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The African Homeland

Pre-history

Egypt, Kush and Axum

Great Empires of West Africa

The West African Heritage

African Pre-history

Mankind begins in Africa

The birthplace of ALL humanity

How do we know? First Africans left behind artifacts Stone Age people moved to cooler climates The physical differences are the same

differences we use to classify race today

All our ancestors were AFRICAN

The Mingling…..

20,000 years ago lands South of Egypt were green and fertile – people traveled more

Egypt becomes center of world Trading between peoples of Egypt and southern

Africa

Ancient Egypt

Egypt – name given by Greeks – originally called KEMET

Egypt – called gift of the Nile Nile highway for transportation Kept Egypt isolated and SAFE

The People of Ancient Egypt

Was diversified because Egypt was always expanding its territory

Many Africans became Egyptians through conquest or migration.

During one period, Egypt was ruled by pharaohs who were African.

Accomplishments

Hieroglyphics

Papyrus

Library

Architectural skills

Mathematics

Mummification

Calendar

HIEROGLYPHICS

PAPYRUS

LIBRARIES

ART AND ARCHITECTURE

MUMMIFICATION

Egypt and Kush

South of Egypt (in east) unite against common enemies (Asians – Iraq/Iran)

Kush (Nubia) had great wealth (gold) Mined nearly 48 tons of gold/year

Kushites accepted many Egyptian ways

The Kushite World

To the south of present day Khartoum (Sudan) was ancient city of Meroe

Meroe center of Kushite world

Meroe was a city built on IRON Mined the ore Manufactured iron instruments and weapons

Cultural Influences

Egyptian Influences were very strong

Influence from southern Africa was growing stronger (trade)

Human figures (artwork) look more African

Animals look like African

Kushite Empire lasts 800 years

Axum takes over

To south and east of Kush (present day Ethiopia)

Invade Kush – expand their territory

Accomplishments of Axum

Lasts into the 20th century with unbroken line of rulers Influenced by Hebrew culture and local black

populations

1st and ONLY Christian empire in Africa

Axum is the ancient shopping center of Africa

Axum the Trading Center

Controlled most of the caravans from the interior of Africa to the Red Sea

Red Sea was gateway to Asia, and southern Europe

Empires of West Africa

Ghana

Mali

Songhai

Ghana

Became great empire when Arab merchants praised their wealth

Men would mine gold – women would wash the gold

Gold was everywhere

Trade was important source of wealth

The Gold Trade

North Africa – silk, cotton, glass, horses and SALT

IMPORTANCE OF SALT

Trade based on system of barter (silent trade)

Slaves were war captives

GOLD

Gold artifact from ancient Ghana

Islam spreads to West Africa

After Roman empire declines, Islam moves across North Africa and West Africa.Why didn’t Christianity appeal to Africans?Moslems dominated royal bureaucracy Introduced Arabic writingGhana is invaded by competitors for trade routes

The Empire of Mali

After defeat of Ghana – people competed for power

Mandanka people won – Mali

Gained control of GOLD MINES

Converted people to Islam

Commerce, scholarship played role in holding empire together

Timbuktu

Major hub for food, slaves and saltAttracted merchants from throughout Mediterranean worldCenter for Islamic learning 150 Islamic schools Law school Book dealers Universities

TIMBUKTU

Mansa Musa and Mali

Mali reached peak of empire under Mansa Musa

He became king because his brother wanted to be an explorer Went on pilgrimage to Mecca Took 60,000 people, 100 elephants Gave away a fortune of gold to those who

greeted him

The Empire of Songhai

Great traders and warriors

Seceded from Mali

Sunni Ali required captured people to pay tribute to him

Sought people to return to traditional African ways

Tripled size of empire

WARRIORS OF SONGHAI

Fall of Songhai

Attracted the envy of North Africans (Moroccans)

Adventurers from Europe (Portugal) were arriving

Moroccans – defend area by warring with Europeans

COMPARING THE EMPIRES

End of West African Empires

End of Songhai- when Europeans more interested in Trading for HUMAN BEINGS THAN GOLD