Africa

AFRICA

Objective- The student will understand the major African kingdoms, as well as their contribution to the continent as a whole.

A Satellite View

Africa’s Size

# Second largest continent 11,700,000 sq. mi.

# 10% of the world’s population.

# 2 ½ times the size of the U. S.

5000

MILES

4 6 0 0 M I L E S

The Mighty Nile River:

“Longest River in the World”

Desertification

The Sahel

Great Rift Valley

3,000 miles long

Vegetation Zones

African Rain Forest

# Annual rainfall of up to 17 ft.

# Rapid decomposition (very humid).

# Covers 37 countries.

# 15% of the land surface of Africa.

The

Complete

Topography

Of

AFRICA

Nile River

Congo River

Zambezi River

Niger River

Orange River

Limpopo River

Mediterranean Sea

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

Indian Ocean

Red Sea

L. Victoria

L. Albert-->

L. Chad-->

L. Tanganyika->

<--Gu

lf of A

den

Drajensburg Mts.

Ruw

enzori Mts.

Δ Mt. Kenya

Δ Mt. Kilimanjaro

Sahara Desert

Sahel

Kalahari

Desert

Nam

ib D

esert

Libyan Desert

Gre

at R

ift

Val

ley

Atlas Mts.

Tropic of Cancer 20° N

Tropic of Capricorn20° S

Equator 0°

Ancient Civilizations of West Africa

The Nok and Bantu Unlike many regional centers of civilized

society, West Africa was greatly influenced by the diffusion of technology from Trans-Saharan trade mainly from North Africa.

The first peoples to develop societies in West Africa were the Nok who benefited by the diffusion of innovations such as iron-smelting.

Archeological evidence seems to suggest the peoples in this region moved from stone to iron sometime around 500 B.C.E. and most evidence points to diffusion of technology.

Bantu Migrations The most prominent event in Sub-Saharan Africa

during ancient times were the migrations of the Bantu-speaking peoples and the establishment of agricultural societies in regions where Bantu speakers settled.

Just as Sudanese agriculture spread to the Nile and provided an economic foundation for the development of many African societies, it also spread to most other regions of Africa south of the Sahara and supported the emergence of distinct agricultural societies.

The Bantu Located initially in the lower Niger Valleys,

the Bantu began to migrate from West Africa spreading their language, knowledge of iron production, and their experience with settled tropical agriculture.

Between 500 B.C.E. to 500 C.E., this migration would move Bantu innovations and inherited innovations throughout central Africa and onto to southern Africa.

The Bantu and the Nok Neither the Nok nor

the Bantu, created urban centers in West Africa.

The first urban settlement is believed to be at Djenne-djeno site settlement around 250 B.C.E.

Djenne-Djeno Djenne-Djeno is believed to be the first

indigenous sub-Saharan city. The use of iron and traditional fishing and

herding allowed the city to grow to its peak around 900 C.E.

Unlike other areas of settlement, Djenne-Djeno was a centrally occupied area with a large fortified wall and smaller settlements in the interior.

The size of the city apparently grew to over 50,000 inhabitants.

Djenne-Djeno The creation of Djenne-Djeno

may not have been built as a religious center but it appears that its inhabitants Believed in ancestor worship and a well defined familial residential style also developed.

It appeared that the husband/father lived in one large central hut while each wife occupied adjacent huts.

The main endeavor of Djenne-Djeno was trade.

Djenne-Djeno The population at Djenne-Djeno lived in

neighboring clusters that were functionally independent.

No single urban center, monumental architecture, no hierarchical social structure, no strong central authority

It appears Djenne-Djeno experienced relative equality and cooperation from its citizens rather than competition

Disappeared with little answers but may have held the key to an alternative urban settlement pattern.

Ancestors

Traditional African Society

Rise of the Kingdom of AksumEast Africa Kingdom of Aksum Located on a Rugged

Plateau on the Red Sea Ancestors Traced Back to King Solomon

and the Queen of Sheba Known to Have Interactions with the

Greeks & Conquered Lands Bordering the Red Sea & the Nile

Due to Locations of Lands the Kingdom of Aksum Became an Important Trading Center

Rise of the Kingdom of AksumEast Africa Adulis: Chief Seaport of Aksum

Developed into an International Trading Power

Ezana: Occupied the Throne in 350 A.D. when the Kingdom of Aksum Conquered the Kushites

Aksum Established Christianity and a Unique Architecture

Fall of the Kingdom of AksumEast Africa Aksum's Cultural & Technological

Achievements Allowed it to Last for 800 Years

Kingdom Begins to Decline Under Islamic Invaders

Invaders Destroy Adulis in 710 A.D., thus Weakening Aksum's Ability to Remain a Trading Power

Traditional Family Structures

Nuclear Family:

Extended Family:

C

C

C C

CHW W

C

C

C C

C

HW W

GP

CsGP

Cs

U

A

Traditional African ReligionANIMISM

1. Belief in one remote Supreme Being.

3. Ancestor veneration.

4. Belief in magic, charms, and fetishes.

5. Diviner mediator between the tribe and God.

2. A world of spirits (good & bad) in all things.

Common Traits or Characteristics of Traditional African Tribal Life

1. The good of the group comes ahead of the good of the individual.

2. All land is owned by the group.

3. Strong feeling of loyalty to the group.

4. Important ceremonies at different parts of a person’s life.

5. Special age and work associations.

6. Deep respect for ancestors.

7. Religion is an important part of everyday life.

8. Government is in the hands of the chiefs [kings].

World of the Spirits

Dogon “Spirit House”

West Africa after 700 C.E. In West Africa, the first known cities, such

as Timbuktu, Jenne, and Mopti, along the Niger River, and Ife and Igbo Ikwu near the tropical coasts, it seems were built as centers of trade.

These centers would continue to be built upon Trans-Saharas trade in Salt, gold, Spices, millet, and other items.

Creating the later Ghana, Mali, and Songhi Kingdoms from 1100 C.E.

Summary Due to the Geography of the

Continent the People of African Never Became a Unified GroupThis Led to Africa being a

Splintered Continent, Which Resulted in Fragmentation of Cultures