AFRICA

Nile Valley Civilization Earliest Civilizationin Africa

7,000 years ago

Fertile Soil Lots of wildlife

The Pharaohs 3,000 BCE

United villages along the Nile

Polytheism The worship of many Gods

Amon-Re The Chief God/ The Sun God

Osiris God of the Underworld and the Nile

Isis Osiris’s Wife

The Pyramids Built as tombs for Pharaohs

Filled with: Food Clothing Jewels Anything needed for the afterlife

The Kingdom of Kush 900 BCE - 350 CE

Major accomplishment:

Manufacture of iron Tools Weapons

Why important? Major trading center

Ethiopia Egypt Persia

Kingdom of Axum

Kingdom of Axum Modern Day Ethiopia

Why important? Important center of trade

Spices Gems Ivory

First African Christian Kingdom

Kingdom of Axum King Ezana 330 A.D.

Conquers the Kush Burns towns Destroys temples

Axum Obelisk Symbol of Axum

The Gold-Salt Trade Timbuktu

Country: Mali

Importance: Center of trade

Gold Salt Ideas

Center of Muslim Scholars

Timbuktu

Navigating the Sahara Navigators used stars

Rested during the day Navigated at night

Relied on: Oasis

Oasis in the Sahara near Taghit

Gold – Salt Trade Salt more valuable than gold

Western Africa

Sahara Salt was plentiful

Savannah Gold was plentiful

This trade gave rise to the great empires of western Africa

The Empire of Ghana Ghana – war

chief Ancient Ghana

Note: Ancient Ghana’s

location in comparison with the present state of Ghana

The Emperor Power rested on the control of the

gold trade. Owned all the gold mined in the

empire Source of wealth Allowed emperor to build strong armies

Invasions Almoravids (1076 BCE)

Former trading partners Invaded Ghana Broke up the empire into smaller

states

Empire of Mali Mandingos

Farmers that had lived under Ghana’s rule

Seized gold producing lands.

Mansa Musa 1307-1337

Most influential ruler of Mali Extended borders Captured salt mines.

Mansa Musa and Mali Mali

Following Musa’s death Mali was revered for its safety and security.

This lasting security revealed the power and strength Mansa Musa established during his reign.

Mali Empire

Influence of Islam - Mali Adopted by Mansa Musa

Influence of Islam increased Laws became based on the Koran

Mali’s Decline Weak rulers followed Mansa Musa Empire was weakened and shrank.

The Great Mosque in Mali (Mopti)

Songhai Sunni Ali

A lifetime of war Captured Timbuktu and many key trading

centers Preserved safety of trade routes

Songhai Askia Muhammad

Encouraged teachers and writers to settle in Timbuku

Timbuktu became a great center for teaching and learning

Tomb of Askia

Songhai Morroco Invasion

Why? Heard of the great riches of the Songhai

Empire How?

Better technology Cannons Guns

The Forest Kingdom of Benin Delta of the Nile River Ewuare

Captured 201 cities and towns Including Ibo country

Benin City Center of industry

Broad avenues

Produced: Woven Goods Brass Wood Ivory Objects

Arab – African Trade Swahili

Mixture of: Bantu and Islamic Words

Cities of East Africa City-State

A large town that has its own government and usually controls the surrounding country side.

Examples: Kilwa; Malindi; Mombassa

Kilwa

Pillar of Vasco de Gama

Portuguese Invasion Early 1500’s

Portuguese attacked and occupied many city-states, thus ending their prosperity.

Zimbabwe “Great Stone House”

Importance: Gold Mines

Made rulers wealthy, but most of the populace were herders or farmers.

Power struggles ended the kingdom in the 1500’s.

Review Zimbabwe

Timbuktu Askia Muhammad Portuguese City-State Kilwa Mombassa Songhai Swahili Benin City Mansa Musa Islam

Christianity Islam Gold Salt Trade Mali Gahna Askia Muhammad King Ezana Amon-Re Forest Kingdom of Benin Axum Kush Sunni Ali

Next to each civilization, phrase, or word, explain its importance or key characteristic in one phrase.