“ Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.” ― Dr. Seuss

1. “Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.” ― Dr. Seuss There are more plastic flamingos in the USA than real flamingos.

4. Early Civilizations in Africa Main Idea Africa’s earliest people adapted to a wide range of geographic conditions to establish societies based on family ties, religion, iron technology, and trade.

5. The Sahel The Savanna • S. of Sahara, mighty rivers flow across plains, including Congo, Zambezi, Niger • Region called the Sahel, strip of land dividing desert, wetter areas • Sahel fairly dry, but has vegetation to support hardy grazing animals • Farther south, band of tropical savanna, open grassland • Extends east from Central Africa, wraps back toward south • Tall grasses, shrubs, trees grow there; variety of herd animals, majority of Africans live there Climate and Vegetation Africa’s large size—more than three times the size of the United States—and its location have led to a wide variety of climates and vegetation. As a result, distinct cultures and ways of life developed. • Northern Africa dominated by Sahara, largest desert in world • Stretches 3,000 miles between Atlantic Ocean, Red Sea • Barren landscape includes mountains, plateaus, plains, sand dunes • Temperatures in desert climb above 120°F, rain rare • Number of oases scattered throughout desert, some support villages

7. Sahara Desert

8. Sahel

9. Savanna

10. Southern Africa Tropical Rain Forests • Southern Africa consists mainly of hilly grasslands, deserts, high coastal strip of land • Region experiences mild Mediterranean climate, warm temperatures and both summer, winter rains • Tropical rain forests found near equator and on Madagascar, island off southeast coast • Hot, humid climate, year-round rainfall of rain forest supports broad range of plant, animal life The Equator and farther South

11. Tropical Rain Forest

13. Adapting to Africa’s Environment • Varied Climates • First people to live in Africa had to adapt to varied climates, features • Rainfall—too much, too little— poor soil in some places made farming difficult; presents problems that continue today • Rains • Heavy rains erode soil, wash away nutrients important for growing crops • Insufficient rainfall leads to drought, poor grazing land • Farmers must decide which crops to grow based on expected rainfall • Insects, Parasites • Parasites thrive in tropical areas; transmitted by mosquitoes to humans, animals; can lead to deadly diseases like malaria • Tsetse fly, sub-Saharan Africa, carries parasite than can kill livestock, infect humans with sleeping sickness, potentially fatal illness

15. Early Farming Societies Pastoralists in Sahara • During early phase of their history, Africans lived as hunter-gatherers • About 9,000 years ago, some began to grow native crops • In some parts, pastoralism, practice of raising herd animals, arose before farming • First farmers likely pastoralists of Sahara—wetter 8,000 years ago • 5,000 years ago climate changed, Sahara became drier • As land became desert, people migrated to Mediterranean coast, Nile Valley, parts of West Africa Early African Societies Anthropologists think that the first humans lived in East Africa. Over thousands of years, people spread out over the continent, forming distinct cultures and societies. By about 2500 BC many people in these regions practiced herding and mixed farming.

17. Social Structures • Common Features • Many societies developed village-based cultures • At heart, extended family living in one household • Families with common ancestors formed clans to which all members loyal • Age-Sets • In some areas, people took part in type of group called age-sets • Men who had been born within same two, three years formed special bonds • Men in same age-set had duty to help each other • Specific Duties • Loyalty to family, age-sets helped village members work together • Men hunted, farmed; women cared for children, farmed, did domestic chores • Even very old, very young had own tasks; elders often taught traditions to younger generations

18. Examples of Beliefs Animism • Many believed that unseen spirits of ancestors stayed near • To honor spirits, families marked certain places as sacred places, put specially carved statues there • Families gathered to share news, food with ancestors, hoping spirits would protect them • Many Africans also practiced form of religion called animism—belief that bodies of water, animals, trees, other natural objects have spirits • Animism reflected Africans’ close ties to natural world Religion and Culture Many early Africans shared similar religious beliefs and shared common features in the arts as well.

20. Griots • Many early societies did not develop systems of writing • Maintained sense of identity, continuity through oral traditions • Included stories, songs, poems, proverbs • Task of remembering, passing on entrusted to storytellers, griots • Music and Dance • In many societies, music, dance central to many celebrations, rituals • Carving, wearing of elaborate masks part of these rituals as well • Early Africans excelled in sculpture, bronze as well as terra cotta • Traditional music performed with variety of wind, stringed instruments

22. Africa’s Iron Age

24. Trading States of East Africa Main Idea The growth of trade led to the development of wealthy kingdoms and city-states in East Africa.

25. The Rise of Aksum Geographic Advantages • People of Aksum descended from African farmers, as well as migrants from Middle East • By AD 100, Aksum was wealthy trading kingdom • Two main cities: Aksum, capital; Adulis, thriving Red Sea port • Geographic location provided advantages: well suited for agriculture; Red Sea proximity ideal for trade, access to Indian Ocean • Seaport attracted merchants from African interior, Mediterranean region, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, India Aksum and Ethiopia In East Africa, the kingdom of Aksum began to grow in power around the first century AD. Aksum lay south of Egypt and Kush and alongside the Red Sea and was ideally situated to control Red Sea trade. At its height Aksum was the most powerful kingdom in East Africa. At Aksum’s markets, foreign traders exchanged luxury goods for African goods. By about AD 300, Aksum had amassed great wealth from this trade.

28. Military Victory King Ezana • Under Ezana’s rule, Aksum attacked, defeated rival trading kingdom of Kush, about 350 • Defeat gave Aksum control of trade in region • Aksum soon became greatest power in East Africa • Over time, Aksum became not only wealthy trading kingdom, but also strong military power • Reached height under King Ezana, whose reign began about 320 • Ezana held direct power only in capital city; outside, collected only tribute from local rulers Aksum at Its Height

30. Language Preserved Coins Minted • Historians know about statement because it was inscribed on stone monument, called a stela • Stelae often inscribed with records of important events • Inscriptions provide examples of Ge’ez, Aksum’s language • Ge’ez one of first written languages developed in Africa, basis of written language used in Ethiopia today • Aksum also first African kingdom south of Sahara to mint own coins • Merchants found it practical to use coins because of thriving trade Culture of Aksum • African-Arab heritage, trade connections gave Aksum diverse culture • Merchants who came to Aksum brought new ideas as well as goods • Among new ideas, beliefs in 300s, Christianity • King Ezana converted, made Christianity official religion of Aksum • Recorded that he would “rule the people with righteousness and justice…”

31. Muslim Invaders 600s, Aksum began to decline, partly because of arrival of Muslim invaders 600s, 700s invaders conquered parts of East, North Africa Aksum itself was never conquered Nearby areas became Muslim; Christian Aksum isolated Muslims destroyed Aksum’s port city, Adulis, took over Red Sea trade Cut off from trade, Aksum lost main source of wealth Aksum people eventually retreated inland, settled in what is now northern Ethiopia The Decline of Aksum

33. Ethiopia • By 1100s, descendants of Aksum established new kingdom in Ethiopia • 1150, kingdom grew under Zagwe dynasty • Most famous king, Lalibela: Ruled during 1200s, known for building 11 stone Christian churches • Lalibela churches showed continued importance of Christianity in Ethiopia • Provided unifying identity for Ethiopian people • Ethiopian Christianity developed own unique characteristics, including elements of local Africancustoms • 1270, second dynasty of Christian kings came to rule Ethiopia • Kings claimed to be descendants of Hebrew King Solomon, Queen of Sheba • Dynasty is also known as Solomonid dynasty; ruled Ethiopia for 700 years • During first centuries of Solomonid rule, kings engaged in religious wars against both Jews and Muslims

38. Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion

40. The Kingdoms of West Africa Main Idea The expansion of trade across the Sahara led to the development of great empires and other states in West Africa.

41. The Rise of Ghana Desert Travel Goods for Gold • Ghana had many resources, but location delayed development as trading empire • Had no easy access to sea • Sahara desert blocked overland trade routes • First few centuries AD, North African traders learned how to cross Sahara • Traveled in large caravans with camels • Camels did not need much water, could survive trip across harsh desert • Once traders began crossing Sahara, Ghana became key player in African trade • Berber traders traded food, hard goods, copper, salt for gold • Ghana traded salt to people in south, where salt scarce Empire of Ghana Trade was vital to the societies of West Africa. That region produced valuable resources—notably gold—that brought high prices. By the 800s, rulers of Ghana had used the wealth from these products to create a huge, powerful empire.

43. A Trading Empire • Control • 800 AD, Ghana controlled nearly all trade of salt, gold in sub-Saharan Africa • Capital, Koumbi-Saleh, located between Ghana’s gold mines, desert trade routes, was preferred trading place • Salt Taxes • Ghana’s kings built great wealth taxing goods brought to empire’s markets • Majority of taxes charged on salt: charged fee for each load of salt brought into Ghana from north, larger fee for each load exported to south • Gold Supply Scarce • Gold not taxed the same; taxes might discourage traders from buying gold • To keep gold prices high, kings ruled only they could own large gold nuggets • Others could only own gold dust; kept location of gold mines secret • This kept supply of gold scarce; kept market from being flooded

44. Results of Conflict Attempts at Expansion • Almoravids controlled capital temporarily • Ghana’s empire was weakened • King unable to deal with rebellion in part of empire • Soon Ghana fell into decline; new empire took its place • Mid-1000s, Ghana’s empire rich and powerful • King tried to expand to north into lands controlled by Almoravids, a Muslim Berber kingdom • Attempt led to long war • In 1076, Almoravids captured Koumbi-Saleh, Ghana’s capital Ghana’s Decline

46. Rise of Mali Sundiata • Founders of Mali, Malinke had been active in Ghana’s gold trade • 1230, grew frustrated with policies of neighboring peoples, rose up to conquer them; became leading power in West Africa • Leader of Mali’s rise to power, king named Sundiata • After conquest, Sundiata ruled 25 years • Story of reign, accomplishments told in epic, also called Sundiata Mali Empire After Ghana’s decline, no one kingdom controlled trans-Saharan trade. In the 1230s, the empire of Mali rose to power on the same territory. Mali expanded to the Atlantic Ocean and became a wealthy and sophisticated empire. Mali reached its height in the 1300s under the reign of a mansa, or king, named Musa.

49. Growing Wealth Islam in Mali • During Musa’s reign, Mali grew wealthier than ever • Much wealth came from taxation of gold-salt trade • Mali kept order along Saharan trade routes by using large army • Army also kept life in Mali relatively peaceful • Mansa Musa devout Muslim • Introduced into West Africa by Muslim traders in Ghana, Islam did not take hold initially • In Mali, Islam became powerful influence, especially among ruling class • 1324, Musa set out on hajj, pilgrimage to Mecca Mansa Musa A relative of Sundiata, Mansa Musa came to power in 1307. During his reign, Mali’s territory expanded and its population grew.