geography of africa what is the geography of africa like? what are some positive aspects of...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 13: Kingdoms and
States of Medieval Africa
Geography of Africa
• What is the geography of Africa like?
• What are some positive aspects of Africa’s geography?
• What are some negative aspects of Africa’s geography?
Africa is the second
largest continent Africa stretched 5,000
miles north to south 3 different regions:
North- Sahara Central- Green band of
rain forests and tropical grassland
South- Dry land
Impact of Geography
Heavy rains near the
equator Largest populations
are concentrated where soils are fertile
Savanna- broad grassland with small trees and shrubs There is not enough
rainfall for farming or herding
Impact of Geography
Three early societies: Ghana,
Mali, Songhai The three societies had
things in common: government, trade centers, towns had artisans of metal work, woodwork, potters, and other crafts
Most African societies did not have written languages
The language spoken throughout most of Africa was Swahili
African Society
Most Africans lived in small villages Individual identity was determined
by their membership in an extended family and lineage group
Lived in extended families- parents, children, grandparents, other family dependents
Lineage groups- an extended family unit that has combined into a larger community Matrilineal Patrilineal
Family and Lineage
Power was shared among members of the
community Decisions were made by consensus Elders were respected Independent villages organized by clans
Family and Lineage
Monotheistic Yoruba people of Nigeria- chief god sent his
son Oduduwa down from heaven Ashanti people of Ghana believed in the
supreme being Nyame Africans used rituals to communicate with the
gods Diviners- a person who is believed to have the
power to foretell events Importance placed on ancestors
Religious Beliefs
Believed that the spirits of their departed
ancestors were present on earth- animism Music and dance were for religious purposes Lyrics of songs conveyed religious traditions,
folk legends, and historical information from one generation to another
Religious Beliefs
African religious beliefs were challenged by
Islam but not always replaced Islam came into northern Africa Islam was adapted through trade By 1400s- most of the populations accepted
Islam Christianity was adopted by Axum Muslims and Christians came into conflict
Religious Beliefs
Women were
subordinate to men The value of a woman
was in her ability to bear and raise children
Women often worked in fields
Role of Women
Early societies governments regulated trade Government had more power than private
merchants To what degree do governments regulate or
control economic markets?
The Role of Government
Free Market Economy- an economic system in
which the means of production are largely privately owned and there is little or no government control over the markets
Supply and Demand- the relationship between the amounts of an item that producers are able and willing to sell (supply) and the quantity that consumers can afford and wish to buy
Types of Government
Money Economy- an economic system based
on money rather than barter Mercantilism- a set of principles that
dominated economic thought in the 1600s
Types of Governments
Move of goods all over the world Developed trade diasporas- networks of
interconnected commercial communities living and working in major trade cities
Major Trade Route
Across the Indian Ocean to Northern Africa Allowed trade between Asia and East Africa Trading centers developed Mogadishu and Great Zimbabwe thrived on
trade across the Indian Ocean Muslim ports in Egypt- Cairo and Alexandria
Arab Trading Zone
Kush
Grew out of the region that was known as Nubia, south of Egypt
Egypt and Nubia traded ivory, leopard skins, and frankincense
Assyrians defeated Kush because the Assyrians had superior technology
East African Kingdoms
Axum
Invaded and conquered Kush
Axum came into conquered with Greek and Rome civilizations through missionaries and trade
Adopted Christianity Trade Located along the Red
Sea Weakened by civil war
and declined
East African Kingdoms
Gold and salt were important to trade Plenty of salt was found in the Sahara Very little salt found in savanna People of savanna traded gold to obtain salt West African kingdoms were ruled by powerful
emperors
West African Kingdoms
They had strong armies to maintain order and
protect kingdoms Gold, ivory, and slaves moved north Metal ware, textiles, and salt carried south
West African Kingdoms
Nomads- carried
goods across the Sahara
Berbers often purchased goods from people on one side of the desert and then sold the goods to people on the other side
The Berbers
City: Jenne-Jeno
First known indigenous city of Sub-Saharan Africa
Began 250 BC Herding and fishing Used what was around
them: Fish from the river, rice
from the fields, beef from the herds
Did not have centralized government- urbanized
Emerged around 6th century Between Sahara and West
African coast Between Senegal and Niger
Rivers People of Ghana made iron
swords, spears, and lances Kings ruled Ghana as powerful
rulers unbound by laws Taxed all trade Capital: Kumbi Saleh
Ghana
Ghana’s gold was at the
center of trade Merchants traded salt,
textiles and other goods for gold
Main export: gold; main import: salt
1076- invaded by Muslims from North Africa
Never fully recovered and dissolved into several smaller states
Ghana’s Prosperity
Founded by Sundiata
Keita Began after the
collapse of Ghana Sundiata Keita united
people of Mali and established a stable central government
Powerful kings were called mansas
Mali
Major trading city: Timbuktu Timbuktu was a trading and education center Recognized as one of the intellectual capitals
of the Muslim world City attracted students from Europe, Asia, and
Africa Arab travelers like Ibn Battuta- impressed by
Mali’s wealth
Mali Trade
One of the greatest
African leaders Doubled the size of the
kingdom Created a strong central
government Divided the kingdom
into provinces ruled by governors he appointed
Made a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324
Mansa Musa
Traveled in a caravan with gold Brought back Muslim scholars and architects
to Mali Built mosques and libraries After Mansa Musa’s death, Mali fell into a civil
war
Mansa Musa
Location:
Fertile area near the Niger River Most people made their livings as farmers
Songhai
1464: Sunni Ali created a dynasty based on
Sunni Islam Strong military leaders captured Timbuktu and
made it a great trading empire Gold and salt were key
Sunni Ali
Height of Sunni power was
under Muhammad Ture Strong military leaders Created strong government
bases Established a navy on the
river Capital is Gao Gao is where Ture is burried Gao has one of the most
revered mosques in western Africa
Muhammad Ture
Starting in the 700s- Muslim traders from Arab
lands established bases on the east coast of Africa
Muslims moved from Arabian peninsula to East Africa
Along with their trade goods, Arabs carried their culture and religion to port cities
Muslim Trade Outposts
Along the East Coast of
Africa Gold from the interior was
sent down the Zambia river, sold to merchants from Arabia and India
Kilwa, present day Tanzania, was filled with magnificent buildings
Portuguese destroyed the city in the early 1500s
Port of Kilwa
Up to the 11th century, people in southern
Africa lived in groups of independent villages Group of independent villages organized by
clans Some villages began to unite, initiating the
development of states
Societies in South Africa