Early Africa

A WH1 Presentationby Mr. Hess

Part I:Northeast Africa –

Nubia, Kush and Axum

Nubia

• The Kingdom of Nubia was established by 3000 BC along the southern Nile (Sudan).

• The Nubians mastered the bow and arrow, and conquered neighboring communities.

Nubia, cont.

• Jewelry and pottery found in tombs of kings were as elaborate as the Egyptians’.

• Nubia evolved into the kingdom of Kush by 2000 BC.

Kush

• Kush was ruled by Egypt for 500 years, then gained independence around 1000 BC.

• Kush later ruled Egypt from 724 BC until 671 BC.

Kush, cont.

• Kush had a strong trading economy, which brought much wealth to its merchants and kings.

• Kush eventually was invaded by Axum in 350 AD.

Axum

Axum

• Axum was a trading power, exchanging goods with Egypt, Greece, Rome, Persia and India.

• Many Roman elements were adopted, including Christianity, which became the official religion around 330 AD.

Axum, cont.

• The rise of Islam contributed to Axum’s decline as it became economically isolated.

• It eventually became the Christian kingdom of Ethiopia.

Part II:Africa South of the Sahara

Africa South of the Sahara

• Note: This part of Africa was generally not civilized until much later.– Most societies exhibited characteristics similar to

Neolithic cultures, and lacked the high level of organization that characterizes a civilization.

Nok Culture

• West Africa (present-day Nigeria) was dominated from 700 BC to 200 BC by the Nok culture.

• Nok culture was characterized by clay figurines and the use of metal farming tools.

The Bantu Migrations

• Scarce farmland caused huge food shortages, which led to a mass migration over 1000 years – the Bantu migrations.

• Many patterns were followed as people migrated from West Africa to all other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.

• Some followed the Niger or other rivers; others moved into the rainforests of Central Africa or the savannas of East Africa.

The Bantu Migrations, cont.

• Sub-Saharan Africa became characterized by numerous villages, seldom connected politically or otherwise.– Result: diversity!

• Many villages were matrilineal societies.

The Bantu Migrations, cont.

• Gifts were given to a bride’s family to compensate for her loss when married.

• Jobs were given to males and females according to age.

• Religions were characterized by belief in a supreme creator god as well as lesser deities who represented aspects of nature.

• Social rules developed from religion.