Development of African Civilizations
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Transcript of Development of African Civilizations
DEVEL
OPMEN
T
OF AFR
ICAN
CIVIL
IZATI
ONS
CHAPTER 7
-1
THE IMPACT OF GEOGRAPHY
After Asia Africa is the largest continent stretching some 5000 miles & is almost completely surrounded by two oceans & two seas
Africa is also made up of several distinct geographical zones
-The Northern part of Africa is washed by the Mediterranean Sea & is very mountainous
-South of the Med is the worlds largest desert, the Sahara
-To the East is the Nile River, Egypt, & the Red Sea
The tropical rain forest gradually gives way to plateaus & eventually deserts in the south
CLIMATEAfrica contains four different climate
zonesA mild climate zone stretches across
the northern coast & southern tip of the continent
The moderate rainfall & warm temperatures provide ideal conditions for farming
Deserts form another zone which cover approximately 40% of Africa
The two largest deserts are the Sahara in the north & the Kalahari in the south
A third zone is the rain forest that stretches across the equator & makes up about 10% of the continent
A fourth zone would be the savannas
This zone is covered in broad grasslands, small trees, & shrubs
This zone covers 40% of Africa
EMERGING CIVILIZATIONS & RELIGIONS
Between seven & eight thousand years ago hunter, gatherers began to domesticate animals & grow crops
This was called the Agricultural Revolution, which would give rise to Africa’s first civilizations, the Kush & Axum, as well as to Egypt
By 2000 B.C. a busy trade had been established between Egypt & an area to the south known as Nubia
The Kush economy was first based on farming but later developed into a major trading state
Key goods included iron, ivory, gold, ebony, & slaves
KUSH
AXUM
Axum would replace the Kush Kingdom in about 150A.D.
It was because of trade rivalries that King Ezana invaded & conquered the Kush
Axum was located in present day Ethiopia & founded by Arabs who continued both Arab & African cultures
Axum owed it prosperity to its location on the Red Sea as it was a major trade center between India & Mediterranean
RISE OF ISLAM
In 641 Arab forces captured Egypt & by the 700’s ruled North Africa’s coast west to the Strait of Gibraltar
Muslims also controlled lands along the Red Sea
Their relationship with Axum was basically peaceable
This would change by the twelfth century as the Muslims began to move inland to control trade in slaves & ivory