Early Civilizations of Africa

Hatshepsut• Major ruler of Egypt

who wanted to be remembered

• Wanted to carve a record of her deeds on the sides of the temple

• Allows archeologists to know that early African people’s were connected

• Gives evidence of trade and cultural diffusion

Hatshepsut’s Temple

Tracking the Evidence: Olduvai Gorge • Located on the edge of the Great Rift Valley in

Tanzania • Site of a major anthropological discovery by Mary

and Louis Leakey• 2 million year old bone fragments that belonged to

one of the earliest ancestors of humans• Anthropologists and Archeologists study the

remains of ancient peoples to learn how they lived• We still do not know a lot about the earliest

peoples

Records on Stone• Rock paintings have been found from South

Africa to the Sahara• Left behind by ancient peoples they allow us to

learn about them• They show tools, weapons and hunting and

gathering techniques • This evidence allows us to understand how they

lived• Ex: Imagine 500 years from now what someone

would learn from the things in your room

Saharan Rock Art • Shows animals and people

living together• Woman are carrying large

packages on their heads• The Sahara was wetter

and had lakes, rivers and grass at one point

• Arrowheads, fish hooks and cattle bones show that the area has changed

• Why do you think this happened?

Nile Valley Civilization• Formed when hunters and gathers learned to

farm and settled by a constant water source• Developed in the Nile Valley about 7000 years

ago• About 3000 B.C.E powerful rulers emerged and

were called Pharaohs • Over time they built the power and wealth of the

Egyptians• Main part of their rule was through trade and

conquest

Religion and Government of Egypt • Religion– Egyptians were polytheistic

and believed in many gods– Chief god was Amon- Re

(God of the Sun)– Osiris- god of the

underworld and Nile– Isis- Wife of Osiris

• Strong belief in life after death

• Reason for pyramids and tombs

• Government– Pharaohs were viewed as

gods descended from Amon-Re

– Total power over the lives of the people

– Priests and Nobles helped the Pharaoh’s run Egypt

– Priests conducted ceremonies to please the gods

– Taxes were paid in grain and other goods

Connecting Geography and Religion • Use the story on page 74-

75 for the following activity

• Find a partner and get a spot around the room

• Read the “Up Close” story about the gift of the Nile

• On a piece of paper answer the questions about the story

• This is a graded assignment

• Questions:– 1.) Explain what the Nile

River does and how it helped the people of Egypt.

– 2.) Read over the hymn that is sung and tell me how it connects geography and religion.

– 3.) Explain the three specific seasons that the story talks about.

– 4.) Answer this LEQ: How did geography and location impact the early people of Africa?

Egyptian Achievements• Huge amount of ruins and artifacts were left behind

by the Egyptians• System of writing called Hieroglyphics that used

pictures and symbols• Decorated the walls of pyramids and temples with

pictures and hieroglyphics • This tells us about their beliefs, knowledge and

everyday lives• 365 day calendar was created • Mathematicians were able to survey the land after

floods• Egyptian doctors studied the human body

Kingdom of Kush • Trade and warriors moved up and down the Nile

River between Egypt and its neighbors• Kingdom of Kush under King Kastha conquered

the Nile Valley in 750 B.C• Kushite control of the Nile Valley ended when the

Assyrian Empire took over the Nile Valley• Kush still remained strong and built a new capital

Meroe further down the banks of the Nile• Eventually the Kushites replaced the Egyptian

gods with their own gods

Wealth and Growth of Kush• Adapted Egyptian Alphabet and made it their

own• Large amounts of Iron Ore in the ground allowed

them to make weapons• Trade networks with Egypt and the

Mediterranean World • Kush lasted for 1000 years before it ended

through invasions by foreigners • Question: What cultural elements did Kush

borrow from Egypt.

Kingdom of Axum • As Kush was falling down Axum developed in the

plateaus of Ethiopia • Important trade center for Ancient Africa• Traded in: spices, gems, and ivory• Traded to Egypt, Arabia and South Asia• 350 A.D King Ezna conquered Kush• Converted to Christianity and withstood the rapid

growth of Islam• Ethiopian Christian Church survives today• Have their own language called Geez