Nile Valley Civilizations and Bantu Migrations

1. Period 1: Technological and Environmental Transformations to 600 B.C.E Early African Societies

2. Early Agricultural Society in Africa • Egypt and Nubia formed complex societies based on agricultural and domestication of animals. • Formed somewhat simultaneously. • Egypt – Trade with eastern Mediterranean and southwest Asian peoples. • Nubia – Linked Egypt with the rest of sub-Saharan Africa.

3. Climatic Change and the Development of Agriculture in Africa • 10,000 B.C.E. – Africa mostly a grassy steppe land with numerous lakes, rivers, and streams… Much different than today. • 9000 B.C.E. – 5000 B.C.E. – Sudanic people organized small-scale states based on agriculture and animals • Had small monarchies • 5000 B.C.E. – Climate change turns Sahara to a desert. • People migrate from Sudan to the Nile River Valley.

4. Egypt and Nubia: “Gifts of the Nile” • Egypt – Area along the Nile from south edge of the Mediterranean Sea to Aswan. • Extremely fertile because of Nile floods. • Drew many people and led to complex society based on agriculture. • Nubia – Area along the Nile south of Egypt. • Not as fertile but still good for agriculture • Both experienced big population growth.

5. Egypt and Nubia • Both restructured societies to ensure organization and order due to population growth. • Collaborated with one another to build irrigation systems and trade. • 4000 B.C.E. – Neither was unified, but had many rulers.

6. Unification of Egypt • Menes – Man who unified Egypt around 3100 B.C.E. • Memphis became his capital city and eventually the cultural and political center of Egypt. • Menes’ successors eventually became pharaohs. • Pharaohs – Egyptian rulers who claimed to be gods. • P. 64 image. • Pharaohs ruled from 3100 B.C.E. – 2160 B.C.E. – Built pyramids as tombs during this time!

7. Kingdom of Kush • Frequent tension and violence between Egypt and Nubia from 3100 B.C.E. to 2160 B.C.E. • Strongest kingdom in Nubia was kingdom of Kush between 3000-2400 B.C.E. • Still traded with one another and interacted frequently.

8. Turmoil and Empire • Between 2160-2040 B.C.E. Pharaohs fell from power, but regained in from 2040-1640 B.C.E. • Happened because of smaller states building agricultural power. • Hyksos (horse riding nomads from Southwest Asia) eventually used chariots and bronze weapons to overthrow Pharaohs and capture Memphis (1674 B.C.E.) • People from upper Egypt eventually recaptured Memphis (1550 B.C.E.)

9. The New Kingdom • 1550 – 1070 B.C.E. • New Pharaohs led a series of campaigns throughout Africa to establish their dominance. • By 760 B.C.E. for attackers had over Egypt, however.

10. Emergence of Cities and Stratified Societies • Key Cities • Thebes • Political Center • Heliopolis • “City of the Sun” (Sacred) • Memphis • Egyptian Capital • Kush • Nubian Capital

11. Emergence of Cities and Stratified Societies • Patriarchal Society – Men ruled. • Social Classes • Pharaohs • Military Leaders • Tax Collectors • Administrators • Peasants • Slaves • (Not based on birth (except pharaoh) as it was in Mesopotamia

12. Economic Specialization and Trade • Bronze Metallurgy - Egypt • Iron Metallurgy - Nubia • Transportation – Use of the Nile • Trade Networks – Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa

13. Early Writing in the Nile Valley • Hieroglyphic Writing – Pictures and Symbols • Egypt • Meroitic Writing – Similar to Hieroglyphics • Nubia • Both led to formal education in both places.

14. The Development of Organized Religious Traditions • Gods typically associated with the sun • Mummification – Process practiced by Egyptian elites to preserve the dead for the afterlife. • Nubian beliefs similar, but slightly different.

15. Bantu Migrations • Bantu – People living in sub-Saharan Africa speaking the Bantu language. • Lived along river banks where they could farm and raise animals. • Clan-based villages headed by chiefs. • From 3000 B.C.E. – 1000 B.C.E migrated south until they occupied most of Africa south of the equator. • Used canoes to navigate rivers and move quickly.

16. Impact of Bantu Migration • Spread agricultural and religious practices throughout sub-Saharan Africa.