BELLWORKCOPY CH 11 ESSENTIAL TERMS-dueWEDNESDAY

SaharaSavannaCataractDesertificationBantuNubiaMeroeSurplusCommodityGhanaSundiataMaliMansa Musa

SonghaiAxumAdulisEthiopiaKing LalibelaSwahiliGreat ZimababweNuclear FamilyPatrilinealMatrilinealLineageConsensusGriot

Kingdoms and Trading States

of Africa730 B.C.-1591

A.D.

Prentice Hall Chapter 11

Chapter 11 Objectives for students:

• To be able to understand the growth of the sub-Saharan African kingdoms

• To be able to identify physical and human characteristics that define various regions

• To be able to identify key characteristics of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

• To be able to compare the developments of East, West, and South Africa

• To be able to explain the decline of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

Early Civilizations of AfricaThe Influence of Geography

• Geographic Patterns• Africa is the second largest continent

• Contributes a wide range of climates, vegetation, and terrains

• Variety of environment leads to diversity of cultures

• Bands of climates stretch across the continent

• Tropical rain forest along the Equator

• Savannas (Grassy Plains) run North and South of the Tropical Rain Forests’

• Great African deserts (Sahara)

• Geographic features act as barriers or highways to ease movement of people, goods and ideas.

• High Plateau interior and rivers with CATARACTS (waterfalls) hindered easy movement

• Great Rift Valley (Interior Passage), Mediterranean and Red Seas (Overseas trade routines)

Early Civilizations of Africa• Resources Spur Trade

• Mineral wealth of the African continent spurred trade

• Salt, Gold, Diamonds, Iron and Copper were natural resources that were very valuable

• Brought great wealth and power to trading cities

• Camel became “the ship of the desert” and revolutionized trade• Could carry heavy loads and plod

20-30 miles per day, often without water

• Camel caravans brought great profits to merchants on BOTH sides of the Sahara

Early Civilizations of AfricaPeople and Ideas Migrate

Scientist believe African had the earliest ancestors of modern people

Despite barriers, they migrated all over Africa and beyond

• The Sahara Dries Out• Once a fertile land with well watered resources• 2500 BC climate change initiated a drying out of the Sahara

region• DESERTIFICATION devoured pasture and crop lands• Prompted migration when people were forced to seek new

area to sustain lives

• The Bantu Migrations• Migrations over 1000 years led to great diversity• West African farmers migrated South and East• Multiple languages developed from the main language of

BANTU• As they migrated, Bantu speakers spread their skills in

farming, domesticating animals and iron working• Influence of Bantu still can be found today

Early Civilizations of Africa

Nubia Flourishes Along the Nile

In what is now modern day Sudan, this civilization flourished along the Nile, on a wide band of fertile land

• Nubia Rivals Egypt• Nubians adapted Egyptian traditions and

followed trends in architecture, style of dress and religion (polytheistic)

• Gained independence from Egypt in 730BC

• 670BC Defeated by Assyrians (Iron weapons were superior)

• Nubian people retreated South

• Meroe Masters Trade and Iron

• Nubian rulers moved capital from Nepata to Meroe in 500BC

• Meroe commands the Nile trade routes

• Develops wide trade network becoming the center of trade in the region

• Traded Gold, Animal Skins, Ivory, Perfumes, Iron (Ore, Tools, Weapons)

• Giant heaps of iron waste still remain from this era

• Splendor and Decline

• Golden Age followed with the creation of a writing system (still undeciphered), a greater sense of freedom than that of Egypt

• Joint reign of King Natakamani and Queen Amanitere in the First Century A.D. saw the decline begin

• In 350 A.D. Nubia overwhelmed and conquered by Axum’s armies

Kingdoms of West AfricaTrade in the Sahara

• Surplus Leads to Trade• SURPLUS is when a society produces more than it

needs• Began to trade surplus goods for products from

other villages• From the West, caravans crossed the Sahara with

leather goods, kola nuts, cotton cloth, and enslaved people

• From the North came silk, metals, beads, and horses

• Trading Gold for Salt• Gold and Salt dominated trade• Salt was valuable COMMODITY as it was necessary

in their diets (to replace salt lost in sweat in the hot climate) and necessary as a preservative

• In areas where salt was scarce, merchants would pay more PER POUND for salt than for gold

Societies in Medieval AfricaFamily Patterns

Family is basic unit of the societyNUCLEAR FAMILY-parents and children live and work

togetherExtended Family-Parents, children, and several

generations such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, all living and working closely together to ensure success of the group

• Kinship- organization of the family• Patrilineal- family ties and issues (such as inheritance) run

through the fathers side• Matrilineal- family ties and issues (such as inheritance)

run through the mothers side

• Extended Lineages• Lineage- multiple households (clans) claimed a common

ancestor follow the same lineage.• Lineage could have advantages, such as building a

community and sharing responsibility

Societies in Medieval AfricaPolitical Patterns

Lived in tightknit communitiesHelped with clearing land, planting and harvestingGrowing communities made a system of government

necessary

• Power Sharing• Smaller societies were organized to share power among a

small group of leaders as opposed to one leader• Elders (oldest members of the community) often made

major decisions• Decisions often made by consensus (general agreement by

the majority)

• Limited PowerForm of government created when many villages were

grouped together into districts with an appointed King (such as the Kingdom of Kongo)

No standing army but men fought when called upon by their leaders

Societies in Medieval AfricaReligious Beliefs

oAncient beliefs were Polytheistic

oSupreme Being that is helped by the spirits of “lesser beings”

oOften people would turn to the spirits of their ancestors for help

oIslam, Hindu and Christianity were brought by traders

oGod of Christians and Muslims often compared to the Supreme Being of their ancestors

oThis led to more acceptance of Christian and Muslim beliefs

Societies in Medieval AfricaTraditions in Art & Literature• Creative Arts

• Worked with materials such as Gold, Ivory, Wood, Bronze and Cloth

• Created woven cloth, inscribed jugs and bowls, and jewelry for beauty and adornment

• Served social and religious purposes• Patrons and artisans often instilled special meaning

or messages in many objects, such as baskets, textiles, weaponry which could be identified as a work of a particular artisan or clan

• During the medieval period, art was closely tied to religion

• Literature• Stories preserved in written and oral literature• In West Africa GRIOTS (professional storytellers)

recited ancient stories• Most histories showered praises on famous

ancestors or kings• Stories taught important moral lessons