BELLWORK COPY CH 11 ESSENTIAL TERMSdue WEDNESDAY Sahara Savanna Cataract Desertification Bantu Nubia Meroe Surplus Commodity Ghana Sundiata Mali Mansa Musa Songhai Axum Adulis Ethiopia King Lalibela Swahili Great Zimababwe Nuclear Family Patrilineal Matrilineal Lineage Consensus Griot
Kingdoms and Trading States of Africa 730 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 Africa The 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 Africa People 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 Africa Trade 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 Africa Family Patterns Family is basic unit of the society NUCLEAR FAMILY-parents and children live and work together Extended 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 Africa Political Patterns Lived in tightknit communities Helped with clearing land, planting and harvesting Growing 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 Power Form 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 Africa Religious 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 Africa Traditions 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