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Early African Civilizations: Culture, Trade, and the Impact of the Slave Trade

This study explores the early African civilizations, examining how environmental factors influenced culture, the organization of societies, and the development of trade routes in West Africa. The significance of the gold-salt trade, pivotal kingdoms like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, and their influence on regional power dynamics are discussed. Additionally, the Atlantic Slave Trade's devastating effects on African communities are highlighted, detailing the inhumane conditions faced by millions during their forced journeys.

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Early African Civilizations: Culture, Trade, and the Impact of the Slave Trade

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  1. Early African Civs World Studies February 26

  2. I. General Culture • Environmental factors determined aspects of culture • Population size, ability to trade, etc • Most communities were small; didn’t have formal government • Decisions were made by a council • Religious beliefs varied greatly • Both mono- and polytheistic • Will be influenced by Islam and Christianity

  3. Family organization • Most were patrilineal (land and inheritance pass from father to son) • Others were matrilineal (passed from mother to daughter) • Very few had written languages • Some used griots, professional poets who memorized history

  4. II. Gold-Salt Trade • When communities had surplus(extras) they would trade w/ neighbors for something else • Eventually a system was established that linked up to the Middle East • People in west Africa had gold • People in north Africa/Sahara had salt • Where the trade went, cities developed

  5. III. Ghana • Trade routes passed through Ghana; the king collected taxes on all trade • Became very wealthy & powerful • Had an army of 200,000 • Converted to Islam through trade • When gold mines ran dry, others would be found, which shifted trade routes

  6. IV. Mali • Becomes more powerful as the trade (& taxes) shift east • Two rivals fought for power; the winner kills the loser & all of his sons, but one • That one son (Sundiata) gets revenge & forms the kingdom of Mali by 1235

  7. One of his descendents was Mansa Musa • In 1324, he travels to Mecca • 4800 miles on the backs of ill-tempered camels • Traveled through Egypt, giving away enormous hunks of gold like they were nothing • Got European attention on West Africa • Mansa Musa sets up a good, fair gov’t that lasts 200 years

  8. V. Songhai • Mali weakens in fights over succession & the gold shifts again • Sonni Ali takes control, creating the largest empire ever in W Africa • Timbuktu becomes a flourishing city

  9. Moroccans haul guns & cannons across the desert & take control of the gold • But can’t maintain order from so far away • W Africa becomes many small groups

  10. VI. Atlantic Slave Trade • Africans practiced slavery • Conquered enemies, small scale • At least 10 million Africans were forcibly removed from their homes to be slaves in Europe or the Americas • Had a very negative impact on communities • The healthiest, strongest were taken

  11. The voyage across the Atlantic is known as the middle passage • Africans were dehumanized • Not allowed to wear clothes, fed like animals • Very unhealthy, filthy conditions • Were packed in very tightly; chained down • Many died on the trip

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