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Early Africa

Explore the rise and fall of powerful African empires such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, their trade networks, natural resources, and cultural achievements. Discover the impact of desertification and the influence of Islam on these civilizations.

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Early Africa

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  1. Early Africa

  2. Vocabulary • Desertification • Savanna • Natural resources • Griot • Kinship • Lineage • Proverb

  3. Africa’s Geography • Africa’s geography includes plateaus in its interior, a coastline filled with waterfalls, and deserts such as the Sahara. page 510

  4. Africa’s Geography • The Sahara desert is about 3.5 million sq. miles but has not always been so big. Thousands of years ago most of the land was filled with rivers, trees, and grassland until 6000 years ago when desertification occurs. page 510

  5. Africa’s Geography • Africa’s most fertile area is located near the equator known as the Rainforest zone. The area is filled with savannas which receive hot and wet climate and causes very fertile lands. page 511

  6. Africa’s Geography • Around the tip of Africa is the Mediterranean zone which has warm and dry summers and wet winters. • Africa also has 2 main rivers, the Niger and Senegal rivers which are where most civilizations formed. page 511-512

  7. Africa’s Geography • Africa is filled with natural resources such as the land, water, and materials from earth such as gold, diamond, and iron. This made Africa a huge powerful empire based on trade. page 513

  8. East Africa civilizations • Around 2000 BCE the Kush dynasty rose in Nubia. By the late 1400s they lost power but regained power by the 1000s BCE where the ruled the area until about 150 CE. page 522

  9. East African civilization • Around 325 CE King Ezana led Aksum (Axum) into power over Nubia. Aksum (Axum) became the trade center of Nubia as they traded glass copper, brass, gold, and slaves for tools, jewelry, and steel. page 523

  10. East African Civilization • Aksum (Axum) became wealthy and powerful from trade and they showed it through the many huge monuments for the gods (stelees). page 523

  11. Decline of Aksum • By the 600s Aksum (Axum) decline because of economic problems and the spread of Islam through out Africa. As a result Axum moved its capitol from Adulis to Ethiopia which was away from the coast as they eventually lost all control page 513

  12. City-states in e. Africa • Trading led to the establishment of city-state along the coast of E. Africa (Swahili people). These city-states traded across the Indian Ocean with people across the Mediterranean and India. They traded things like gold, slaves, ivory, metals and crops which also brought many foreigners. page 524-525

  13. Ghana dynasty • Around 300 CE the Soninke people formed a kingdom near the Niger and Senegal rivers that consisted of many clans and became the Ghana dynasty. page 512-515

  14. Ghana Dynasty • One of the main clans was the Sisse clan which became Ghana’s first kings and officials. Ghana quickly became a powerful kingdom because of the use of iron tools and weapons. page 512-515

  15. Ghana’s Empire • By the 700s Ghana a powerful kingdom known for the trade of gold and salt. They were part of the Trans-Sahara which sent salt to west African (Ghana) and sent gold to north Africa. page512-515

  16. Ghana’s Empire • Since gold was plentiful in Ghana rulers believe they had to control the amount traded and tax what was sold. The rulers limited the amount of gold sold and traded as they kept the rest for themselves. page 512-515

  17. Ghana’s Empire • Around the late 1000’s Ghana began to decline from over population, food shortage and invasion. The invasion by the Almoravids (Muslims) damaged Ghana though they never overthrew them but Ghana never regained its same power. page 512-515

  18. Mali Empire • After the fall of Ghana Sumanguru gained control of most of Africa including Malinke people. The Malinke people wanted freedom so Sundiata (Malinke prince) led a rebellion to set Mali free by 1235. page516- 518

  19. Mali Empire • Sundiata became a great leader and became known as Mansa. Under Mansa Mali created a government ran by a assembly that created laws dealing with social class, property rights, the environment, and personal conduct. page 516-518

  20. Mali Empire • Mali also took control of gold production and became a huge leader in trade as they traded gold, salt, cloth, books and copper across the Sahara with Kemet and north Africa. page 516-518

  21. Mali Empire • By 1312 Mansa Musa becomes emperor of Mali and made it a Islamic empire. 1324 Mansa Musa took the largest and most extravagant journey to Mecca called hajj. page 516-518

  22. Mali Empire • On Mansa Musa’s hajj he took about 12000 officials and slaves and over 80 camels carrying bags of gold. Musa returned from his hajj with Muslim scholars, artists, teachers, poets and architects. page 516-518

  23. Mali Empire • The Muslim scholars who build huge mosques in Gao and Tombouctu which became the center of Islamic education. page 516-518

  24. Mali Empire • Under Mansa Musa Mali reached it pinnacle as it expanded its land to support about 50 million people but after his death Mali lost control. By the mid 1400s Mali lost complete control and the Songhai dynasty began to rise to power. page 516-518

  25. Songhai Empire • In 1464 Ali Ber took over the Songhai Empire and led the empire as it conquered the important lands and trading centers of Tomboucto and Djenne. page 519-521

  26. Songhai Empire • One of the greatest rulers was the strong military leader Askia Muhammad. Muhammad made Songhai a powerful empire through a strong army and government. He also had great administrators which unified the empire’s laws, businesses and trade. page 519-521

  27. Songhai empire • Muhammad based his empire on Islam as the laws were created based on the Quran and all written and spoken language were converted into Arabic. This unification made education, government and trade very successful. page519-521

  28. Songhai empire • After Muhammad’s death his sons could not continue the empire because of fighting and in 1591 the Songhai Empire was officially conquered by the gun carrying military of Morocco. page 519-521

  29. Christianity in E. Africa • Christianity began to enter into Axum from trading through out Africa. Christianity grew as Frumentius a Syrian Christian who worked for King Enaza who converted him by the mid 300’s Axum begin building churches such as St. Mary. page 523-524

  30. Christianity in E. Africa • When Aksum moves it capitol to Adulis, Ethiopia and it became the center of Christianity in E. Africa. Christianity in Africa continued under the Zagwe dynasty as they built churches and produce Christian literature and music. page 523-524

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