Ancient African Kingdoms

Swahili Civilizations100 A.D-Present

Essential Standards

• 6.H.2 Understand the political, economic and/or social significance of historical events, issues, individuals and cultural groups.

• 6.G.1 Understand geographic factors that influenced the emergence, expansion and decline of civilizations, societies and regions (i.e. Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas) over time.

• 6.E.1 Understand how the physical environment and human interaction affected the economic activities of various civilizations, societies and regions.

Clarifying Objectives• 6.H.2.3 Explain how innovation and/or technology transformed civilizations, societies and

regions over time (e.g., agricultural technology, weaponry, transportation and communication).

• 6.G.1.2 Explain the factors that influenced the movement of people, goods and ideas and the effects of that movement on societies and regions over time (e.g., scarcity of resources, conquests, desire for wealth, disease and trade).

• 6.G.1.3 Compare distinguishing characteristics of various world regions (e.g., physical features, culture, political organization and ethnic make-up).

• 6.E.1.1 Explain how conflict, compromise and negotiation over the availability of resources (i.e. natural, human and capital) impacted the economic development of various civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., competition for scarce resources, unequal distribution of wealth and the emergence of powerful trading networks).

• 6.E.1.2 Explain how quality of life is impacted by economic choices of civilizations, societies and regions.

Essential Questions

• What were the factors that caused the movement of the Swahili into the eastern part of Africa?

• How did SCARCITY of RESOURCES help build the Indian Ocean Trading Network?

• How did great ECONMIC CHOICES like trading their resources allow the Swahili to lead a better QUALITY OF LIFE?

Swahili African Civilizations

• The Swahili African Civilizations were located on the Eastern side of Africa

• Sort of near the Rift Valley of East Africa

• This was not an empire or kingdom

Swahili African Civilizations

• They were more a collection of small African city states

• There was no king each of the city states was ruled by their own systems

Swahili African Civilizations

• They all had 3 things in common though which we can consider them the same CULTURE① Language ② Trade③ Religion

Swahili Language

• All the Swahili city states spoke the Swahili language

• This was a language that had originated in West Africa & brought to East Africa

Swahili Trade• All city states in the Swahili

civilization were big into trading

• This is because they lived right next to the Indian Ocean

• They traded along the Indian Ocean Trade Network

• This was like the Silk Road of the sea

Scarcity of Resources

• The factor that caused the Swahili people to move to the Eastern part of Africa was the Scarcity of Resources

• They had resources to trade

• Moving to the eastern part of Africa allowed them access to the Indian Ocean Trading Network

Essential Questions

• Get with a partner and answer….

• What were the factors that caused the movement of the Swahili into the eastern part of Africa?

Swahili Trade

• They traded with Arabs from the Middle East

• This is how the Swahili civilizations built their ECONOMY

• The city states started out small but because of becoming more wealthy through trade they had large population increases

Swahili Trade (Exports)

• Most of the goods EXPORTED were natural resources used as raw materials to create something else….– Timber – Animal hides– Ivory

Swahili Trade (Imports)

• Most of the goods IMPORTED by the Swahili civilization were luxury items….– Porcelain – Books

Essential Questions

• Get with a partner and answer….

• How did SCARCITY of RESOURCES help build the Indian Ocean Trading Network?

Swahili Quality of Life

• As the Swahili continued to trade their resources they became rich

• They made great ECONOMIC choices in trading

• This allowed their citizens to live a HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE

Essential Questions

• Get with a partner and answer….

• How did great ECONMIC CHOICES like trading their resources allow the Swahili to lead a better QUALITY OF LIFE?

Swahili Religion

• Because of the Indian Ocean Trade Network brought Arabs in to trade with them the Swahili people soon converted to Islam

• Most Swahili people became Muslim because it gave them their religion & something in common with their trade partner

EOG Questions• Which statement shows how trade routes influenced ancient societies?

• A) As travel over land became easier, trade by water became unnecessary.

• B) As different civilizations traded goods, they also shared cultural values and beliefs.

• C) As trade developed, long-distance travel became safe and easy for each civilization.

• D) As silk grew popular, it became a common material used in clothing across civilizations.

EOG Questions• Ancient Empire Economic Issues

• poor management by leaders• hoarding of wealth• too much debt

• How did the economic factors listed affect the ancient empires?

• A) Empires weakened and were eventually destroyed.

• B) Empires forced wealthy citizens to forfeit money in taxes.

• C) Armies searched other empires for new leaders to govern.

• D) Armies of the empires were sent to other lands to increase wealth.

EOG Questions

• Why did trading networks like the Indian Ocean Trading Network develop?

• A) Certain resources were not available in all areas.

• B) The trails were used for communication between groups.

• C) People wanted to take land and to keep control of that land.

• D) Travelers enjoyed exploring nearby lands after trading for spices

EOG Questions

• Which was a long-term effect of ancient trade routes?

• A) the spread of religions throughout the trade routes

• B) the spread of unifying systems of government

• C) colonization of weaker nations along the trade routes

• D) use of silk throughout ancient and modern societies

Important Points• 6.E.1.1 (Scarcity of Resources

& Powerful Trading Networks) Swahili civilization is based on TRADE through the Indian Ocean Trading Network

• 6.G.1.3 (Distinguishing Characteristics: Physical Features & Human Characteristics) located on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world/trading culture

• 6.G.1.2 (Factors of Movement) Swahili Culture started as Africans moved East to be a part of the Indian Ocean Trading Network. Scarcity of resources played a part because the Swahili people had something to trade

• 6.H.2.3 (Innovations & Technology: Communication) Swahili developed their own language

• 6.E.1.2 (Quality of Life) because of the great ECONOMIC CHOICES the Swahili made through trade their citizens were able to have a HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE