Chapter 6, Lesson 1 The Rise of African Civilizations

It Matters Because… The geography of Africa affected the development and interaction of civilizations all over the huge continent.

African Beginnings

• Science believes people have lived in Africa for between 150,000 and 200,000 years • Early humans in Africa were nomadic hunter/gatherers • First permanent civilizations developed around 3000 BC, Egypt and Kush

A Vast and Varied Landscape

• Africa is world’s second-largest continent by area • Most of Africa is in the Tropics • Four distinct geographic zones • Rain forest and jungle stretch along the Equator • 10% of Africa’s land area • Heavy rainfall and warm all year • Dense plant growth make farming difficult, but slash and burn farming is practiced

A Vast and Varied Landscape

• Deserts make up 40% of African land area • The Sahara stretches across Northern Africa from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea • Deserts restricted movement and settlement and people settled along coasts and in savanna climates • Mediterranean climates found mainly along northern and southern coasts • Warm temperatures from sea breezes, adequate rainfall, fertile land • Plentiful farming supports large cities

A Vast and Varied Landscape

• Grasslands known as savannas make up 40% of Africa’s land area • High grass, small trees and shrubs • High temperatures and steady rain • People here farm and herd

Landforms and Rivers

• Much of Africa covered by plateaus • Areas of high, flat land • Glaciers cut Great Rift Valley through east African plateau • Some earliest human fossils found in Great Rift Valley • Nile River allowed Egypt and Kush to thrive • Nile flooded reliably and allowed agriculture • Nile flows from south to north and empties into Mediterranean Sea • Refinement and manufacturing of iron spread south of the Sahara • Djenne-jeno became largest trading center • Artisans there produced iron tools, gold jewelry, copper goods, and pottery

Trading Empires

• Sahara isolated Northern Africa for thousands of years • About 400 BC, Berber people of N. Africa crossed Sahara to W. Africa to open trade • Berbers used donkeys and horses for hundreds of years • Animals did not survive desert heat • Romans introduced Asian camel, AD 200 • Camels well-suited for desert • Wide feet for walking on sand • Humps store fat • Able to go without water for days

Trading Empires

• Camel caravans crossed the Sahara and brought African gold to Europe and Asia • Caravans from W. Africa also carried ivory, spices, leather, & ostrich feathers • Also transported prisoners of war as slaves • Slaves sent to Europe and Asia to serve as soldiers & servants

Western African Kingdoms

• During 700s, Berber and Arab traders brought Islam from N. Africa to W. Africa • Trade led to growth of city-states in W. Africa • Rulers of city-states built empires • Empires grew from 500s to 1300s and grew larger than most European kingdoms

Ghana

• First W. African trading empire • • Located between Sahara salt mines and gold mines near coastal rain forests • Became crossroads of trade – N. Africa to Congo rainforest, down Niger River, & to E. African coast Kings of Ghana charged taxes to traders passing from other major African trading hubs • • • Ghana controlled iron weapons trade Ghana had well-trained army to enforce taxes People paid high prices for salt, to season and preserve food

Mali

• During 1100s, N. African invaders brought down empire of Ghana • • • During 1200s, Mali conquered Ghana • Griots (storytellers) in W. Africa credit King Sundiata Keita with • • conquest Sundiata known as the “Lion Prince” United people of Mali Conquests put Mali in control of W. African gold mines Mali built wealth on gold and salt trade

Songhai

• • Mansa Musa, King of Mali, died in 1227 • Empire of Mali broke apart, state of Songhai gained independence 1464, Sunni Ali became ruler of Songhai • • Seized city of Timbuktu Seized salt mines along Niger River, used river to • extend territory Largest empire in Africa until its fall by 1600

East African Kingdoms

• Ancient kingdoms like Egypt and Kush developed along the Nile • Axum, located on Red Sea, was important stop linking Africa, the Mediterranean, and India • Exported ivory, incense, slaves • Imported cloth, metal goods, olive oil • Fought Kush for control of trade routes • Around 300, King Ezana of Axum conquered Kush • Ezana made Christianity official religion of Axum

Coastal States

• Arab traders reached East Africa in early 600s • Sailed in ships called dhows (sailing ships with triangular sails) • Muslim traders settled on coast of Indian Ocean in 700s • Shared goods and Muslim faith with native Africans • By 1300s, several cities had grown on trading posts on Indian coast

Southern and Central States

• Kingdoms in Southern and Central Africa became wealthy mining gold and copper • Coastal traders brought silk, glass, carpet, and pottery • Traded for minerals, ivory, coconut oil • Enslaved Africans for export • Zimbabwe became powerful southeastern state