Transcript Slide 1
Trade routes By Angela Spencer The Rise of Ancient African Civilization GEOGRAPHY OF ANCIENT AFRICA The geography and climate of Africa greatly influenced where and how cities were formed, the culture of its people, and the ways in which people lived. How might geography affect how people lived in Africa? Climate Zones Africa has several climate zones including the Desert, The Mediterranean, the Rain Forest, and the Savannah. The Mediterranean area of Africa has a mild climate and is good for growing crops. A very small portion of Africa, around the Atlas Mountains in the northwestern portion, is classified as Mediterranean. Atlas Mountains Mediterranean Climate AFRICA It is true that Africa has a Rainforest. It is situated on either side of the equator and is in the middle of Africa around the Congo Basin. The Congo River runs through it. The Rainforest is also a very small portion of Africa. AFRICA The Rain Forest The African Desert The desert covers about 1/3 of the land in Africa. For many years people in this area did not know how to navigate the Sahara Desert and chose to stay along the eastern coastline when traveling. For a long time only nomads knew the ways through the Sahara. desert AFRICA The Sahara desert is dangerous. In fact is commonly called the valley of death or “death road”. There is scorching heat, little water, and dangerous sand storms. It is also easy for people to lose their way. The savannah The Savannah covers most of Africa. Rain in this area is unpredictable, but does provide enough moisture to produce a Grassland. This area is good for raising animals. In ancient times, the people of the Savannah were hunters and gatherers. The Savannah AFRICA African Trade Routes It’s important to understand the geography of Ancient Africa in order to understand how the Trade Routes of Ancient Africa formed. We know that the Desert was dangerous and there were few places for people to grow crops. Because of this people searched for better places to settle. Rumors spread across the Sahara Desert where life was hard. People heard of great lands of gold. Also, people from other parts of the world, mainly people from the Middle East and Asia, started traveling to Africa in search of gold. Camels were the form of transportation, and for many is still a reliable form of transportation today. Camels have flat, wide feet that keep them from sinking in the sand. They are also able to travel without water for many days. Traders formed large caravans to get through the desert using as many as 1000’s camels at a time. As people started to explore Africa, trading routes were formed. At first, they traded salt and cloth. As they traded, the empires of Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Axum, and Great Zimbabwe were formed. Ghana was on the tip between the Sahara Desert and the Savannah’s of Africa. It became a “crossroads” of the African Trade. Traders would have to stop here along the route. It was a gateway to the Niger River. People who stopped in Ghana had to pay taxes. ghana •They made iron weapons; •They built a great army; •They traded GOLD, salt, animals and iron; •They became rich off of the taxes that they charged; Islamic merchants traveled over 2 months through the desert to “do business” in Ghana. These merchants were taxed both for what they brought in to Ghana and what they took out! . FACTS ABOUT GHANA •They used up their resources especially the soil; •People started going other places because of new gold mining; •They didn’t want to pay taxes; •People were fighting over religion (North African Muslims wanted to build empires of their own). •In 1240 C.E. Ghana was absorbed into the growing nation of Mali, the next great kingdom. THE DECLINE OF GHANA The Rise of Mali Ghana became mali • After Ghana fell a warrior king named Sundiata Keita: “The Lion Prince”, built the empire of Mali; • He seized the capital of Mali in 1240; • He gained control of the gold mining areas and the Salt Trade; • Then King Mansa Musa took over. He further built up the gold trade; • Mansa Musa practiced Islam and was Muslim; • Eventually people named Berbers invaded and Mali became Songhai MUSA BUILT MOSQUES AND LIBRARIES, AND PRACTICED ISLAM Songhai • Mali became Songhai; Songhai became an even bigger trade and learning center than Mali! • They traded Salt and Gold; • They mastered trade by using the rivers; • Songhai was taken over by Arabs from Morocco who brought with them cannons, guns, and gunpowder. • Songhai solders only had weapons of swords, spears, and bows and arrows. Axum ON THE RED SEA •Axum is in the area known as Ethiopia; •It was a strong place of trade because of it’s locatio on the Red Sea; •It was a trading center for the Mediterranean and people of Asia; •Their king was Ezana; •He converted the whole kingdom to Christianity; •Then as years passed Islam was introduced to this area as well. Great Zimbabwe • Zimbabwe is located near the Zambezi River in South East Africa. • Arab traders began making sailing ships; • They sailed up and down the coast of eastern Africa; • The sail powered ships were called dhows. Great Zimbabwe • Great Zimbabwe supplied gold, ivory, and copper; • From Zimbabwe things were shipped East into India and China; • There are more than 300 huge stone building that remain in the area of Great Zimbabwe. Ghana Mali Songhai Axum Great Zimbabwe