Early African Civilizations

Chapter 7

The Development of Civilizations in Africa

Section 1

The Land of Africa

• 2nd largest continent with many geographic regions • North - Mediterranean Sea, mountainous• Moving south next is the Sahara - largest desert in the

world• Desert turns to grasslands to jungles then back to

grasslands moving south• East – Mountains and uplands Great Rift Valley -

mountains over canyons – grasslands• West-Central Congo Basin - Congo River - rain forests• Kalahari Desert – Southwest

Climate

• Four climate zones• Moderate – Northern coast and southern tip -

moderate rainfall and warm temperatures• Deserts – Sahara and Kalahari – covers 40% • Rain forests – Heavy rain and warm temperatures

produce dense forests• Savannas – grasslands with unreliable rainfall –

allows for some farming and herding – covers 40%

Climate and Vegetation Map

Kush

• Located in Nubia – it was part of southern Egypt – gains independence around 1000 BCE

• Traded with Egypt – What items?• Ivory, ebony, frankincense, leopard skins• Kushites conquered Egypt in 750 BCE, short-lived• Returned to the upper Nile river valley after being

overpowered by the Assyrians in 663 BCE – how?• Better weaponry made with iron, not stone and bronze• Economy – original basis? What makes it well known?• First based on farming• Emerges as a major trading state –city of Meroe

Meroe – Kush Trading City

• Good location – At the point of where the land route across the

desert crosses the Nile– Large supply of iron ore – Uses?

• Make weapons and tools for trade• Exports and imports?• Exports - Iron, ivory, gold, ebony, slaves –

Imports - luxury items like silver and jewelry

Society in Kush

• Not much is known• Mostly urban and prosperous - How do we

know this? • Archeological evidence• State authorities probably controlled the foreign

trade• Most likely had a large merchant class• Peak was from about 250 BCE to 150 CE,

declines with the rise of the Axum

The Rise of Axum

• Founded as a colony by Arabs in modern day Ethiopia

• Emerges as an independent state that combines Arab and African cultures

• Prosperity can be credited to its location on the Red Sea – part of the trade route from India to the Mediterranean

• Exports and Imports?• Exports – Ivory, frankincense, myrrh, slaves –

Imports – textiles, metal goods, wine, and olive oil

King Ezana

• Competition between Kush and Axum for Ivory trade

• In the beginning of the 4th century he invades and conquers Kush

• What does he do that is significant?• Around 330 CE he converts to Christianity and

makes it the official religion of Axum• After his death Axum continues to flourish, but

by the 7th century it begins to decline

The coming of Islam

• Islamic/Arabic expansion affects Africa shortly after its origination

• 641 - Egypt is conquered• By the early 8th century the coast of N. Africa is

under Arabic control• Relatively peaceful relations between Islamic

Africa and Axum until a trading war ensues over the control of slave and ivory

• Axum Empire collapses in 950

Islamic Empire 7th Century