Kingdoms & Trading States of Medieval Africaclassroom.marionisd.net/users/0154/Africa Ch 8...
Transcript of Kingdoms & Trading States of Medieval Africaclassroom.marionisd.net/users/0154/Africa Ch 8...
Kingdoms & Trading States
of Medieval Africa
Early Societies in
West Africa 500-1600 CE
Table of Contents
• Background
• Africa’s Four Climate
Zones
• Africa’s Four
Vegetation Zones
• Africa’s Vegetation
Map
• Early Trade Routes
• Muslim Trade Routes
• The Sahara Desert
• The Sahal Desert
• The Savannah
• The Woodland Forest
• Communities &
Villages
• The Nok People
• Development of
Towns & Cities
• Jenne-jeno
• The Rise of
Kingdoms & Empires
• End of Presentation
Background
• Civilization began in West Africa thousands of years
ago. Written records are non existent during the time
period 500-1600 CE. Muslim scholars began writing
about the Kingdom of Ghana around 800 CE. By then
Ghana was more than 300 years old.
• To determine how these civilizations came to be, scholars
studied geography, natural features, vegetation, ancient
settlements, and artifacts.
• By studying these clues scholars understand how the
kingdoms came to be, why they developed where they
did, what kind of life the settlers had, and what they did
to grow and harvest their food.
• African civilization was shaped by Africa’s Four Climate
and Four Vegetation Zones.
Africa’s Four Climate Zones
• Africa is the second
largest continent on
earth following Asia.
• Africa can be divided into
four climate zones:
• West Africa
• North Africa
• Central & South Africa
• East Africa
Africa’s Four Vegetation Zones
• Africa can also be divided into four vegetation zones that
are important because of the affect on life in each zone.
They include:
• A desert, is sandy, hot and dry.
• A semi-desert, is less dry and supports grasses and shrubs.
• A savannah, consists of tall grasses and trees.
• A forest, has an abundance of vegetation.
Africa’s Vegetation Map
Early Trade Routes
• Three Medieval Kingdoms developed in Africa between
500 and 1600 CE: Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.
• For centuries African civilizations had limited contact
with civilizations to the north because travel across the
Sahara Desert was almost impossible.
Muslim Trade Routes
• By 700 CE, Arab Muslim
traders from North
Africa began to cross the
Sahara in increasing
numbers and created
trade routes.
• These trade routes
played an important role
in the growth of the
region
• Trade also brought the
Muslim religion, Islam
to the region. Islam had
a deep impact on West
African culture.
The Sahara Desert
• Geography determines
where people live and
patterns of trade.
• The Sahara Desert is 3.5
million square miles. It is
very dry; therefore, not
suitable for large
settlements.
The Sahal Desert
• The Sahal, south of the
Sahara is a semi desert,
not as dry and produces
short grass, bushes & some
trees.
• In the south the Sahal
merges into the Savannah,
an area of tall grasses and
scattered trees.
The Savannah
• With a long rainy season,
the Savannah produces
a variety of crops for
human consumption and
food for feeding animals.
• Rivers such as the Niger
help fertilize the ground.
The Woodland Forest
• Woodland forests and
rainforests are great
places to support life.
• Trade was stimulated by
the different produce of
each region and rivers
provided the routes for
trade.
Communities & Villages
• Early settlements, made up of extended families, appeared
around 4000 BCE south of the Sahara. The communities
were 15 to 20 members and were self sufficient and
traded for additional goods with other such communities.
• As families joined together they formed villages with 100
to 200 people. The leaders were selected for their wisdom.
• Villages were formed to get help from other sources and
for protection.
The Nok People
• Villages grew into towns due to
ironworking and trade. By 500
BC, the Nok people lived near
present day Nigeria.
• They were making tools from iron
using smelting furnaces.
• As ironworking spread, it brought
major changes in farming. They
now had tools to clear land and
raise more.
Development of
Towns & Cities
• The greater abundance of food supported larger villages
allowing others to work at other trades. Surplus food was
then available to trade with other villages.
• Villages then grew up along the river trade routes. These
villages became market centers and grew richer by
charging for trading services. These villages grew into
sizable towns.
Jenne-jeno
• Jenne-jeno was a thriving city of about 20,000 people
built in the 3rd century that existed for more that 1600
years. It was discovered in 1977.
• It was ideally located for farming fishing and trade. The
citizens traded their surplus crops for iron & copper,
many miles away.
• The people lived in circular houses made of bent poles.
woven mats, and mud blocks. The people farmed and
had many tradesmen, most of whom were blacksmiths.
• Blacksmiths were revered for their ability to craft tools
made from iron. They held prominent positions and some
were charged with predicting the future.
The Rise of
Kingdoms & Empires
• Trade drove the early kingdoms of Ghana, Mali and
Songhai. Rulers raised money by taxing the goods
traded. The revenue raise allowed them to raise armies
and conquer other trading areas.
• Conquered people paid tribute in recognition of the new
rulers protection.
• Rulers were both political and religious leaders. They
were believed to have special powers given to them by
the gods.
• As kingdoms conquered more areas they created
empires. Empires worked by providing protection, safety
on trade routes, and keeping raiders at bay. Wars
between small tribes ended.
End of Presentation