1. THINK! • What do we already know about African history? (2 main ideas)

2. World Studies Early African Civilizations

3. Early African Civilizations 1500 B.C.- 500 A.D. • Various civilizations developed in Africa around this time. • Some similarities between civs: • Lived together with extended families, and in larger groups of ancestors called clans. • Most practiced animism, believing spirits were present in animals, plants, nature, etc. • History, traditions, and culture we passed down orally, and were not written down.

4. Kingdom of Kush • Just to the south of Egypt, expanded when Egypt began to decline. • 750 B.C to 200 A.D. • Heavily influenced by Egyptian culture (religion, hieroglyphics) • Learned to make iron tools and weapons

5. Kushite Artwork

6. Nok Culture • Located in modern day Nigeria between 500 B.C. and 200 A.D. • Farmers, • Made tools and weapons out of iron • Used terra cotta to make lifelike sculptures.

7. Djenne-Djeno • Say “jeh-NAY jeh-NOH” • Located in modern day Mali along the Niger river. • One of the oldest cities in sub-Saharan Africa (300 B.C.) • Up to 50,000 residents • Important trading center • Traded rice, fish, pottery FOR gold, salt, copper

8. Aksum (Axum) • AHK-soom • Located in Eastern Africa, modern day Ethiopia. • Important trading center for both land and sea trading routes • City of Adulis included residents from round the world.