Chapter 11

The Sahara, in northern Africa, is the biggest desert in the world. The desert is very dry therefore, farming is almost impossible.

The Sahara is largest desert in world; name means “desert” in Arabic

It stretches 3,000 miles from the Atlantic to the Red Sea; 1,200 miles north to south temperatures as high as 136 degrees

in summer, freezing at night The desert is very dry therefore,

farming is almost impossible.

Tropical rainforests cover less than 5% of the land. The rainforests have thick vegetation and a heavy amount of rain which makes it very moist.

Africa’s largest and most populated climate zone is the savanna, or grassy plains. The savanna generally has good soil and enough rainfall to support farming.

As a result of the different climate regions, different people will settle the land in certain areas.

About 2700 B.C.E., civilization along the Nile was growing

Traded with Egypt, incorporated a lot of Egyptian culture, modeled their society on Egyptians

Eventually had to leave their region in Egypt and return south when Assyrians took over Egypt

The rulers of the Nubian kingdom of Kush accepted many traditions and ideas from Egypt.

The Nubians began to build pyramids, to worship Egyptian gods, to wear Egyptian clothing, and to use a form of writing that was similar to the writing used in Egypt.

Despite their similarities, the Nubians were rivals and threatened the Egyptian empire.

So close to the Mediterranean—who is nearby?

Carthage was a major trading city, until the Punic Wars

After Punic Wars, Rome took over North Africa. Built roads, aqueducts, dams, cities Also spread Christianity,

used Africans for Roman soldiers

Eventually, Muslim traders made their way into North Africa from the Middle East.

Muslim traders introduce camels to traverse across the Sahara.

Much of Northern Africa converts to Islam.

In the 700’s, Muslims from the Middle East started to conquer and occupy North Africa.

Gradually, Islam became the dominant religion and Arabic was the main language spoken.

The Muslims built large mosques and universities in Eastern and Northern Africa.

As a result of the desertification of North Africa, people migrated to find new farmland.

These people were known as the Bantus were West African farmers and herders who migrated about 2000 years ago!

This is a key event in African history. Look at the Bantu migrations on the map

Where did they go? They spoke Bantu language. They spread their knowledge about

farming, ironworking, domesticating animals as well as the culture and language.

Bantu influence is still around, in fact, hundreds of languages in Africa are based on Bantu.

Salt was very rare in most of Africa, but was highly valued Need salt to retain water,

preserve food The Sahara in Northern Africa

had lots of salt Western Africa (Ghana,

Nigeria, Senegal) had almost no salt, but lots of gold.

In fact, up until the 1300’s, 60% of the world’s gold came from Ghana!

Many times, they would trade a pound of gold for a pound of salt!

Mansa Musa was the strongest ruler of Mali (Western Africa), came to power in 1312 C.E.

He spread control of gold and salt regions, and became very wealthy

Where trade routes intersected, big cities like Timbuktu arose

He conquered a lot of regions, and eventually converted to Islam

He became a devout Muslim and he based much of his law on the Quran

Did not force Islam on his people, but promoted religious freedom and tolerance

Built mosques in Timbuktu In 1324, made the hajj to Mecca,

and started good relationships with other Muslim states

Because of his hajj, he introduced new ideas and education from all over: Brought back Scholars, Judges,

Doctors, Religious leaders, better business practices, increased trade, technology, etc.

Western African’s would trade with Muslims from North Africa in great trading centers such as Timbuktu.

Muslims introduced written language, coins, business methods, technology, etc. to the west.

Some people (not all) adopted Islam.

Timbuktu was built where trade routesintersected and was once a very

prosperous trading center.

By 1400, Mali had grown weak In 1460, the Songhai started to gain

power, with a new capital in Gao Developed along the Niger River Did not initially adopt Islam, but later

became an Islamic state in 1492 Had very organized government Like Mansa Musa, leaders went to

Mecca, formed good relationships and built mosques and schools to study the Quran

Songhai was invaded by Moroccans who wanted to control the salt and gold trade

Songhai had no guns or new technology, and were quickly wiped out by the Moroccans

How did Moroccan Muslims get guns?

When Songhai fell, it was the end of 1,000 years of powerful kingdoms in West Africa

Moving to East Africa!

Aksum- powerful trading civilization from circa 100-1100’s A.D. Crossroads of major

trading routes & civilization Controlled the Nile’s

trade routes as well the route from the Red Sea to North Africa This made them rich! Gold, ivory, animal skins,

perfumes, slaves were traded with Mediterranean and Southwest Asia

Axum became a Christian kingdom in the 300s.

At first, this helped strengthen trade ties with other Christian countries.

When Islam began spreading across North Africa in the 600s, however, Axum became isolated and lost power.

Civil war and economic decline combined to weaken Axum

Many smaller kingdoms grew on the East Coast of Africa, trading with the rest of the Eastern Hemisphere (Arabia, Persia, China, India…)

Swahili developed as a need for communication arose between Africans and people from Arabia

“Swahili” “of the coast”

While many African’s converted to Islam and others remained traditional, some mixed the influences.

One of these mixed cultures is Swahili.

Swahili developed as a need for communication arose between Africans and people from the Middle East.

“Swahili” “of the coast” Swahili language is a mix of

traditional African and Arabic.

Eventually, the kingdom of Aksum fell and gave way to the Kingdom of Ethiopia.

Many people Ethiopia did not convert to Islam, instead they kept Christianity as their main religion.

This isolates Ethiopia from their neighbors in North Africa, but creates a unique culture.

King Lalibela of Ethiopia had a vision Jerusalem (which was under Muslim control at the time) in a dream.

He then ordered the building of many churches to help build a “New Jerusalem”.

Many of the churches are carved right out of stone in the sides of cliffs.

No one really knows how it was done as records have been lost.

He simply is quoted as saying that he “carved these churches out of stone with only the help of angels.”

In southeast Africa the gold and ivory trade helped people grow wealthy and establish a big city around 1000 C.E. known as Greater Zimbabwe.

The city included great stone buildings, and its people mined gold and traded goods across the Indian Ocean.

Greater Zimbabwe became a powerful economic, political and religious center during it’s time.

East Africans had an extensive trade network.

They traded with Europe, the Middle East, India and even as far as China!

Chinese porcelain has been found in places like Greater Zimbabwe.