1. Nomadic Groups2. Southern Nile River civilization3. Trans-Saharan Trade = Empires

-West African Trading Empires: Ghana, Mali, Songhai-East African Trading Kingdoms

4. European Influence-Exploration of Africa

-Slave Trade Expands-European Colonialism

5. Independence Movements6. Present-Day: Problems & Successes

1. What type of people lived in Africa many thousands of years ago? How did they survive?-nomadic people

-hunted & gathered food to survive

-eventually settled down & began farming

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2. Where and why did civilization begin in this region?

-along the Nile south of the Sahara

-better land needed & Nile Egyptian civilization growing (pop.) & expanding

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3. List the 3 major early trading empires. Describe what the economies of these empires were based upon?

-Ghana, Mali, & Songhai

-gold & salt trade

-in W Af., they found mild climates & generally good soil

Ghana: The Kingdom of Gold-first of great West Af. trading empires

-practiced traditional African religions, but very tolerant of Muslim traders

-power came from ability to use iron weapons to control gold and salt trade

*gold from s. Ghana, outside the kingdom – salt from Sahara Desert & N. Africa*Ghana taxed trade within its borders – also collected portion of peasants’ harvests, so

city dwellers could focus exclusively on trade*king’s powers were absolute judicially and

militarily

-weakened in mid-11th century when N. African Berber warriors attacked it - Muslim

The Kingdom of Mali-rose to power after Ghana

dissolved in 13th century (about twice the size)

-most powerful under rule of Mansa Musa (1301)

*Muslim kingdom – government officials read and wrote in Arabic & territory was divided into provinces ruled by mayors

*journey to Mecca very well-known

Songhai Empire-last and largest of great trading

empires in West Africa – replaced Mali through gradual city overtake & marriage

-Islam became official religion

-strong central government

-caste system – strict social class system

-Timbuktu’s University attracted scholars from around the world

4. Where did the Bantu originally establish settlements?

-central & southern Africa

5. Where did the Bantu migrate?

-across 1/3 of the continent (see map)

6. How did the Bantu migrations impact or influence Africa then and today? (at least 3 things they did)-spread iron-working technology = ability to clear land

-spread culture

-Bantu language

Bantu Migrations-population growth most

likely reason for migrations – pressure on available resources

-Bantu absorbed other peoples into their society

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EUROPEAN COLONIZATION7. When did European trade with Africa

begin? What types of goods were traded?-1200s – along the Silk Road

-ivory, textiles, gold, & slave workers

The Slave Trade

8. Who gave Europeans the idea of slave trading?

-Arab traders – along the E coast of Af.

9. Some people call the African slave trade the African Diaspora. How would you compare the Jewish Diaspora with the African Diaspora?

-see map

The Atlantic Slave Trade

Colonization10. When did Europeans begin to

colonize Africa? What was going on in Europe at this time to further influence colonization? In other words, why did Europeans decide to colonize?

1. Port along W Af. Coast

2. Water route to S & SE Asia

3. 1800s – resources = Industrial Revolution

Berlin Conference - 1884

Berlin Conference – 1884-14 states divided up Af. w/out consideration

of cultures

-Result of boundaries:

1. Af. peoples divided

2. hostile societies thrown together

3. migration routes cut off

African Independence

11.Why do you believe Africans were able to gain

independence when they did?

-WWII weakened Europeans

Colonial Legacy

12. What were some benefits of European colonization on Africa?

-new educational opportunities

-development of cities – trade

13. What were the drawbacks of European colonization on Africa, especially on African independence?

-weakened African traditions – imposed own culture (“civilizing”)

-antagonism between tribes – see boundaries

-low level of development

*most rely on a single crop or mineral – plantations, mines, etc. (see map to follow)

-authoritarian governments

*Europeans did not allow opportunities for Africans to participate in government