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Explore the rich history of Nubia and other notable African civilizations from 6000 B.C.E. to the 1500 C.E. This overview covers the geographical significance of Nubia at the junction of the Blue and White Nile, the culture and achievements of the Kingdom of Kush, including notable figures like Piankhi and Taharka. The decline of Nubian power due to external forces such as the rise of Axum and the Islamic Empire is discussed, along with the contributions of other civilizations like Mali and Ghana. Discover the lasting impact of these societies on Africa's cultural heritage.
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Classical Africa
Nubia • Nubian Culture: 6000B.C.E. - 1500C.E. • Geography: junction of Blue and White Nilebetween 3rd & 6th cataract • Avenue of Ideas: spread to Egypt> monarchy, totem, smelting
Nubia: Kingdom of Kush
Nubian Kings • Piankhi: • led conquest of Egypt • combined ruler of Egypt & Nubia • Taharka: • defeated Assyrians • mentioned in bible • revived architecture & literature
Nubian Queens • Candace: Title for Nubian Queen • Amarenas: One Eyed Candace • Defeated the Romans
Reasons for decline of Nubia • drought • rise in Kingdom of Axum • Christian Nubia joined in alliance with Crusaders • conquered by Islamic Empire
Axum Axum
Axum • Later became Abyssinia, then Ethiopia • 3,000,000 B.C.E. > Lucy or Dinknesh discovered in Eastern Ethiopia
Attack & Isolation • 1540 > Muslim attack on Abyssinia fails, but they lose control of port cities on east coast • 1880’s Abyssinia remained independent while rest of Africa colonized
Ghana, Mali, & Songhay
Griot • Keepers of memories, oral historians • bards>combine history, music, poetry, dance, drama • kept & passed on mental record of coronations, births, deaths, marriages, battles, etc.
Kingdom of Ghana • Salt Mines • City of Taghaza = major salt producing center of the Sahara • salt mines = forced labor by slaves (criminals or captives from war) • life expectancy in the mines = 2 years
Ghana’s Blacksmiths • mastery of metal work in iron & gold • revered & feared as powerful magicians, (the power over the elements of the earth) • closed & secret society • forge called “fan”, means cosmic egg from which all life was born • forge > • four basic elements • Fire, air, water, earth
Timbuktu • Commercial Center • seat of Islamic learning and culture • largest city in Mali & Songhai Empires
Mansa Musa • 1307-1332 • rebuilt capital, Timbuktu • pilgrimage to Mecca, 1324 • established universities
Weavers of Mali • Respected & feared like Ghana’s blacksmiths • loom symbolic of nature • believed the gods sent spider to teach mankind magic of weaving • Anansi, the spider, major character in West African mythology
B1 Songhai or Songhay Empire • Began in 7th century along Niger river. • great trading cities of Gao, Djenné, and Timbuktu.
Askia Muhammad • king 1493-1528 • pilgrimage to Mecca • Transformed Songhai into an Islamic kingdom
African Civilizations • Were as advanced as European civilizations during the Middle Ages • Stressed extended family ties • Were based on oral tradition • Were often matrilineal • Were weakened & destroyed by the slave trade during the 1500’s