Ch. 8 Diverse

Societies in Africa

• Ch. 8 section 1 Objectives:

• 1. Identify the different geographic regions of Africa

• 2. Explain how early Africans adapted to their environments

• 3. Summarize the achievements of early West

Early Humans Adapt to Their

Environments• Nomadic Lifestyle• •hunter-gatherers/herders

Transition to a Settled Lifestyle• •Agriculture develops- 6000 B.C.

• •permanent settlement, governments to develop, with a village chief or council

Early Societies in Africa

• Societies Organized by Family Groups• •Extended families and clans

• Local Religions• •Early religions usually include elements of animism—belief in

spirits

• Keeping a History• •Few African societies have written languages• •History, literature, culture passed on by storytellers called

griots• •Cultures in West Africa are advanced long before outsiders

arrive

West African Iron Age• Learning About the Past• •Artifacts • Nok—West Africa’s earliest known culture—made smelted iron

tools, weapons, and excelled at farming

• Djenné-Djeno

• From 600–200 B.C., cities begin to develop near rivers, oases

• Djenné-Djeno—Africa’s oldest known city (250 B.C.), discovered in 1977

• Bustling trade center; linked West African towns, camel trade routes

Achievements of Djenne-Djenno-1400

C.E.• *50,000 residents• Mud Brick homes

-Fished, cultivated rice, herded cattle-Traded goods for copper, gold and salt

Section 2-The Kingdom of Aksum

• Objectives:• 1. Explain how maritime trade led to

Aksum’s growth• 2. Give examples of Aksum’s

achievements• 3. Explain the effects of the Muslim

invasion of Aksum

The Rise…• Aksum’s Geography• •Horn of Africa-Ethiopia and Eritrea• •surrounded by bodies of water

The Rise…cont.• Aksum Controls International Trade

through water and caravan routes• Adulis-main port city

• Leadership-King Ezana,strong ruler of Aksum from A.D. 325 to360

• conquers part of Arabian peninsula

International Culture…

• Aksum Culture• •Blends -Egyptian, Arabian, Greek, Roman, Persian, Indian • •Greek-language

• Written language: Ge’ez

• Aksumite Religion• •Believe in one god, Mahrem, and that king descended

from him• •animist• Ezana declares Christianity official religion

International Culture…

• Aksumite Innovations• Written language, minted coins, irrigation

canals and dams• Aksumites invent terrace farming

The Fall…• Islam-introduced by invaders

• Attack Adulis, causing Aksum’s decline

• Isolation, soil erosion, deforestation cause loss of remaining power

Section 3• Objectives:

• 1.Summarize the causes and effects of Human Migration

• 2.Describe the Bantu migrations into the southern half of Africa

Migration of Bantu-speaking Peoples

• Causes of Migration• Push-pull factors

• Effects of Migration• Brings diverse cultures into contact; changes

life in the new land

• Tracing Migration Through Language

• Bantu -speaking Peoples• Migration Begins• Live by slash-and-burn farming, nomadic

herding• Share skills, learn new customs, adapt to

environment

• Causes of Migration• to find farmland, flee growing Sahara• Need iron ore resources and hardwood forests

• Effects of the Migration• Bantu speakers drive out some inhabitants;

intermix with others • Language helps unify the continent