Africa: Beginnings to 1800s

AP World History

What is the geography of Africa? How might this geography impact Africans?

■ A Land of Geographic Contrasts – this explains everything!

■ Large continent but coastline has few ports, harbors, or inlets ****

■ Challenging Environments■ Africa has many deserts,

including huge Sahara■ The southern edge of the

expanding Sahara is called the Sahel

■ Rainforests found near central part of continent

■ Northern coast and southern tip of Africa have Mediterranean climates

■ Savannas, or grasslands, cover almost half of Africa

■ The topography and climate of Africa has limited migration and economic development.

■ The presence of waterfalls (cataracts) and rapids slowed river travel.

■ Highlands and steep cliffs limited exploration.■ The large deserts that dominate the landscape of northern (the

Sahara desert) and southern (the Kalahari desert) Africa slowed land travel.

■ These areas receive less than ten inches of rainfall annually!■ These barriers (waterfalls, rapids, highlands, steep cliffs,

deserts) delayed European colonization of central Africa (European investors were attracted to southern Africa and southeast Asia because of their NATURAL RESOURCES.)

■ The variety of geographic barriers has also served to promote cultural diversity.

Geography of Africa

Africa’s geography was very diverse

& Africans were lived differently based on where

they lived

Geography of Africa

The Sahara is the world’s largest desert & acted as a barrier to separate North Africa

from sub-Saharan Africa

Early Societies of Africa

By 750, North Africans were part of the Islamic Empire, converted to Islam, & shared Arabic culture

Early societies of North Africa were influenced by

Mediterranean cultures such as the Phoenicians & Romans

Early Societies of Africa

African societies south of the Sahara were

isolated & missed out on

the cultural diffusion of the

Classical Era

How did early people in Sub-Saharan Africa live?

Characteristics of Sub-Saharan Africa■While the societies of sub-Saharan Africa

were diverse, they shared some similarities:–Most societies lived in farming villages in

family-based clans–Few societies had

written languages; Histories were shared orally by storytellers (griots)

–Made iron tools

Characteristics of Africa■Sub-Saharan people

were polytheistic:–Practiced animism,

a religion in whichspirits exist in nature &play a role in daily life

The Bantu Migration

Over the course of 4,000 years, Bantu peoples of central

Africa migrated south in search of farmland

These Bantu migrations helped spread new farming & ironworking techniques

What factors shaped the culture of East Africa?

East Africa■The societies of East African participated

in the Indian Ocean trade network & were shaped by cultural diffusion:–The kingdom of

Aksum trade withPersia, India, Arabia, & Rome; Aksum became a Christian kingdom

Aksum Church

East Africa■ Arab merchants

introduced Islam to East African trade cities–The mix of African &

Arab cultures led to a new Swahili language

–Towns had mosques & were ruled by a Muslim sultan

–But many people kept their traditional religious beliefs

What factors shaped the culture of West Africa?

AFRICAN TRADING KINGDOMS■ TRADE! - Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Mogadishu / Gold and salt / trans-

Saharan trade [caravan] routes■ • As a result of Mansa Musa’s [the king of Mali] pilgrimage (hajj)

to Mecca, Islamic learning and culture expanded in Mali■ The spread of Islam is an example of cultural diffusion■ • During the reign of Mansa Musa, Mali experienced a golden age

[a period of prosperity and artistic creativity]■ • Africans had centralized governments during the age of European

feudalism■ African societies achieved a high level of economic and cultural

development before the arrival of Europeans (e.g. Timbuktu [in Mali] was a center of learning and trade [a commercial and cultural center], the walls of Great Zimbabwe reveal a powerful and rich society, brass sculptures and plaques in Benin, Kilwa’s Great Mosque, tribal masks, and polyrhythmic music [tension drums and rattles])

West Africa■West Africa was

shaped by the trans-Saharan trade network:–West Africans

had large deposits of gold, but lacked salt

–The gold-salt trade connected North & West Africa

West Africa■The gold-salt trade

increased cultural diffusion with Muslim merchants:–Islam was

introduced in West Africa & slowed gained converts

–Many Africans blended Islam with animism or never converted

West Africa■The gold-salt trade led

to wealth & empires in West Africa–By 800, Ghana

became an empire by taxing merchants, building a large army, & conquering surrounding people

–Ghana kings served as religious leaders, judges, & generals

West Africa■Eventually Ghana

was overthrown & the

Mali empire emerged–Mali’s King Sundiata

took over the Ghana kingdom & trade cities in West Africa

–Sundiata created an efficient gov’t, promoted farming, & controlled trade

West Africa■The kings who ruled

Mali after Sundiata converted to Islam

■The most important king was Mansa Musa:–He built a 100,000

man army to keep control over Mali

–He divided Mali into provinces ruled by appointed governors

Mansa MusaMansa Musa was a devout Muslim & went on

a hajj to Mecca in 1324

Mansa Musa passed out gold nuggets to the people he met along the way

This is a European map of Africa. Very little was known about Africa below the Sahara,

but Mansa Musa is on the map. Based on his image on the map, what did

Europeans know about Mansa Musa?

West Africa■When he returned

from Mecca, Mansa Musa built mosques throughout Mali, including Timbuktu–This trade city

attracted scholars, doctors, religious leaders

–It had a university & became an important center for learning

Timbuktu

Djenne MosqueUniversity

Travels of Ibn Battuta• In 1352, Ibn Battuta —Muslim scholar and traveler—visits Mali• By 1400, Mali begins to decline

AP College Board loves this guy!!!!! Huge Cultural Diffusion use – one guy who travels throughout the Indian Ocean world, and writes down all of his observations, foods tasted, etc? Some of the cultures that will be lost due to war or Imperialism – the only thing we know about them is due to his journals.

West Africa■After Mansa Musa,

Mali declined & was replaced by Songhai –Kings gained control

of trade cities along the gold-salt routes

–Songhai grew into the largest of the West African empires

–Its fall in 1591 ended a 1,000 year era of empires in West Africa

Conclusions■ African societies

were transformed by two powerful forces:–Trade with

outsiders –Introduction

of Islam

Closure Activity■ Compare the impact of geography on the

development of Greece, China & Africa■ How are Greek myths similar to the myths

and folk stories told by Africans?■ Why would someone say that trade is the

most important factor in the development of East African and Roman culture?

■ What comparisons could you make between African animism and Indian Hinduism?

■ How are Swahili and Hellenistic cultures similar? How are they different?