AfricaAfrica

African CivilizationsAfrican Civilizations

6,000,000 – 2,500,000 BCE – first hominids in East 6,000,000 – 2,500,000 BCE – first hominids in East African Rift ValleyAfrican Rift Valley

600,000 – 200,000 BCE – First use of fire; use of caves 600,000 – 200,000 BCE – First use of fire; use of caves as dwellings; first as dwellings; first homo sapienshomo sapiens; first stone tool usage; first stone tool usage

25,000 – 10,000 BCE – rock paintings in North and 25,000 – 10,000 BCE – rock paintings in North and South AfricaSouth Africa

6000 – 4000 BCE – The River People emerge along the 6000 – 4000 BCE – The River People emerge along the Nile, Niger and Congo Rivers; The Isonghee of Zaire Nile, Niger and Congo Rivers; The Isonghee of Zaire (Republic of Congo) introduce mathematical abacus; (Republic of Congo) introduce mathematical abacus; and Cyclopean stone tombs built in Central African and Cyclopean stone tombs built in Central African Republic area; Spread of agriculture south of the Republic area; Spread of agriculture south of the Sahara Desert supporting a growing population, which Sahara Desert supporting a growing population, which mastered animal domestication and agriculture mastered animal domestication and agriculture

African CivilizationsAfrican Civilizations 5000 – 31 BCE – Egyptian civilization flourishes5000 – 31 BCE – Egyptian civilization flourishes 3000 – 800 BCE – Bantu, a linguistically related group 3000 – 800 BCE – Bantu, a linguistically related group

of about 60 million people living in equatorial and of about 60 million people living in equatorial and southern Africa, probably originated in West Africa, southern Africa, probably originated in West Africa, migrating downward gradually into southern Africa. migrating downward gradually into southern Africa. The Bantu migration was one of the largest in human The Bantu migration was one of the largest in human history. The cause of this movement is uncertain.history. The cause of this movement is uncertain.

750 BCE – 600 CE – The Kush appear in Nubia ; place 750 BCE – 600 CE – The Kush appear in Nubia ; place capital at Meroe; bronze; were a fierce rival of Egyptcapital at Meroe; bronze; were a fierce rival of Egypt

500 BCE 700 CE– Axum; The Aksumites were a people 500 BCE 700 CE– Axum; The Aksumites were a people formed from the mix of Kushitic speaking people in formed from the mix of Kushitic speaking people in Ethiopia and Semitic speaking people in southern Ethiopia and Semitic speaking people in southern Arabia who settled the territory across the Red Sea ; Arabia who settled the territory across the Red Sea ; rose to power from 400 – 700 CErose to power from 400 – 700 CE

500 BCE – 200 CE Ancient Nok culture thrives in 500 BCE – 200 CE Ancient Nok culture thrives in forests of central Nigeria.  Claimed by the Yoruba forests of central Nigeria.  Claimed by the Yoruba peoples as ancestors, the Nok are justly revered for peoples as ancestors, the Nok are justly revered for their art and terra cottas.their art and terra cottas.

African CivilizationsAfrican Civilizations 100 – 200 CE – East African civilizations 100 – 200 CE – East African civilizations

trade with the Romans and Arabstrade with the Romans and Arabs 500 CE - 1203 CE Ghana Empire500 CE - 1203 CE Ghana Empire 500 CE – Takrur State created500 CE – Takrur State created 700 CE – Gao established700 CE – Gao established 800 CE – Chimu Empire founded800 CE – Chimu Empire founded 900 – 1400 CE – Great Zimbabwe900 – 1400 CE – Great Zimbabwe 1000 CE - Islam established south of 1000 CE - Islam established south of

Sahara Sahara 1087 CE - Muslims invade Ghana 1087 CE - Muslims invade Ghana 1150 CE - Slaves were exported to North 1150 CE - Slaves were exported to North

Africa from New Guinea Africa from New Guinea

African CivilizationsAfrican Civilizations 1313thth century to present – Asante century to present – Asante

KingdomKingdom 1300 – 1480 CE – Mali Kingdom1300 – 1480 CE – Mali Kingdom 1324 - 1325 CE – Mansa Musa of Mali 1324 - 1325 CE – Mansa Musa of Mali

makes trip to Mecca – spends so makes trip to Mecca – spends so much gold it decreases in value much gold it decreases in value temporarilytemporarily

1352 CE - Ibn Battuta visits Mali 1352 CE - Ibn Battuta visits Mali 1460 – 1591 CE – Songhai Empire1460 – 1591 CE – Songhai Empire

African CivilizationsAfrican Civilizations

1515thth – 18 – 18thth centuries CE – Benin culture centuries CE – Benin culture 1500 CE - Compound houses on steep 1500 CE - Compound houses on steep

hillsides built by Dogon people in Mali hillsides built by Dogon people in Mali 1541 CE – Ethiopians defeat Muslims to slow 1541 CE – Ethiopians defeat Muslims to slow

spread of Islam in East Africaspread of Islam in East Africa 1616thth – 19 – 19thth centuries CE – Slave trade to the centuries CE – Slave trade to the

Americas established in East AfricaAmericas established in East Africa 1807 CE - British ban slave trade1807 CE - British ban slave trade 1874 CE - Discovery of diamonds in South 1874 CE - Discovery of diamonds in South

AfricaAfrica

Did you know?Did you know? Africa is one of the earth’s seven Africa is one of the earth’s seven

continents. It is the second largest continents. It is the second largest continent. Africa is a land of great . Africa is a land of great beauty and beauty and resources.

The earliest The earliest evidence of human of human beings comes from Africa. Many beings comes from Africa. Many great cultures developed here.great cultures developed here.

Africa produced many great civilizations. During the time of the Middle Ages of Europe, the African kingdoms of Mali, Ghana and Songhay were places of advanced learning and great wealth.

At the time of ancient Egypt, Nubia was a powerful force with an advanced culture.

Strong leaders and vast natural resources helped these cultures rule large areas of northern and western Africa for hundreds of years.

Ghana developed in West Africa between the Niger (NI-jhur) and the Gambia Rivers. It was an important kingdom there from about AD300 to about 1100.

The rivers helped Ghana to grow rich because they were used to transport goods and develop trade. Ghana also collected taxes

from traders who passed through the kingdom.

The kingdom of Ghana probably began when several clans of people of west Africa came together under the leadership of a great king named Dinga Cisse.

Ghana had few natural resources except salt and gold.

They were also very good at making things from iron. Ghanaian warriors used iron tipped spears to subdue their neighbors, who fought with weapons made of stone, bone, and wood.

"The King . . .(wears). . . necklaces round his neck and bracelets on his forearms and he puts on a high cap decorated with gold and wrapped in a turban of fine cotton. He (meets people) in a domed pavilion around which stand ten horses covered with gold-embroidered materials…and on his right, are the sons of the (lesser) kings of his country, wearing splendid garments and their hair plaited with gold.

At the door of the pavilion are dogs of excellent pedigree. Round their necks they wear collars of gold and silver, studded with a number of balls of the same metals."

This describes the court of one king of

Ghana.

Ghana became a rich and powerful nation, especially when the camel began to be used as a source of transport. Ghana relied on trade, which was made faster and bigger with the use of the camel.

After 700 AD, the religion of Islam began to spread over northern Africa. Followers of this religion are called Muslims. Muslim warriors came into Ghana and fought with the non-Islamic people there. This weakened the great civilization of Ghana and led to its decline.

Islamic Mosque in Ghana

blankbluesky.com/ travel/ghana/

Nubia was a great civilization that developed along the Nile River south of Egypt.

They shared many of the same cultural traits as Egypt such as religion, architecture and art.

These are the pyramid of Ancient Nubia. They were used as tombs. Although they are similar to those of Ancient Egypt.

As you look at the following pictures, think of these questions: What are the pyramids made of? How many sides are there? How large are they? (Notice person next to middle one.)

Nubian Pyramids

Are large blocks used or smaller bricks? Is there an entrance leading up to the pyramid?

Nubian Pyramids

Nubian Pyramids

These are the pyramids of Egypt. Compare them to those of Nubia.

This is one of the biggest pyramids in Egypt. The pyramid of Khufu. The Egyptian pyramids were much larger than those of Nubia, but there were many more pyramids in Nubia than in Egypt.

Notice the people at the base of this Egyptian pyramid. This helps to show the size of the pyramid.

same

different different

•Smaller

•Steeper•Triangular

•Tombs

•Large

•Big blocks

For many centuries, the people and culture of Ancient Nubia were a mystery to the world.

Why?

Nubian Hieroglyphs

Cursive Version Nubian Hieroglyphs

Cursive Version

I

K

W

T

N

D

One reason: they did not write down their history until late in ancient times.

Second reason: they were isolated geographically.

Outside people would need to cross harsh desert or many waterfall, to reach Nubia.

Nubian writing was similar to Egyptian writing but developed into a completely separate language later in time.

Ancient Nubia was a great kingdom that produced many resources like gold, ivory, copper, frankincense and ebony.

Nubia was also known as Kush and The Land of the Bow. Nubian archers (warriors who used a bow and arrow) were feared by all who saw them in battle.

Nubia had a long line of powerful kings. They were often at war with Egypt, to the North. From about 2,000 to 1,000 BC, Egypt controlled Nubia but when Egypt weakened, Nubia came north and conquered Egypt (800-700 BC.)

A frankincense tree. The resin was used to make good smelling incense.

A powerful king named Sundiata ruled this area from around 1230-1255 AD. He led the people in conquering and expanding his kingdom to be as great as Ghana had been.

Perhaps the greatest king of Mali was Mansa Musa (1312-1337). He developed the gold and salt trade of Mali and his kingdom became very powerful and rich.

Mansa Musa was a Muslim, meaning he followed the religion of Islam. He built many beautiful mosques or Islamic temples in western Africa.

In 1324 Mansa Musa made a pilgrimage ( a journey to a holy place) to Mecca, which is a holy city in Arabia, with 60,000 servants and followers and 80 camels carrying more than 4,000 pounds of gold to be distributed among the poor. Of the 12,000 servants 500 carried a staff of pure gold. This showed his power and wealth to the other people he visited.

When Mansa Musa died there were no kings as powerful as he was to follow. The great kingdom of Mali weakened. Eventually a group of people known as Berbers came into the area and other people came up from the south to claim territory that was once part of the kingdom. Although Mali fell, another advanced African kingdom took its place, the kingdom of Songhay.

The Berbers still live in North Africa. This picture, taken in 1893, shows a Berber group.

This map was created in 1375. The same trade routes were used by the merchants of the Songhay kingdom.

What kinds of pictures do you see on the map and why do you think the mapmaker put them there?

The picture above is one artist’s idea of what the great Songhay leader, Sunni Ali might have looked like. Sunni Ali saw that the kingdom of Mali was weakening and he led his soldiers to conquer the area. He began the kingdom of Songhay. He also set up a complex government to rule all the lands he had conquered.

All three kingdoms of West Africa relied on trade for their strength and wealth.

Timbuktu Gao

Jenne

Gold, Ivory, Wood, Slaves

Silk, Ceramics, Beads, Islam from Europe and Asia

Coming into West Africa

Coming from Africa and going to Europe and Asia

Salt

Sunni Ali died in 1492 CE. His son took over the rule of Songhay but he did not accept Islam as a religion. Islam was accepted as a religion by many people in northern Africa. One of Sunni Ali’s generals, named Muhammad Ture, overthrew the new king and made himself king of Songhay. Ture was a follower of Islam (Muslim) and so he made Islam the religion of his kingdom.

This is a photo of a mosque, or place of

worship for Muslims, in western Africa. Many mosques were built of

local materials.

Songhay remained a rich and strong kingdom under Muhammad Ture’s rule. It had a complex government centered in the city of Gao, and great centers of learning. But later rulers were not as powerful. In the late 1500s, Morocco invaded Songhay to take its rich trade routes. Moroccans had a new weapon, the gun, and the army of Songhay did not. This led to the fall of Songhay.

African ArtAfrican Art

Rock paintingRock painting 10,000 BCE10,000 BCE Tassili, AlgeriaTassili, Algeria PaintingPainting Shows knowledge of Shows knowledge of

natural environment natural environment and also shows that and also shows that the Sahara once the Sahara once contained water and contained water and plenty of animal lifeplenty of animal life

African ArtAfrican Art

St George ChurchSt George Church 1212thth century century Aksum, EthiopiaAksum, Ethiopia ArchitectureArchitecture This church and others This church and others

like it were all cut like it were all cut directly from the rock directly from the rock surrounding themsurrounding them

Ethiopia was a Christian Ethiopia was a Christian stronghold in Africastronghold in Africa

It also contains the only It also contains the only black Jewish community black Jewish community in the worldin the world

Rock Churches EthiopiaRock Churches Ethiopia

African ArtAfrican Art

HunchbackHunchback 33rdrd century BCE century BCE Jos Plateau, NigeriaJos Plateau, Nigeria SculptureSculpture Nok CultureNok Culture Nok culture is known Nok culture is known

for its terra cotta for its terra cotta and stone masks and stone masks and works of artand works of art

African ArtAfrican Art Pendant Mask, IyobaPendant Mask, Iyoba 1616thth century CE century CE Benin, NigeriaBenin, Nigeria SculptureSculpture Edo peopleEdo people Made of ivory and Made of ivory and

coppercopper The Edo people were The Edo people were

famous for their famous for their brass masks but brass masks but ivory was also usedivory was also used

African ArtAfrican Art

Head of an ObaHead of an Oba 1818thth century CE century CE Benin, NigeriaBenin, Nigeria SculptureSculpture Made of brass and ironMade of brass and iron All Oba heads show the All Oba heads show the

coral beads around the coral beads around the neck which is part of the neck which is part of the royal costume still todayroyal costume still today

Used same method of Used same method of casting as the Romans casting as the Romans called called lost wax castinglost wax casting

African ArtAfrican Art Asante Gold WeightsAsante Gold Weights 1818thth century CE century CE GhanaGhana CraftworkCraftwork Asante CultureAsante Culture These weights were These weights were

used to calibrate a used to calibrate a system of weighing system of weighing gold dustgold dust

Even these small Even these small mundane objects were mundane objects were still decorated and still decorated and designed with attention designed with attention to detailto detail

African ArtAfrican Art Golden StoolGolden Stool 1818thth century CE century CE GhanaGhana SculptureSculpture Asante CultureAsante Culture As a major producer of As a major producer of

gold, the Asante king gold, the Asante king uses this throne still uses this throne still todaytoday

According to legend, it According to legend, it appeared from heaven appeared from heaven to show support to the to show support to the first Asantehene first Asantehene (king), Osei Tutu(king), Osei Tutu

African ArtAfrican Art

Great ZimbabweGreat Zimbabwe 1313thth century CE century CE ZimbabweZimbabwe ArchitectureArchitecture Built without the Built without the

use of mortar use of mortar (drystone (drystone architecture)architecture)

African ArtAfrican Art

Djingareyber MosqueDjingareyber Mosque 1324-13271324-1327 Timbuktu, MaliTimbuktu, Mali ArchitectureArchitecture Artist: Mansa Musa?Artist: Mansa Musa? Mansa Musa was Mansa Musa was

Emperor – ordered it Emperor – ordered it built (may have built (may have designed it)designed it)

Mud brickMud brick

African ArtAfrican Art Great Mosque of Great Mosque of

DjenneDjenne 1907 CE1907 CE Djenne, MaliDjenne, Mali ArchitectureArchitecture A mosque was first A mosque was first

built here in 1200, built here in 1200, but this is a modern but this is a modern rebuilding of itrebuilding of it

Built of mud brick and Built of mud brick and earthearth

African ArtAfrican Art Meroe PyramidsMeroe Pyramids 300 BCE – 300 CE300 BCE – 300 CE Meroe, Nubia Meroe, Nubia

(Sudan)(Sudan) ArchitectureArchitecture From Kush From Kush

civilization, much civilization, much smaller but heavily smaller but heavily influenced by the influenced by the EgyptiansEgyptians

African ArtAfrican Art ObeliskObelisk 300 CE300 CE Aksum (Axum), Aksum (Axum),

EthiopiaEthiopia ArchitectureArchitecture Sacrificial altar was Sacrificial altar was

at the base, served at the base, served as a grave marker as a grave marker for the kingfor the king

African ArtAfrican Art

African Erotic ArtAfrican Erotic Art