Africa: History

SSWG4 e. Analyze how the migration of people such as the Bantu and Zulu has had an impact on the economic,

culture, and political aspects of Sub-Saharan Africa.SSWG4 f. Analyze strengths and weaknesses in the

development of Sub-Saharan Africa; include factors such as linguistic, tribal, and religious diversity; literacy levels;

and the colonial legacy

Early Civilizations

• Bantu migrations—2000 B.C., Bantu spread from southeastern Nigeria– land shortage may have sent them south spreading

language, culture – Migrations created cultural diversity, but languages link

continent– forms of Bantu spoken by 120 million Africans today

• East Africa-Aksum– Present day Ethiopia in A.D. 100s– Traded with the Eastern Roman Empire and Egypt

Three Trading Empires of West Africa

• Ghana, Mali, Songhai empires grow on Sahara trade routes (gold, salt) – Taxed traders using their routes

• Morocco invades in 1591 taking over the region

The Slave Trade

• Europeans wanted slaves for plantations in Americas

• In 1400s, Portugal established a trading port– slave traders exchange guns, goods for captive

Africans • Many African rulers sold slaves to other

Africans, Arabs, Europeans • By end of trade in 1870, millions had been

taken to Americas, Europe

Colonization

• Until mid-1800s, Europeans don’t move far inland

• 19th-century Europeans seek African resources– 1884–85 Berlin Conference divides Africa; African

input denied• By the early 1900s most of Africa is divided

into European colonies– Exceptions: Liberia and Ethiopia

Colonialism Cartoons

Nationalist Movements

• After WWII, many European powers grew tired of their African colonies

• After the independence of South Africa in the 1940s, many other countries began nationalist movements.– Nationalism—the belief that you should be able to run

your own country with your own people• Some movements were peaceful (ex. Nigeria), while

others were very violent (ex. Mau Mau of Kenya)

Effects of Colonization• Belgium, France colonize region; most countries

independent by 1960s– European borders disrupt traditional governments, ethnic

regions– new governments face diverse populations, corrupt

leaders • Economic Effects • Lost resources; cultural, ethnic oppression of people • Little infrastructure or money for transportation,

education systems