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African Civilizations

African Civilizations. Land of Geographic Contrasts. Deserts Rainforests Savannas Coastal areas/ Mediterranean climate. Early Societies. Nok, Djenne-Djeno = early groups Common elements - Basic social unit = family - Local religions - Polytheistic

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African Civilizations

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  1. African Civilizations

  2. Land of Geographic Contrasts • Deserts • Rainforests • Savannas • Coastal areas/Mediterranean climate

  3. Early Societies • Nok, Djenne-Djeno = early groups • Common elements - Basic social unit = family - Local religions - Polytheistic - Animism – spirits are present in animals, plants, & natural forces - Some belief in one creator god or supreme deity - Oral traditions - storytellers, or griots

  4. Migrations: How did people spread through the continent?

  5. Migrations • Clue to examining migrations… - Language! • Why? 1) People bring languages with them 2) Languages evolve and change 3) Languages show that two peoples meet

  6. Why the Bantu? • Niger-Congo languages = one of the major world language groups • Africa’s largest • Over 900 languages • Bantu is a major languagefamily of Niger-Congo group • Bantu = 2/3 of Africa’s population • 300 ethnic groups • Sub-Saharan Africa Swahili is a widely spoken Bantu language

  7. Why did the Bantu Migrate? • Fear of famine • Overcrowding/population boom • Drought • Unreliable climate • Scarcity of land for farming/grazing • External pressures • Attacks from outsiders (Arabs in W. Africa)

  8. Internal conflicts • Disagreements between clans • Ownership of lands, scarcity of resources • Disease (tsetse fly) • Natural disasters (earthquakes, extreme flooding)

  9. Why did the Bantu Migrate? • Search for fertile land? • Love for adventure? • Influenced by movement of family or friends?

  10. Effects of Migration: Positive • Introduction of iron-working • New crops (yams, bananas) • Absorbed other tribes • Spread language • Centralized gov’t • Permanent structures • Subsistence agriculture • Rise of large states

  11. Effects of Migration: Negative • Depopulation • Loss of cultures due to cultural absorption • Transformation of languages

  12. Other Ethnic Groups of Africa • Berbers (Morocco, Algeria) • Dinka (of Sudan) • Fulani (Western Africa) • Hausa (Nigeria, Niger) • Khoikhoi (Namibia) • Manding (Western Africa)

  13. African Kingdoms • Mali • Songhai • Aksum (Ethiopia) • Ghana, Benin (West Africa) • Efe, Almoravids/Almohads (North & Central Africa) • Zimbabwe, Mutapa (Eastern & Southern empires)

  14. Aksum & East Africa • Strategic location  trade route between Asia & Mediterranean world • Aksum’s origins = Arab traders mixed with people of Kush • Aksum traded salt, gold, ivory, spices

  15. Culture of Aksum • Many different cultures • Greek language • Christianity widespread • Technologies • Tall structures • Farmed on terraces to hold water • Only early culture (other than Egypt) to have written language

  16. Aksum & Foreign Influence • Askum was able to remain free from Muslim control • Decline • Cut off from trade, had to retreat to mwhen attacked

  17. North & Central Kingdoms • The Efe • Hunter-gatherers (traditional economy) • Rain-forest • Traveled in kinship groups • Leader was elder male (patriarchal) • Age sets for children

  18. Stateless Societies • No central gov’t • No person has sole authority • People made own decisions as families

  19. Islam & North Africa • Berbers = North Africans who converted to Islam • Tried to spread Islam • N. African societies became theocratic • Encouraged Islamic tradition of obeying law supported by gov’t (religion & gov’t together)

  20. West African Kingdoms • Use of camels allowed trade across Sahara Desert • Gold-salt trade was essential • Ghana = monarchy • Islam was brought to Ghana through trade w/Muslim merchants = DIRECT CULTURAL DIFFUSION

  21. West African Kingdoms • Mali • Under ruler Mansa Musa, it became an Islamic empire • Songhai • Arose in 1400s • Used canoes & horses to attack others • Fell in 1591 because others had better weapons • Other kingdoms = Benin, Ife, Oyo

  22. Eastern City-States • Swahili = blend of Bantu-speakers and Berber Muslims • Trade • Porcelain from China • Jewels & cotton from India • Exported ivory, gold, tortoise shells, etc. • Kilwa was the riches of the trading ports • Later attacked & burned by Portuguese

  23. Islam & Africa • Adoption of Islam changed political structure • Most gov’t officials and wealthy merchants converted to Islam • Many commoners kept traditional beliefs (animism, etc.) • Muslim merchants engaged in human slave trade (sent slaves as far as Persia & India) • Shona people  decline • Overuse of soil, destroyed grasslands, lack of timber • Couldn’t support large population

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