Africa

African American History

Birthplace of Humanity

• British Naturalist Charles Darwin was one of the first people to suggest that Africa was the birthplace of humanity.

• The Leakey's (Mary and Louis and later their son Richard) supported this idea with their archaeological findings (e.g. fossils) in East Africa, namely Tanzania.

Out of Africa Theory

• The Out of Africa Theory suggests that “All people today, in other words, are very likely descendants of beings who lived in Africa millions of years ago.”

Perceptions

• Mysterious• Primitive• Poverty• Famine/starvation• Wild animals

• Disease-namely AIDS

• War/violence• Valuable natural

resources• Tribal societies• Black people

Prior Knowledge• Egypt

• Pyramids, Pharaohs, Cleopatra, Nile River (flows north, major transportation and

communication systems and responsible for the fertile soil), complex hieroglyphic writing system, Polytheistic, medical advances, mathematics, astronomy—

remained powerful for thousands of years.

Nubia/Kingdom of Kush

• South of Egypt, trade center: ivory, ebony, frankincense, slaves, gold, leopard skins. Kushites were heavily influenced by Egypt life and culture (Nubian princes were educated in Egypt) but eventually leaders from Kush ruled in Egypt for a time. Kush is most remembered for its center, Meroe

(iron weapons and tools).

Axum

• Modern day Ethiopia, founded by Arabs, located near the Red Sea, exported ivory, frankincense, myrrh, & slaves.

• Religion: Christian missionaries came to area as it developed as a trade center. King Ezana converted to Christianity and made it the official religion of Axum. Islam and Christianity clashed in the region after hundreds of years of peaceful existence.

Africa

• 11.7 million square miles, 3 times the size of the United States

• 2nd largest continent with over 50 countries

• 20% forest (7-8% jungle)• 40% savanna grassland

with scattered trees• 40% desert (Sahara and

Kalahari)• 60% Dry areas—drought

is a major factor and created numerous problems

Africa• Demographics: Over 800 languages and cultures

(up to 250 languages spoken in Nigeria alone)• Population: Today- more than 750 million

people. • The cities are crowded (esp. Nigerian and Kenya-

Kinshasa, Khartoum, Nairobi, and Dar es Salaam)• There is a great deal of unused space in Africa

because some areas are unsuitable for living because of the land and climate.

• Rift Valley: 2000-4000 mile fault system East African (Volcanoes and earthquakes)

Africa• Mortality rate: traditionally about 50%

(half of the babies born are likely to die in infancy)

• Religion

48% Christian—300 million

41% Islam—278 million

African ReligionTraditional/indigenous religions

A. A belief that one supreme being created the world

B. A belief in a number of gods (spirits inhabit rivers, mountains, and some live in animals)

C. The acceptance that ancestral, or familial, spirits must be honored

Africa• Family – Nuclear family- parents and their

children• Extended family- parents and their

children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

• Bride wealth- the groom or his family may be asked to pay the bride’s family a payment of goats, cattle, or chickens.

• Assumes an important role in the distribution of family property.

Bride wealth• Bride payments have been interpreted in

numerous ways. • 1. Some claim that the wealth received

compensates them for time and trouble taken to raise a daughter who will be sent off to live with another family.

• 2. It is viewed as compensation for the loss of a daughter's economic services or for the children she adds to her new family.

Lineage

• Matrilineal - a family that traces its lineage to a common ancestor through its mother lines

 • Patrilineal - a family that traces its lineage to a

common ancestor through its father lines • Example: Families discuss ancestry and the past

in ways that feature only the males. This man fathered this son, and the women/mothers go without mention.

Review Questions

• What Kingdom was known for being an industrialized Trading Center?

• This kingdom was known as the first Christian state___ a)Ghana; b) Axum; c) Kush

• ________ is a society that worships many gods

Review Questions…..

• ______% of babies in Africa die in infancy• _______ means to have many wives, it

was traditional for men to have more than one wife.

• *________ What Egyptian Queen reigned for 20 yrs and dressed like a man?

Africa

• Leadership: Many African societies in the past were lead by a Council of Elders—consistent with the idea that one should respect wisdom and life experiences.

West Africa• African Americans • People lived in villages/close knit family

structure/respect for elders & older people• Many people farmed and raised animals; made

crafts/merchants, fishermen• Drought (lack of rain) was common• Men dominated many societies/women were

considered property of men in these societies• West Africans initiated boys and sometimes

girls into adulthood (Rites of Passage--Males –manhood training)

Ancient West African Societies

• Three highly developed empires existed in ancient West Africa:

• Ghana• Mali

• Songhai

Ghana• Ghana: first West African empire was an

important trading state from 300-1000• Goods- salt, copper, dried fruits were

exchanged for the region’s gold, ivory, leather goods, and slaves. Trade partners Arabs and Europeans

• Efficient government system involving taxing exports and imports.

• The trade routes were protected by a strong army armed with iron weapons.

Mali: 1240-1500• Mali was characterized by effective leadership.• Sundiata conquered surrounding territories

and people.• Mansa Musa ruled from 1312 to1337 and the

empire reached its peak of political power and cultural achievement under his reign.

• Timbuktu became a famous center of learning especially in the study of Islam and law.

• The economy was based on caravan trade, farming, and herding.

• Government leaders were Muslim but the major of the citizens worshipped traditional African gods.

Mansa Musa’s Legend

1312 -1337 • Islamic leader made a pilgrimage to Mecca

with a large entourage --thousands of servants and soldiers, carrying gold, food, clothing, and other supplies.

• Offered gold gifts to his hosts and made purchases with gold.

• Left the impression of a great ruler of a powerful and prosperous kingdom.

Songhai: 700-1600• A trading state with its capital city, Gao,

on the Niger River. • Songhai controlled trade across the

Sahara Desert. • Most people were involved in either the

trade, farming, and fishing. • Key leaders Sunni Ali and Askia

Muhammad and they created a unified system of law and order, central government, and efficient trade.

Atlantic Slave TradeTriangular Trade

• Portugal led the way in exploration (Sugar Plantation—African Coastal Islands)

• Three Legs: (like a triangle) It went from Europe to Africa, Africa to the Americas, and then back to Europe.

Goods

• Rum• Cloth• Guns• Tools • Furs• Molasses• Flour

• Manufactured Goods

• Tobacco• Naval Supplies• Gold • Fish

AFRICAN SLAVERY

• AFRICANS ENSLAVED AFRICANS

• Africans: War Captives, Kidnapped, Debtors/Criminals

• Atlantic Slave Trade-targeted males

African Slavery• Muslims enslaved Africans:

Largely women & children• Generally worked as domestic

servants• Slaves in African societies had

some legal rights and opportunity for social mobility.

• Sons and daughters were considered free.

Initial Slavery

Traumatic Experience

Captured

Shackled

Transported 3-8 week journey

Arrival & Sale

Settling in to new home—Fear, anxiety, uncertainty, confusion, and chaos

Middle Passage• The voyage to the

Americas was a nightmare.

• Overcrowded• Disease --smallpox

and flux• Hunger strikes• Unsanitary

conditions

• Death• Sickness• Mothers

murdering newborn babies

• Suicides--people jumping overboard to avoid bondage

Middle Passage• A ship could leave the African coast &

arrive with less than half the number of human cargo.

• Millions were transported during the slave trade.

• Scholars tend to accept the figures of historian Phillip Curtain. 10 Million

• The supply of Africans seemed to be inexhaustible.

Effects on Africa

• Slave trading forever altered Africa.

• Some would even say the slave trade stripped Africa of its best. After all, the trade demanded the healthiest, youngest, & ablest.

Olaudah Equiano• Born in Nigeria in 1745, captured at 10 or 11 by

local slave raiders• Shipped to Barbados and sold numerous times

(but had 3 long term masters)• Renamed Gustavus Vassa• Personal Servant of a merchant ship

captain/Fought in the French and Indian War• Lived and was educated in England/Amateur

Navigator• 3rd master allowed him to purchase his freedomat 21 • Joined the British Antislavery movement

Equiano

• Well-traveled• Converted to Calvinism

• Helped organize Sierra Leone 1787 (for emancipated British slaves)

• Wrote an autobiography which illustrated that he was highly intelligent and perceptive

• Died 1797 at the age of 52

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African.

Why did Europeans turn to Africans?

• Native American populations were devastated by disease

• Natives were quick to runaway—familiar with the land.

• The numbers of Indentured Servants could not keep pace with the high demands for labor.

• Africans were most suitable for agricultural labor

Origins of Atlantic Slave Trade

• Portuguese-Led the way for gold, ivory and pepper

• No concept of racial solidarity or unity• Did not consider it wrong to sell one of the

same race.

Origins continued

• Columbus’s voyage opened the door for Spain, Portugal and later Dutch, English and French colonies

Seasoning

• Seasoning

-meant breaking in slaves; disciplinary process intended to modify behavior and attitude of slaves and make them effective labors.

-assigned new names; Christian names, generic African Names, or classical/Greek names such as Jupiter.

-Learn new languages

Seasoning Continued…

• High School: Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior, Senior

• Freshmen-get broken in, by the Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors, about the do’s and don’ts of high school

• Same goes for college: if you don’t listen-Girls-those guys will break you in if you LET THEM!

Review Questions

• What country led the way in the exploration of Africa?

• What years did the demand for slaves greatly increase in the West Indies?

• What were several reasons that Europeans turned to Africans for slave labor?

• How would you describe the Atlantic Slave trade?

Review Questions

• What is seasoning?• What impact did seasoning have on the

slaves?• Would you agree that seasoning continues

to go on today?• How? Why?

Day 3 Review Questions

• ______Renamed Gustavus Vassa; Wrote an autobiography which illustrated that he was highly intelligent and perceptive

• Islamic leader made a pilgrimage to Mecca with a large entourage --thousands of servants and soldiers, carrying gold, food, clothing, and other supplies______

Continued….

• the beginning process of making new Africans more like “creoles” is called:______

• Describe African Slavery• What were several reasons as to why

Europeans turned to Africans for slavery?

• British sailors coined this phrase describing the middle leg of the journey…______ what is?

What Goods did Europeans Exchange for Slaves

• English Goods• Rum • Sugar• molasses

What type of work did Slaves do in America?

• Plantation work• Planting/harvesting• Weeding• Bring water or food to other slaves• Domestic(house slaves)• Drivers (overseers)

Why does slavery grow in America?

• Cheap Labor• Cultivation of sugar and tobacco• Replacing Native Americans• Very profitable for England

Chattel Slavery

• Personal Property• No customary human rights• Belonged completely to your master