Africa and the BantuAfrica and the Bantu

Coach ParrishCoach Parrish

OMSOMS

Chapter 11, Section 1Chapter 11, Section 1

BackgroundBackground

About 4000 years ago, many families in About 4000 years ago, many families in West Africa began to leave their West Africa began to leave their homelands in search of better farmland. homelands in search of better farmland. Because of the geography (forests, Because of the geography (forests, deserts, mountains), some had a difficult deserts, mountains), some had a difficult time moving.time moving.

MigrationMigration – movement from one region to – movement from one region to settle in anothersettle in another

BantuBantu – describes both the large group of – describes both the large group of Africans and the related languages they Africans and the related languages they

speak.speak.

Africa’s Physical GeographyAfrica’s Physical Geography

Surrounding the forests in Africa are Surrounding the forests in Africa are bands of bands of savannasavanna – areas of – areas of grasslands with scattered trees and grasslands with scattered trees and bushes.bushes.

SaharaSahara – desert stretching across – desert stretching across most of North Africa. This is the most of North Africa. This is the world’s largest desert.world’s largest desert.

Africa: Natural VegetationAfrica: Natural Vegetation

Sahara DesertSahara Desert

The Bantu MigrationThe Bantu Migration

Even though there were many Even though there were many barriers in Africa that could have barriers in Africa that could have prevented people from migrating, it prevented people from migrating, it did not happen. did not happen.

The Bantu people continued to The Bantu people continued to migrate for more than 1,000 years. migrate for more than 1,000 years. This is one of the largest migrations This is one of the largest migrations in history.in history.

Bantu MigrationBantu Migration

History of Sub-Saharan AfricaHistory of Sub-Saharan Africa

The area south of the Sahara desert The area south of the Sahara desert is known as Sub-Saharan Africa. is known as Sub-Saharan Africa. Historians know far less about this Historians know far less about this region of Africa than they do region of Africa than they do Northern Africa.Northern Africa.

Today, historians and scientists are Today, historians and scientists are spending a lot of time trying to piece spending a lot of time trying to piece together the history of Sub-Sahara together the history of Sub-Sahara Africa.Africa.

History of Sub-Saharan Africa, History of Sub-Saharan Africa, cont.cont.

One reason that the history of Sub-One reason that the history of Sub-Saharan Africa is so difficult to study Saharan Africa is so difficult to study is because the clay that the people is because the clay that the people used for building has disintegrated. used for building has disintegrated. Also, the iron tools have not lasted Also, the iron tools have not lasted due to rusting.due to rusting.

Victoria Falls – Zambezi RiverVictoria Falls – Zambezi River

The BantuThe Bantu

In early times, most Bantu-speaking In early times, most Bantu-speaking peoples were fishermen, farmers, and peoples were fishermen, farmers, and herders. herders.

ClanClan – group of families who traced their – group of families who traced their roots to the same ancestor. Families were roots to the same ancestor. Families were traced through the mother rather than the traced through the mother rather than the father.father.

As the Bantu began to spread out in As the Bantu began to spread out in search of better farmland, they had to search of better farmland, they had to adapt to their new environments.adapt to their new environments.

Spread of Bantu CultureSpread of Bantu Culture

As the Bantu migrated into new As the Bantu migrated into new areas, their culture spread with areas, their culture spread with them. Sometimes they blended with them. Sometimes they blended with the people already living there and the people already living there and sometimes they forced them from sometimes they forced them from their homes.their homes.

The Bantu’s knowledge of The Bantu’s knowledge of ironworking often made them ironworking often made them superior to other cultures.superior to other cultures.