History of Sub-Saharan Africa: Agricultural Revolution

1. 2.1 – 2.4 Review History of Sub Saharan Africa

2. Agricultural Rev. • The First Agricultural Revolution, also known as the Neolithic Revolution, is the transformation of human societies from hunting and gathering to farming. • This transition occurred worldwide between 10,000 BC and 2000 BC, with the earliest known developments taking place in the Middle East. • Farming and the raising of livestock tied people to land for cultivation and grazing grounds, and this transition gave rise to permanent settlements.

3. Effects of the Agricultural Rev. • This Agricultural Revolution Gave Rise to Permanent Settlements or City States. • City-state - a political System consisting of an independent city having Sovereignty over territory and serving as a center and leader of political, economic, and cultural life.  • These city states blossomed into Kingdoms, The oldest was the empire of Aksum. • These City states begin to trade with far away places and were introduced to the Islamic Religion around 700AD via trans Saharan trade networks.

4. Kingdom of Aksum • Aksum became the greatest market of northeastern Africa dating all the way back to 300 AD/CE; its merchants traded as far as Alexandria and beyond the Nile River. Aksum continued to dominate the Red Sea coast until the end of the 9th century • Situated in the highlands of northern Ethiopia, Aksum symbolizes the wealth and importance of the civilization of the ancient Aksumite kingdom • They Acquired this Wealth trough Trade with other city states. Much of what was Traded was Alluvial Gold deposited by Rivers. • To ensure their trade was successful they would use Caravans or groups of merchants traveling together for protection.

5. The Great Zimbabwe • The Great Zimbabwe -was the Capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, a state of the Bantu-speaking Shona people. • the site is located on a natural citadel and includes many impressive monuments built using granite blocks without mortar. • Clusters of stone buildings were called zimbabwe in Bantu, hence the site and the kingdom’s name. • One stone structure, the Great Enclosure - a high circuit wall and tower - is the largest ancient monument in Africa south of the Sahara

6. Bantu Peoples • The migration of the Bantu people from their origins in southern West Africa saw a gradual population movement sweep through the central, eastern, and southern parts of the continent starting in the mid-2nd millennium BCE and finally ending before 1500 CE. • With them, the Bantu brought new technologies and skills such as cultivating high-yield crops and iron-working which produced more efficient tools and weapons.

7. Bantu Peoples • They Spread their Language as they migrated Giving Rise to Modern day Swahili, The Lingua Franca of Africa or (common language that most of Africa uses to trade ( buy and sell goods)) today!

8. Trans Atlantic Slave trade • The trans Atlantic slave trade existed from 1500 to 1800. • Millions of Enslaved Africans were brought to north and south America via the middle passage to serve as “free” labor. • Triangle trade

9. Imperialism and Colonialism • Imperialism - a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force. • Colonialism - the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. • Missionary - a person sent on a religious mission, especially one sent to promote Christianity Sometimes in a foreign country.