africa the mother continent. where it all began humanity’s roots can be traced to this important...
TRANSCRIPT
Africa
The Mother Continent
Where it AllBegan
Humanity’s roots can be traced to this important continent.
Mighty Kingdoms
Africa is a continent with a rich and varied history.
While Europe was in the dark ages Africa enjoyed prosperity and civilizations flourished.
Egypt Ghana Mali Songhai Ashanti Ethiopia
Great Civilizations
Kingdoms Kush (1000 BCE-350 CE) Axum (1CE-800 CE) Ghana (CE 300 – 1076) Arabian City States
– (CE 1000 – 1505) Mali (CE 1200 – 1500) Benin (CE 1170 – 1900) Oyo (CE 1200 – 1800) Kanem-Bornu
– (CE 1250 – 1836) Songhai Empire
– (CE 1464 – 1591) Many more
Egypt
The Land of the Pharaohs
Egypt
The land of many dynasties and advances in Calendar Making Language Mummification Science Mathematics
African Dynasties
Ghana
The Trend of Greatness
Ghana One of the oldest and ancient
African civilizations. By the year 300 AD it had been
successfully ruled by 44 kings. Ghana was agrarian and a
trading nation It made much on trade and used
gold and salt as mediums for exchange.
It economy was diversified and had iron smithing.
It had skilled craftsmen like Goldsmiths, blacksmiths,
potters, weavers of cloth, stonesmiths, carpenters and makers of furniture.
Mali
An Emergent Power
Mali
This powerful African kingdom picked up where Ghana left off.
Although the rulers embraced Islam the common people continued to practice their traditional religions.
Making alliances with surrounding Islamic nations she became a leading force.
Power Reknown
Although an agrarian country Mali had a number of people skilled in various crafts: weaver, dyers, tanners,
blacksmiths, goldsmiths, silversmiths and coppersmiths.
Under Mansa Musa I Mali became “empire reknown” in Africa, the Middle East and Europe
Great Caravan to Mecca
Mana Musa’s travel to Mecca became widely known as he displayed his generosity.
It was at this time through an Islamic architect, es-Saheli, that the University of Sankore located in Timbuktu became a center of learning and culture.
Mali became as large as western Europe
It covered “French West Africa, including Senegal, Gambia, Mali and parts of Nigeria and the Upper Volta.”
It began its declined in 1550 because of “Songhay, attacks from the Mossi and the malicious designs of the Portuguse.”
Timbuktu
Timbuktu It was a center of
commerce and education.
Songhai
Rises to Power
Songhai
When Ghana was no longer powerful Songhai grew in greatness.
Mansa Musa captured the capital of Songhai Gao and imprisoned two of the sons of the ruler.
When Mansa Musa died one of the sons escaped and founded the Sunni dynasty.
Sunni Ali leads the way Sunni Ali one
of the later monarchs came to the throne and became a very powerful ruler.
He conquered most of the cities of the former Mali kingdom.
He captured Timbuktu and Jenne.
This made Songhai a country to be reckoned with.
The Road to Greatness
Sunni Ali died in 1492 and his son came to the throne. However, his son, because he was not a devout Muslim was dethroned.
Askia Mohammed, a Muslim general, became the leader.
A Great Dynasty
Askia Mohammed was an “exceptional, competent ruler” and he was responsible for the subsequent growth of Songhai.
He developed an efficient government with a host of scholars, teachers, scientists and professionals.
Songhai importance The kingdom of Songhai
established schools, colleges and universities and reinstituted black intellectual life.
Schools offered courses in law, literature, music, astronomy, medicine, mathematics. Its schools attracted scholars from everywhere.
Askia Mohammed was overthrown by his son.
Civil wars and incursions by the Moroccans severely crippled the kingdom.
The Spanish aided the Moroccans in defeating Songhai and plundered its cities including its schools and libraries.
Once Colonized Africa was
once a colonized continent with only two independent nations– Liberia and Ethiopia (Abyssinia)
IndependentNations All of Africa
enjoys independence. However, many still maintain strong ties with their once Colonial rulers.
Sources Slides 2, 4, 21, 22 -- Great Civilizations – Atlas of
African American History by James Ciment Slide 19 -- http://hometown.aol.com/aafri/king.html Slide 20 --
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/sghi/hg_d_sghi_d1map.htm
Slide 14, Market— http://www.galenfrysinger.com/timbuktu.htm; Door--
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/spritesjun.suffolk/11%20Doorway%20in%20Timbuktu.jpg