I. The African Environment II. African Cultural Patterns III. The Peopling of Africa

1. I. The African Environment II. African Cultural Patterns III. The Peopling of Africa IV. The Bantu Dispersion V. Ethiopia and Northeastern Africa VI. Empires of the Western Sudan VII. Swahili City-States and the Indian Ocean Economy VIII. Kingdoms of Central and Southern Africa

2. I. The African Environment • A. Physical Environment • Savanna • B. Cultivation Patterns • shifting cultivation, clear land, use, move on • Bush fallow lets field rest, restores fertility • Intercropping, growing complementary plants Rain forest: root crops (yams, cassava) • Savanna (grasslands): cereals (sorghum, millet)

3. II. African Cultural Patterns • A. Kinship Relations and Political Structures • bridewealth • polygyny • lineage • women often rulers • queen mothers could represent lineages • B. Religious Systems • polytheistic • some more complex • Yoruba • four levels of spiritual beings • Oludumare—pinnacle • Subordinate gods • Priests • Ancestors—Shango • C. Artistic Expression • Cire perdue (“lost wax”)

4. III. The Peopling of Africa • A. Agriculture • West African savanna sorghum, pearl millet • Ethiopian grasslands, 3000 B.C.E. • teff, finger millet, noog (oil plant), sesame, • mustard Forestsensete (bananalike plant), coffee, qat • After 1000 B.C.E., wheat, barley imported • Central Sudan, 4000 B.C.E. • sorghum, millet, rice, cowpeas, root crops • West African Forests oil palm, cow peas, yams, etc. • Domesticated animals • from 8000 B.C.E. • cattle, sheep, goats, pigs • B. Iron Technology • Egypt, Nubia by 6000 B.C.E., Meroë • Nok (central Nigeria), 700–400 B.C.E.

5. IV. Bantu Dispersion • Bantu (“people”) • languages: Niger-Congo • A. Origins • Cameroon • movement out from 3000 B.C.E. • why? • South to Angola, Namibia • East to Lake Victoria, south to Congo, Zambia • B. Interactions • bananas and yams • from Malaysia, Polynesia, via Madagascar • intermarried with hunter-gatherers

6. V. Ethiopia and Northeastern Africa • A. Early Contacts • Egyptian traders to Ethiopia (“Land of Punt”) • from Fifth Dynasty (c. 2494–2345 B.C.E.) • frankincense myrrh aromatic herbs ebony ivory gold wild animals • Saba’ (Yemen) traders to Eritrean coast • from 800 B.C.E. • Ge’ez develops • > Kingdom of Da’amat, ivory trade

7. V. Ethiopia and Northeastern Africa • B. Aksum • Red Sea trade, from 4th century • ties with Egypt, Roman Empire, Sri Lanka • Exports: ivory, tortoise shells, rhinoceros horns, slaves • Imports: cloth, glassware, wine • Aksum • Adulis Meroë • Coinage • Christianity, by 4th century • King Ezana (320–350) • Frumentius and Aedisius, Syrians • Old and New Testaments > Ge’ez • language of the Church • “Nine Saints,” Syrian Monophysite monks • King El-Asham, 615 • refuge for fleeing Muslims • Yemen, 6th century

8. V. Ethiopia and Northeastern Africa • C. Zagwe Dynasty • Aksumites and Agaws (Cushitic) • descent from Moses • King Lalibela (1185–1225) • cathedrals at Roha • D. Solomonid Dynasty • Yikunno-Amlak • leads rebellion, 1270 • negus (“king of kings”) • Kebre Negast (“Glory of the Kings”) • royal chronicle • claimed ties to Aksum, Makeda (Queen of Saba’) • Makeda visited Solomon, bore son, Menelik • Menelik brought Ark of Covenant to Ethiopia

9. V. Ethiopia and Northeastern Africa • (D. Solomonid Dynasty) • Emperor Amde-Siyon (?–1344) • (“Pillar of Zion”) • Zara Yakob (1434–1468) • (“Seed of Jacob”) • Alliance with pope against Muslims • gults (fiefs) • Decline after 15th century • Oromo • Muslim states 1527–1543 • Ahmad al-Ghazi, Ahmad Gran of Adal

10. VI. Empires of the Western Sudan • Camel Caravans and Trade • Salt for gold • Villages from 9th century B.C.E. • Jenne-jeno • A. Ghana (Aoukar or Wagadu) • Soninke farmers • Trade • salt • Kola nuts • King • Kumbi-Saleh, capital B. The Trans-Saharan Trade • Soninke intermediaries • Salt, gold, kola nuts, slaves

11. VI. Empires of the Western Sudan • C. Mali • Sumaguru (1200–1235), of the Sosso, • conquers Ghana • Sundiata • Malinke Keita clan • overthrew Sumaguru • Control of gold mining and trade • Wangara, Bambuk • Mansa Musa (1307–1337) • pilgrimage to Mecca, 1324–1325 • Arabic culture • Ibn Battuta • praises Mali • Decline after 1400 • succession • raids, Tuaregs, Sanhaja

12. VI. Empires of the Western Sudan • C. Songhai • Sunni Ali (1464–1492) • Takes Timbuktu, Walata, Jenne-jeno • Askia Muhammad (1493–1528) • slave officer in Sunni Ali’s army • King Ahmad al-Mansur of Morocco • invaded Songhai, 1591 • victory over Songhai

13. VI. Empires of the Western Sudan • D. Kanem, Bornu, and the Hausa States • Kanem • Muslim, Sayfuwa Dynasty Controlled Saharan trade: ivory, ostrich feathers for horses • Built large cavalry, raided neighbors • Mai (king) Dunama Dibalemi (1210–1248) • Bornu • Hausa city-states: Kano, Katsina, Zazzau, Gobir • Villages built wooden stockades for protection • Queen Amina of Zazzau • military leader • conquers Kano, Katsina • earthen walls

14. VII. Swahili City-States and the Indian Ocean Economy • Bantus from 100 B.C.E. to 300 C.E. • Swahili (Bantu) • A. The Indian Ocean Economy • The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea • early Greek description • Dhows • Arab boats • lateen sails • 2000-mile journey—one month

15. VII. Swahili City-States and the Indian Ocean Economy • B. Swahili Civilization 1000–1500 City-States • 100s • Mogadishu, Sofala, Malindi, Pemba, Pate, Mombasa, Mafia, Kilwa • Kilwa height 1250–1330 • gold trade • matrilineal: queen’s brother inherits • Husuni Kubwa palace and trade emporium • Exports: gold, ivory, slaves • Imports: cloth, beads, porcelain, incense, glass, cloth Chinese Admiral Zheng He visited in 1400s • brought porcelain, silk, lacquerware for ivory, wood, animals

16. VIII. Kingdoms of Central and Southern Africa • A. Early developments • Bantus from 3rd century B.C.E • Stone building • 150 political centers • Mapungabwe • B. Great Zimbabwe, 1290–1450 • “houses of stone” • 60 acres • Limpopo River • Great Enclosure • 12-foot walls • Collapse • causes? • Torwa, Mutapa • C. Kongo • Wene, petty prince • Manikongo (“lord of the Kongo”) • By 1400 • centralized state