AfricaAfrica

How has AfricaHow has Africa’’s s geography affected the geography affected the continentcontinent’’s history and s history and

development?development?

Different Geographic RegionsDifferent Geographic Regions

Sahara desert Sahara desert is the largest is the largest desert in the desert in the world. For world. For thousands of thousands of years it has years it has played a major played a major role in the role in the development of development of AfricaAfrica. .

The Sahara DesertThe Sahara Desert

GeographyGeography

Africa Africa is the worldsis the worlds’’ second second largest continent. It has a largest continent. It has a wide variety of wide variety of climatesclimates, , topographytopography, vegetation, and , vegetation, and terrains which have impacted terrains which have impacted the the diversity diversity of itof it’’s cultures. s cultures.

The largest and most populated The largest and most populated regions are the regions are the savannassavannas, or , or grassy plains.grassy plains.

The Green zone is the savanna

Here is what you can find in AfricaHere is what you can find in Africa’’s s savannas…savannas…

Geo=earth, graphy=study ofGeo=earth, graphy=study ofGeo+graphy=the study of EarthGeo+graphy=the study of Earth’’s s

physical featuresphysical features

Geography Geography affects affects how people live how people live and how they make and how they make a living.a living.

Geographic features can Geographic features can act either as act either as barriers barriers or or highwayshighways to the movement of to the movement of people, goods, and ideas. people, goods, and ideas.

A barrier is something that makes travel difficult or near impossible.

Can you name one “geographic barrier” in

Africa?”

A A plateauplateau is a barrier is a barrier

AfricaAfrica’’s high s high plateau plateau interior and interior and rivers with rivers with cataracts, or cataracts, or waterfalls waterfalls hindered easy hindered easy movement.movement.

While plateaus can be a barrier, While plateaus can be a barrier, they also form amazing landmarksthey also form amazing landmarks

Victoria Falls

The Great Rift Valley; a highwayThe Great Rift Valley; a highway

The The Great Rift Valley Great Rift Valley served as an served as an interior passageway and the interior passageway and the Mediterranean and Red seas provided Mediterranean and Red seas provided overseas trade routes to regions in the overseas trade routes to regions in the Middle East and Europe. Middle East and Europe.

Early AfricaEarly Africa’’s Economys Economy

Mineral wealth Mineral wealth spurred trade spurred trade since ancient since ancient times.times.

SaltSalt, gold, , gold, iron, and copper iron, and copper were were valuable valuable itemsitems..

Trade Trade linked linked Africa to other Africa to other continents.continents.

Ships of the DesertShips of the Desert

By the year By the year A.D. 200, a A.D. 200, a new form of new form of transportation transportation emerges, the emerges, the ““ships of the ships of the desertdesert.. ””

These were These were camelscamels that that could carry heavy loads and could carry heavy loads and walk 20-30 miles a day in walk 20-30 miles a day in the desert without water.the desert without water.

Checkpoint: What geographic Checkpoint: What geographic features limited movement of features limited movement of

people in Africa??????people in Africa??????

•Plateaus

•Deserts

•Smooth Coast line

•Impassable rivers

•Cataracts or waterfalls.

Climate Change? Back then too?Climate Change? Back then too?

Farming even Farming even spread into spread into the Sahara the Sahara desert.desert.

However, in However, in 2500 B.C., a 2500 B.C., a climate change climate change slowly dried slowly dried out the out the Sahara.Sahara.

DesertificationDesertification

The land became The land became dry and the dry and the desert spreaddesert spread. . This is known This is known as as desertificationdesertification and forced and forced people to people to migrate away migrate away from this area. from this area.

At risk of desertificationAt risk of desertification

The Bantu MigrationsThe Bantu Migrations

Migrations shaped the Migrations shaped the diversity in diversity in African culturesAfrican cultures..

West African languages derived from West African languages derived from one common language called one common language called BantuBantu. .

Bantus were good at Bantus were good at farmingfarming, , working with ironworking with iron, and , and domesticating animalsdomesticating animals. .

Bantu MigrationsBantu Migrations

The Bantu LegacyThe Bantu Legacy

As they spread into Southern As they spread into Southern Africa, Bantu culture merges Africa, Bantu culture merges with new cultures. Bantu with new cultures. Bantu language is still spoken today. language is still spoken today. This is This is cultural diffusioncultural diffusion. .

Checkpoint: How did migration Checkpoint: How did migration affect the development of African affect the development of African

cultures??????cultures??????Migration helped spread ideas and skills such as:

•Farming

•Ironworking

•Domesticating animals

Where is the Nile River?Where is the Nile River?

Cultural diffusion with EgyptiansCultural diffusion with Egyptians

Nubia is controlled by Egyptians for Nubia is controlled by Egyptians for 500 years. As a result, Nubians 500 years. As a result, Nubians adaptadapt Egyptian culture. Egyptian culture.

In 500 B.C., Nubia is threatened by In 500 B.C., Nubia is threatened by the the Assyrians Assyrians from SW Asia (Middle from SW Asia (Middle East).East).

Nubians are forced to move their Nubians are forced to move their capital to capital to MeroeMeroe. .

Why are rivers so important to Why are rivers so important to people in history?people in history?

Controlled North, Controlled North, South trade along Nile South trade along Nile and East, West trade.and East, West trade.

Established own Established own languagelanguage. Nubian is . Nubian is not decipherable not decipherable today. today.

Overwhelmed by the Overwhelmed by the kingdom of Axum kingdom of Axum to its to its south. south.

Checkpoint: How did conquest Checkpoint: How did conquest affect the development of Nubia?affect the development of Nubia?

Nubians adapted many Egyptian Nubians adapted many Egyptian traditions when they were under traditions when they were under EgyptEgypt’’s control. Assyrian s control. Assyrian conquest forced the Nubians conquest forced the Nubians back to the south where they back to the south where they settled in Meroe and prospered. settled in Meroe and prospered.

Outside Influences Affect North Outside Influences Affect North AfricaAfrica

Phoenicians Build CarthagePhoenicians Build Carthage

Carthage Carthage becomes a great power becomes a great power in in Northern Africa Northern Africa founded by founded by Phoenician traders.Phoenician traders.

Dominated trade in the Dominated trade in the Mediterranean Mediterranean from 800 B.C. to from 800 B.C. to 146 B.C146 B.C

Islam spreads into AfricaIslam spreads into Africa

In the 690s, Muslim Arabs In the 690s, Muslim Arabs conquer their way into North conquer their way into North Africa. Africa. Islam Islam Replaces Replaces Christianity as the dominant Christianity as the dominant religion of the area. religion of the area.

Arabic Arabic replaces replaces Latin Latin as its as its languagelanguage

11:2 Kingdoms of West Africa11:2 Kingdoms of West Africa

Trade in the SaharaTrade in the Sahara

•Salt was a rare commodity and a highly sought after item.

•People in West Africa settle along the Senegal and Niger rivers around Lake Chad.

•Signifies the expansion from farming villages to towns is based on trade.

If you have more than enough of If you have more than enough of something what do you do with it?something what do you do with it?

Villages began Villages began producing a producing a surplussurplus- more goods - more goods than they needed.than they needed.

Begin trading their Begin trading their surplus food for surplus food for products from other products from other villages. villages.

Trading Gold for SaltTrading Gold for Salt Lots of Lots of gold gold was in and was in and around the soil of around the soil of rivers.rivers.

Africans traded Africans traded gold gold for saltfor salt. Wait . Wait what?????? Why?what?????? Why?

Salt was a Salt was a commoditycommodity, , or valuable product or valuable product because people living because people living in hot areas need salt in hot areas need salt in their diet to in their diet to replenish the salt they replenish the salt they lost from sweating. lost from sweating.

Salt’s usesSalt’s uses Salt was also important Salt was also important because it was used in because it was used in food preservation.food preservation.

Salt was Salt was abundantabundant in the in the Sahara and Sahara and scarce scarce in the in the savannas to the south.savannas to the south.

Therefore, they treated Therefore, they treated with each other---with each other---1 1 pound of gold for 1 pound of gold for 1 pound of saltpound of salt..

Ghana: The Land of GoldGhana: The Land of Gold Kingdom of Kingdom of Ghana Ghana built great walled built great walled cities with cities with luxurious stone luxurious stone buildings.buildings.

Got their wealth Got their wealth from the from the gold tradegold trade..

Eventually are Eventually are overthrown by pious overthrown by pious Muslim people called Muslim people called Almoravids Almoravids who who establish the establish the kingdom of Mali.kingdom of Mali.

Kingdom of MaliKingdom of Mali Ghana people are Ghana people are overrun by rival overrun by rival leader and all leader and all ruling family was ruling family was executed except executed except SundiataSundiata. .

Thought he was too Thought he was too sick and weak.sick and weak.

He survives, rises He survives, rises to power and to power and founds the founds the empire empire of Mali in 1235.of Mali in 1235.

A Major Trading Center EmergesA Major Trading Center Emerges

Timbuktu Timbuktu emerges as a major emerges as a major trading city in Mali.trading city in Mali.

Mansa MusaMansa Musa Greatest ruler of Greatest ruler of Mali was Mali was Mansa Mansa MusaMusa, who came to , who came to the thrown in 1312. the thrown in 1312.

He expanded the He expanded the boundaries to the boundaries to the Atlantic Ocean and Atlantic Ocean and worked to ensure worked to ensure peace peace in his in his empire.empire.

Converted to Converted to IslamIslam..

Influence of Islam on MaliInfluence of Islam on Mali Promoted Promoted religious religious freedom and freedom and tolerance tolerance amongst amongst his people. his people.

Mansa Musa makes the Mansa Musa makes the hajj hajj to Mecca in to Mecca in 1324. Forges new 1324. Forges new economic ties economic ties with with other Muslim states. other Muslim states.

Brings back Brings back Muslim Muslim scholars scholars and and promotes education promotes education in Mali.in Mali.

A New Empire in SonghaiA New Empire in Songhai The 1400The 1400’’s sees Mali s sees Mali weakened over weakened over problems with problems with succession. succession.

People will break People will break away and form the away and form the emerging emerging kingdom of kingdom of Songhai. Songhai.

Soldier king, Soldier king, Sonni Sonni Ali Ali creates largest creates largest state ever in West state ever in West Africa. Africa.

SonghaiSonghai

Ali does not practice Ali does not practice Islam, rather followed Islam, rather followed traditional religious traditional religious beliefsbeliefs. .

Sets up a Sets up a bureaucracy bureaucracy with separate with separate departments like one departments like one for for farmingfarming, the , the militarymilitary, and the , and the treasurytreasury..

Eventually ends in Eventually ends in civil war with civil war with problems over problems over succession.succession.

Smaller Societies of West AfricaSmaller Societies of West Africa Developed in the Developed in the rain forest .rain forest .

Benin, rose in the Benin, rose in the rain forests rain forests of the of the Guinea coast.Guinea coast.

Had a three-mile Had a three-mile wall that wall that surrounded the surrounded the capital city, capital city, Benin Benin City.City.

Benin AchievementsBenin Achievements Rulers of Rulers of Benin Benin built on the built on the achievements of achievements of earlier forest earlier forest cultures, and cultures, and artisans taught artisans taught them how to cast them how to cast bronze and brass.bronze and brass.

Arabic script Arabic script influenced writing influenced writing and and Islamic law Islamic law greatly influenced greatly influenced government. government.

11:3 Kingdoms and Trading 11:3 Kingdoms and Trading States of East AfricaStates of East Africa

Axum: Center of Goods and IdeasAxum: Center of Goods and Ideas

Located in Located in Eastern Africa Eastern Africa where where modern-day Ethiopia is.modern-day Ethiopia is.

When rulers When rulers adopted Christianityadopted Christianity, , their new religion linked the people their new religion linked the people of Axum closely to trading partners of Axum closely to trading partners in North Africa and the in North Africa and the Mediterranean world.Mediterranean world.

AxumAxum

When When Islam Islam spreadspread, people , people were were cut off cut off from the from the Christians and Christians and now separated by now separated by religion.religion.

This This decreased decreased tradetrade, and led , and led to the to the kingdomkingdom’’s s declinedecline..

EthiopiaEthiopia

Isolated Isolated from the from the rest of Africa rest of Africa and this and this independence independence would allow to would allow to develop a develop a unique unique sense of identity sense of identity based largely on based largely on religion. religion.

Both Judaism and Both Judaism and Christianity in Christianity in Ethiopia. Ethiopia.

Trading Centers FlourishTrading Centers Flourish Used the seasonal Used the seasonal monsoon winds monsoon winds to to help sail the ships. help sail the ships.

Involved China, Involved China, India, Arabia, India, Arabia, Persia, and Africa. Persia, and Africa.

East African East African international trade international trade led to the emergence led to the emergence of a of a vibrant culture vibrant culture and a new language and a new language known as Swahili.known as Swahili.

EthiopiaEthiopia

Trade Trade brought people brought people from different from different cultures to the cultures to the cities in East cities in East Africa.Africa.

Trade Trade spread Islam spread Islam throughout the throughout the

region, changing region, changing architecture, and architecture, and the development of the development of the language the language Swahili. Swahili.

The Stone Houses of Great The Stone Houses of Great ZimbabweZimbabwe

Massive Massive stone stone ruins ruins in in Zimbabwe.Zimbabwe.

Offer evidence Offer evidence that there were that there were goods from India goods from India and China.and China.

Offers evidence Offers evidence that they had that they had skilled artisansskilled artisans. .

11:4 Societies in Medieval Africa11:4 Societies in Medieval Africa

Africa is Africa is immense immense in sizein size..

Lots of different Lots of different cultures. cultures.

In medieval Africa, In medieval Africa, the basic family the basic family unit was the unit was the nuclear familynuclear family, or , or parents and parents and children working children working together as a unit. together as a unit.

Ibn BattutaIbn Battuta

Ibn Battuta Ibn Battuta travels across travels across Africa and sees Africa and sees that some cultures that some cultures were were matrilineal matrilineal and some were and some were patrilinealpatrilineal..

This meant the This meant the inheritance inheritance went went to the motherto the mother’’s or s or fatherfather’’s side.s side.

Medieval AfricaMedieval Africa

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

In small tribes In small tribes decisions were decisions were made by a made by a consensusconsensus, or , or general agreement. general agreement.

GovernmentGovernment

Power was usually Power was usually shared shared by several by several people.people.

Elders made decisions by a Elders made decisions by a consensusconsensus..

Religion/HistoryReligion/History

Some Some believed in many godsbelieved in many gods. Many . Many believed that a single, supreme believed that a single, supreme being stood above all other gods. being stood above all other gods.

Some adopted Some adopted Christianity or Islam, Christianity or Islam, often linking them with traditional often linking them with traditional practices. practices.

African societies African societies preserved preserved their their history with written records and history with written records and oral histories like oral histories like griotsgriots. .