Chapter 12: Kingdoms & Trading States

of Africa

Section 1: Early Civilizations of Africa Section 2: Kingdoms of West AfricaSection 3: Trade Routes of East AfricaSection 4: Many Peoples, Many

Traditions

Chapter 12:

Africa

Chapter 12: Africa

Section 1: Early Civilizations of Africa

Summary:

The varied climates, physical features, and natural resources of Africa helped create diverse ways of life

Section 1: Early Civilizations of Africa

Geography has always influenced how Africans live

Most Africans live in the savanna

These grassy plains are good for farming and cattle herding

Section 1: Early Civilizations of Africa

Many people also settled in the fertile Nile River Valley

Several large deserts made it difficult to travel in parts of Africa

Section 1: Early Civilizations of Africa

Steep waterfalls on several of Africa’s major rivers limited contact between the coast and the interior of the continent

However, people did migrate and trade

Section 1: Early Civilizations of Africa

The kingdom of Nubia emerged in North Africa at the same time Egyptian civilization developed

Nubia and Egypt had contact through trade and war

Section 1: Early Civilizations of Africa

As a result, the Nubians adopted many Egyptian ways

They built palaces and pyramids in the Egyptian style

At the same time Nubians developed their own civilization

Section 1: Early Civilizations of Africa

By controlling trade routes, Nubia grew wealthy

The Nubian system of writing used an alphabet, not hieroglyphics

Section 1: Early Civilizations of Africa

Several early civilizations influenced North Africa

Trade linked Egypt with Greece and Mesopotamia

Later Roman conquerors built roads and cities across North Africa

Section 1: Early Civilizations of Africa

Under Roman rule, Christianity spread

Merchants used camels brought in from Asia to create new trading networks across the Sahara

Section 1: Early Civilizations of Africa

In the 600s, Arab armies spread Islam throughout North Africa

Over time, Islam replace Christianity and the Arabic language replaced Latin

Section 1: Early Civilizations of Africa

North Africa was influenced by many cultures

Section 2: Kingdoms of West Africa

Summary:

West African rulers built powerful kingdoms by gaining control of trade routes and defeating their enemies

Section 2: Kingdoms of West Africa

By A.D. 100, farming villages in West Africa were growing into towns

Over time, these towns became part of an important trade network

Gold and salt were the most important products traded

Section 2: Kingdoms of West Africa

People needed salt in their diet to prevent dehydration, or loss of water

There was plenty of salt in the Sahara, but their was little in the Savanna

There, a block of salt was worth its weight in gold

Section 2: Kingdoms of West Africa

Strong West African rulers created powerful kingdoms

These kingdoms gained control of the trade routes

By 800, the kingdom of Ghana controlled trade in gold and salt across West Africa

Section 2: Kingdoms of West Africa

Around 1250, the kingdom of Mali crushed Ghana and won control of the gold trade routes

Mali built Timbuktu

Timbuktu became a center of learning

Section 2: Kingdoms of West Africa

Around 1450, a new kingdom called Songhai emerged

The ruler of Songhai built the largest state that had ever existed in West Africa

Section 2: Kingdoms of West Africa

Muslim merchants brought their religion when they settled throughout West Africa

In time, however, Islam became an important influence

Section 2: Kingdoms of West Africa

The emperor of Mali, Mansa Musa, converted to Islam

He based his system of government on the Quran (Koran)

Section 2: Kingdoms of West Africa

West African kingdoms also used Muslim military technology

They adopted Muslim ideas, including written language, coins, and business language

Section 2: Kingdoms of West Africa

Ghana (800-1000) Mali (1200-1450) Songhai (1450-1600)

-Control trade of gold & salt

-Conquers Ghana -Grows into largest West African state

- King has Muslim advisors

-Mansa Musa becomes great emperor

Controls important trade routes

-Control gold trade routes

Emperors set up Muslim dynasty

-Timbuktu becomes center of learning

Section 3: Trade Routes of East Africa

Summary:

Trade route across the Indian Ocean linked East Africa with other regions

Section 3: Trade Routes of East Africa

The kingdom of Axum was located on the coast of East Africa

In A.D. 350, Axum conquered and absorbed Nubia

Section 3: Trade Routes of East Africa

Axum controlled a trade network that linked Africa, India, and the Mediterranean world

In the cities of Axum, Africans mixed with the peoples of other lands

Section 3: Trade Routes of East Africa

In the 300s, the king of Axum converted to Christianity

Over time, Christianity spread throughout the kingdom

Civil war and the spread of Islam in North Africa led to the decline of the Axum

Section 3: Trade Routes of East Africa

However, people living in the mountains continued to practice Christianity

These people became the ancestors of the Ethiopians

Section 3: Trade Routes of East Africa

Ethiopian Christians borrowed many different traditions from other cultures:

They adapted East African music & dance

They observed Jewish holidays and rules about diet

Section 3: Trade Routes of East Africa

While the Axum declined, other trading cities arose along the East African coast

In the 600s, Arab and Persian merchants set up Muslim communities there

Section 3: Trade Routes of East Africa

By 1000, merchant ships from port cities such as Mogadishu sailed to India to trade

Trade led to a mixing of cultures in East Africa

Section 3: Trade Routes of East Africa

Over time, this blending of cultures resulted in a new language called Swahili

Section 3: Trade Routes of East Africa

Swahili mixed Arabic words with Bantu, an African language

Section 3: Trade Routes of East Africa

-Early trade with Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Arab, Chinese, and Indian merchants

-Trading communities set up on the eastern coast

The Rise of East African Trading Cities

East African trading cities develop

Short-Term Effects:

-Growth of strong city-states

-Rise of slave trade

Long-Term Effects:

-Rich mix of cultures

-Dev. Of Swahili Lang.

Section 4: Many Peoples, Many Traditions

Summary:

Village governments, family bonds, and religious beliefs gave people a sense of community

Section 4: Many Peoples, Many Traditions

Across Africa, people lived in different ways

In the desert people gathered roots and herbs and hunted small animals

They lived in small groups

Section 4: Many Peoples, Many Traditions

In some parts of the Savanna, nomadic people raised cattle

Along the coast people fished

They traded extra fish for grains and animal skins

Section 4: Many Peoples, Many Traditions

Farming communities grew many crops, such as grains, yams, and bananas

Section 4: Many Peoples, Many Traditions

The village, the family, and religion were important in Africa

Most farming people lived in villages

Villagers helped each other with planting and harvesting

Section 4: Many Peoples, Many Traditions

Each African family belonged to a lineage, or group of households who claimed a common ancestor

Several lineages formed a clan

Belonging to a family, lineage or clan helped each person to feel a part of the community

Section 4: Many Peoples, Many Traditions

Africans had many different religious beliefs

Villagers worshiped many gods and goddesses

Section 4: Many Peoples, Many Traditions

Many Africans believed that the spirits of their ancestors could help them

They tried to influence the spirits of nature with rituals and ceremonies

Section 4: Many Peoples, Many Traditions

Art and literature strengthened African society

African artists used ivory, wood, and bronze

Section 4: Many Peoples, Many Traditions

Some art was only for decoration

Statues and masks were often used in religious ceremonies

Section 4: Many Peoples, Many Traditions

Many African societies used stories to teach history and values

In West Africa, storytellers called griots passed stories from generation to generation

Section 4: Many Peoples, Many Traditions

Diverse African Traditions

Village Life Family Patterns Religious Beliefs

-Elders share government power

-Each family belongs to a lineage

Worship many gods

-Villagers help each other with planting & harvesting

-Several lineages form a clan

Elders ask spirits for rain & good harvests

-Some villages ruled by larger kingdoms, such as Songhai

-Elders teach children the clan’s history & religious beliefs

Ask spirits of ancestors for help

Appendix

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