Early African Civilizations

U.S History Mr. Szyzdek

Overview

• Western Africa was home to many successful kingdoms around the same time as Europeans began to explore the world.

• Powerful kings established their dominance in the lush coastal region near the Niger and Senegal Rivers.

• The land provided many resources for trade including salt, pepper, gold, and ivory.

Geography Encourages Trade

• The Sahara Desert covers most of the Northern part of the African continent.• Salt was the major resource found in the Sahara• The coastal valleys were ideal for the harvesting of gold.• Trading towns soon became powerful trading capitols.

African Kingdoms

• Ghana was one of the earliest of the great kingdoms of West Africa.

• It expanded from the Sahara to the Gulf of Guinea and from the Atlantic to the Niger river.

• It had a complex systemof commerce, politicalstructure, and stunningarchitecture. g

African Kingdoms Cont.• Attackers weakened Ghana's hold on trade

routes.• By 1200, a new kingdom had taken over the

region.• Mali- ruled by Mansa Musa who was Muslim.• Founded city of Timbuktu which was known for

its university.• Kingdom weakened after death of Mansa Musa

Mansa Musa

African Kingdoms Cont.

• Songhai (1400 A.D) – had been able to conquer Mali in 1468.

• As a result, Songhai became the largest and most powerful kingdom in West Africa

• Sustained the Islamic system of education.

Askia Mohammud

Religious Beliefs

• Many Africans held traditional beliefs: spirits lived in rain, trees, rocks, and animal life.

• Spirits of ancestors were also honored

• Muslim caravans bring not only goods but also religion.

Economics

• Ancestral roots decided property ownership in many African societies.

• The king also had power to take away and redistribute land among his officials.

• Owning slaves or wives was a sign of wealth not property.

Slavery in Africa

• Slavery was a common practice.

• Slaves were usually people who were conquered, committed crimes, or found undesirable.

African vs. American Slavery

• Slaves were usually adopted to families.• They could marry. Their children were born

free.• Could often become soldiers or important

officials.• Slavery NOT based on race!

The End