AfricanCivilizations

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONSGeography of Africa

Second largest continent on EarthMountain Ranges

Atlas Mtns in the far northwestDrakensberg Mtns in the far southwest corner

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONSNorthern (Saharan) Africa

Sahara Desert is the world’s largest desertArea has few fresh water sourcesArabian and Nubian Deserts lie east of the Nile River

Nile River is the world’s longest river

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONSSub-Saharan Africa

Area south of the Saharan DesertWest Africa (Arm pit and west)

Dominated by the Niger River, lands suitable for farming and grazing

Traditionally they produce dates, kola nuts, and grains

ResourcesGold, salt, fresh water sources, plenty of wood, and food sources, especially fish

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONSWest African Early Life

Extended familyIncluded mother, father, children and close relatives in the household

Stressed loyalty to the family and to people in the community their age

Men hunted, farmed, and raised livestock

Women farmed, collected firewood, ground grain, and cared for children

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONSReligion

Ancestor worshipCarved statues and offered food

AnimismWorshiped spirits of water, animals, trees and other natural objects

Technological developmentUsed iron for tools and weapons

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONSEconomic trade

As the advanced, they began to trade with other areas of the world

Traded gold, ivory, slaves, salt, cloth, to North Africa and the Islamic world

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS1. What are the two groups to which a

person in early West Africa may have owed loyalty?

2. How did the use of iron change farming practices?

3. How did geography have an impact on the lives of early Africans?

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONSGhana Empire

Trading empire in West Africa (in Senegal and Mali) that lasted from around 800AD until 1200sAD

Soninke people dominated the Ghana Empire trading salt and gold with each other

Silent barter – exchanged goods without contacting each other directly

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONSGhana became more powerful as trade grew

Traded with Northern Africa for wheat, Southern Africa for sheep, wheat, and honey

Military started to use iron weaponsControlled West Africa’s trade routes

Taxed traders who passed through

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONSGhana rulers would not allow anyone to own gold nuggets, but hoarded it for themselves

They used their wealth to expand their empire and reached their height under Tunka Manin

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONSDecline

North Africa group called the Almoravids shortly invaded and weakened the empire

They overgrazed the pastures of Ghana and the soil was blown away

Conquered areas rebelled and took over, but Ghana then fell apart

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS1. What were the two major resources

traded in Ghana?2. How did the silent barter system

work?3. What group invaded Mali, and why

do you think they did?4. How did overgrazing help cause the

fall of Ghana

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONSOther Civilizations

MaliLocated on the Senegal River and upper Niger River

After Ghana fell, Sundiata rose up an army and overthrew a harsh local ruler

Then conquered GhanaCleared new farmlands for growing beans, onions, and rice and started growing cotton for the first time

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONSSundiata made himself the sole political and religious ruler, or mansa

Mansa Musa, a later Muslim Mali ruler, spread Islam throughout West Africa taking over Timbuktu

On his hajj pilgrimage, he became famousWould start schools in Mali and build mosques all over West Africa

Mansa Musa’s son was weak and the empire was lost to invaders including the Tuareg nomads from the Sahara

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONSSonghai

Empire in the western part of Ghana/Mali grewWas conquered by Mansa Musa

Grew rich from trade with the Berbers of N. Africa because they were both Muslim

Sunni AliOrganized the empire and after the fall of Mali, incorporated most of it

Allowed freedom of religion participating in both local and Muslim religions

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONSAskia the Great

Took Songhai from Sunni Ali’s son to ensure Muslim trade

The cities of Timbuktu and Djenne grew due to their schools, libraries, universities and mosques

Morocco invaded Songhai in 1591 bringing cannons and early guns

They destroyed Timbuktu and the capital Gao; and the empire.

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONSGreat Zimbabwe

Southern African kingdom of Zimbabwe grew to be great because of the gold mines there

But because of a decline in the gold trade it disappeared

AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS1. What major river was important to

the people of Mali? Why?2. What effects did the rule of Mansa

Musa have on Mali and West Africa?3. How did Askia the Great’s support

of education affect Timbuktu?4. What made Great Zimbabwe great

and led to its decline?