Africa America

7/27/2019 Africa America

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A PRESENTATION ON AFRICA AND AMERICA


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Ghana Empire


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Ghana Empire

The Ghana Empire orWagadou Empire (existed before c. 830 until c. 1235) was

located in what is now southeastern Mauritania, and Western Mali. Complex

societies had existed in the region since about 1500 BCE, and around Ghana's

core region since about 300 CE. When Ghana's ruling dynasty began is uncertain,

it is first mentioned in documentary sources around 830 CE by Al-

Kwarizmi. The domestication of the camel, which preceded Muslims and Islam by

several centuries, brought about a gradual change in trade, and for the first time,

the extensive gold, ivory trade, and salt resources of the region could be sent north

and east to population centers in North Africa, the Middle East and Europe in

exchange for manufactured goods.


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Economy

Most of our information about the economy of Ghana comes from merchants, and

therefore we know more about the commercial aspects of its economy, and less about

the way in which the rulers and nobles may have obtained agricultural products throughtribute or taxation.

The empire became wealthy because of their trading. They had an abundant amount of

gold and salt. Al-Bakri noted that merchants had to pay a one gold dinar tax on imports

of salt, and two on exports of salt. Other products paid fixed dues, al-Bakri mentionedboth copper and "other goods."

Imports probably included products such as textiles, ornaments and other materials.

Many of the hand-crafted leather goods found in old Morocco may also had their origins

in the empire. The main centre of trade was Koumbi Saleh.


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Koumbi Saleh

The empire's capital is believed to have been at Koumbi Saleh on the rim of the

Sahara desert. According to the description of the town left by Al-Bakri in 1067/1068,

the capital was actually two cities six miles apart but "between these two towns are

continuous habitations", so that they might be said to have merged into one.

El Ghaba Section

According to al-Bakri, the major part of the city was called El-Ghaba and was the

residence of the king. It was protected by a stone wall and functioned as the royal

and spiritual capital of the Empire.


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Archaeology

A 17th century chronicle written in Timbuktu, the Tarikh al-fattash, gives the name of the

capital as "Koumbi". Beginning in the 1920s, French archaeologists began excavating

the site of Koumbi-Saleh, although there have always been controversies about the

location of Ghana's capital and whether Koumbi-Saleh is the same town as the one

described by al-Bakri. The site was excavated in 1949-50 by Thomassey and Mauny

and

by another French team in 1975-1981. However, the remains of Koumbi Saleh are

impressive, even if the remains of the royal town, with its large palace and burial

mounds has not been located.


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Maya Civilization

The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully-

developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art,

architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the

Pre-Classic period (c. 2000 BC to AD 250), according to the Mesoamerica chronology,

many Maya cities reached their highest state of development during the Classic period

(c. AD 250 to 900), and continued throughout the Post-Classic period until the arrival of

the Spanish.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Palenque_Ruins.jpg


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Geographical extent

The Maya civilization extended throughout the

present-day southern Mexican states

of Chiapas, Tabasco, and the Yucatn

Peninsula states of Quintana

Roo, Campeche and Yucatn. The Maya area also

extended throughout the northern Central

American region, including the present-day nations

of Guatemala, Belize, northern El Salvador and

western Honduras.The Classic period (c. AD 250900) witnessed the

peak of large-scale construction and urbanism, the

recording of monumental inscriptions, and a period of

significant intellectual and artistic development,

particularly in the southern lowland regions. They

developed an agriculturally intensive, city-centeredempire consisting of numerous independent city-

states. This includes the well-known cities

of Tikal, Palenque, Copn and Calakmul, but also the

lesser known Dos Pilas, Uaxactun, Altun Ha,

and Bonampak, among others. Uxmal, Nunnery Quadrangle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Palenque_Ruins.jpg


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The Maya collapse

The Maya centers of the southern lowlands went into decline during the 8th and 9th

centuries and were abandoned shortly thereafter. This decline was coupled with a

cessation of monumental inscriptions and large-scale architectural construction.

Non-ecological theories of Maya decline are divided into several subcategories, such

as overpopulation, foreign invasion, peasant revolt, and the collapse of key trade

routes. Ecological hypotheses include environmental disaster, epidemic disease, and

climate change.

Mayan Arts

Maya art of their Classic Era (c. 250 to 900 CE) is of a high level of aesthetic and

artisanal sophistication. The carvings and the reliefs made of stucco at Palenque and

the statuary of Cop, show a grace and accurate observation of the human form that

reminded early archaeologists of Classical civilizations of the Old World, hence the

name bestowed on this era.


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Mayan Architecture

Maya architecture spans many thousands of years; yet, often the most dramatic

and easily recognizable as Maya are the stepped pyramids from the Terminal Pre-

classic period and beyond. There are also cave sites that are important to the

Maya. These cave sites include Jolja Cave, the cave site at Naj Tunich,

the Candelaria Caves, and the Cave of the Witch. There are also cave-origin

myths among the Maya. Some cave sites are still used by the modern Maya in

the Chiapas highlands.

It has been suggested that temples and pyramids were remodeled and rebuilt

every fifty-two years in synchrony with the Maya Long Count Calendar.


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Urban design

As Maya cities spread throughout the varied geography of Mesoamerica, site planning

appears to have been minimal. Maya architecture tended to integrate a great degree of

natural features, and their cities were built somewhat haphazardly as dictated by thetopography of each independent location.

At the heart of the Maya city were large plazas surrounded by the most important

governmental and religious buildings, such as the royal acropolis, great pyramid

temples and occasionally ball-courts. Though city layouts evolved as nature dictated,

careful attention was placed on the directional orientation of temples and observatories

so that they were constructed in accordance with Maya interpretation of the orbits of

the heavenly bodies.

North Acropolis, Tikal, Guatemala Ballcourt at Tikal, Guatemala
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acropolishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_ballgamehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_ballgamehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_ballgamehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_ballgamehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acropolis


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Building materials

A surprising aspect of the great Maya structures is their lack of many advanced

technologies seemingly necessary for such constructions. Lacking draft animals

necessary for wheel-based modes of transportation, metal tools and even pulleys, Mayaarchitecture required abundant manpower. Yet, beyond this enormous requirement, the

remaining materials seem to have been readily available. All stone for Maya structures

appears to have been taken from local quarries.

Notable constructions

Main palace of Palenque, 7th Century AD Governor's Palace rear view and details,10th

Century AD Uxmal


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