Transcript Ancient Africa Part II - Cathedral High School

Ancient Africa Part II
The kingdom of Axum reached from the
mountains in East Africa to the Red Sea and flourished
between 300 B.C. and A.D. 600.
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The people there
were descended
from African
farmers, Middle
Easterners and
Jews.
The two cultures
blended and
created a new
language called
Geez.
Axum grew very wealthy through trade.
• One of its main
cities, Adulis,
was a port on
the Red Sea.
Here, goods
such as ivory,
animal hides,
and gold were
brought to
market.
• Axum
controlled a
triangular trade
network
between Africa,
India, and the
Mediterranean.
Axum converted to Christianity in the 300s by King
Ezana.
• This conversion strengthened the kingdom’s
ties with North Africa and the Mediterranean.
• However, when Islam spread in the 600s,
Axum became isolated and declined.
Obelisk
Ethiopia
• Axum cultural & religious influence still
thrived
• Their unique culture and history helped
unite the people
• Protected by rugged mountains and carved
churches into the rock
• Claimed descent from Israelite king
Solomon
• Recorded in ancient book called The Glory
of Kings and reinforced by fact that
Ethiopians observe some of the Jewish
holidays and dietary laws
• King Lalibela
came to power
in Ethiopia in
the early 1200s.
• He directed the
building of
Christian
churches,
carved down
into solid rock.
Ethiopian Christians kept ties with the Holy Land
in the Middle East.
Some made
pilgrimages to
Jerusalem.
Ethiopian Christianity
absorbed local
customs over time.
Growing Trade
• Monsoon winds carried ships NE to India in
summer and back to Africa in winter
• Rulers welcomed ships for trade
• Slave trade developed
Trade linked distant ports in Africa, Asia,
and the Middle East.
This vibrant
trading culture on
the coast of East
Africa led to the
emergence of a
new language.
• Swahili developed as greater
numbers of people began to settle
in East Africa.
• Arabic words were absorbed into
the Bantu-based language to create
Swahili, an Arabic word meaning
“of the coast.”
Zimbabwe “Great stone buildings”
• Little is known about development
• Raised cattle, stone walls, palaces. Capital at
height about 1300. Gold resources and in a
trade network. Artisans present
• Little is know about government, God-King?
• Decline 1500?
• Over farming, civil war, dwindling trade
Farming
• Slash-and-burn agriculture?
• Cleared forest and brush land with iron axes
and hoes, burned the remains, using the ash
for fertilizer
• Why would this be good and bad?
Kingdom of Kongo
• 1500 central Africa
• Many villages grouped into districts and
governed by officials appointed by the king
• Each village had own chief
• King’s power limited, chosen by board of
electors and governed by traditional laws
• Could only call on men to fight in times of
need
Family
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Hunting and gathering had nuclear family?
Parents and children living and working together as unit
Joint families?
Several generations shared same complex of houses
Patrilineal?
Kinship ties and inheritance passed through father’s side
Matrilineal?
Passed through mother’s side
Lineage?
Group of households who claimed common ancestor,
several formed a clan
Culture
• Religion- Many tribes had many gods even
though most Africans believed a single,
unknowable supreme being was creator and
ruler of the universe that was helped by the
lesser spirits. Enter Christianity and Islam
• Giots (gree ohz)?
• Professional storytellers to keep history alive