspect of society in West Africa John 3:16

43. Terms to Define • Monotheism • Ghana • Mosque John 3:16

44. People to Meet • Sundiata Keita • Mansa Musa • Askia Muhammad John 3:16

45. Places to Locate • Ghana • Mali • Timbuktu • Songhai John 3:16

46. Kingdom of Ghana • The kingdom of Ghana became one of the richest trading civilizations in West Africa due to its location midway between Saharan salt mines and tropical gold mines • The kings of Ghana imposed taxes on goods that entered or left their kingdom John 3:16

47. Kingdom of Ghana • The kings of Ghana controlled the trading empire that stretched more than 100,000 square miles • They also prospered on the goods that entered and left their kingdom • “Ghana” meant “king” and because they ruled such a vast empire they named the land Ghana John 3:16

48. Kingdom of Ghana • There ways two-way trade traffic by caravan between cities in North Africa and Ghana • Northern traders from North Africa • Cloth • Metelware • Swords • Salts • From Ghana • Kola nuts • Farming produce • Gold John 3:16

49. Kingdom of Ghana • Merchants leave goods on the ground and depart the area • People bring gold and leave it on the ground beside the merchandise • The merchant returns and if the gold is enough, they take it…if not they depart again the buyer returns with more gold if they want the merchandise John 3:16

50. Ghana and Islam Through Trade • Ghana reached the height of its economic and political power as a trading kingdom in the A.D. 800s and 900s; the salt and gold trade moving through Ghana brought Islamic ideas and customs to the kingdom John 3:16