early african civilizations chapter 7. the development of civilizations in africa section 1
TRANSCRIPT
Early African Civilizations
Chapter 7
The Development of Civilizations in Africa
Section 1
The Land of Africa
• 2nd largest continent with many geographic regions • North - Mediterranean Sea, mountainous• Moving south next is the Sahara - largest desert in the
world• Desert turns to grasslands to jungles then back to
grasslands moving south• East – Mountains and uplands Great Rift Valley -
mountains over canyons – grasslands• West-Central Congo Basin - Congo River - rain forests• Kalahari Desert – Southwest
Climate
• Four climate zones• Moderate – Northern coast and southern tip -
moderate rainfall and warm temperatures• Deserts – Sahara and Kalahari – covers 40% • Rain forests – Heavy rain and warm temperatures
produce dense forests• Savannas – grasslands with unreliable rainfall –
allows for some farming and herding – covers 40%
Climate and Vegetation Map
Kush
• Located in Nubia – it was part of southern Egypt – gains independence around 1000 BCE
• Traded with Egypt – What items?• Ivory, ebony, frankincense, leopard skins• Kushites conquered Egypt in 750 BCE, short-lived• Returned to the upper Nile river valley after being
overpowered by the Assyrians in 663 BCE – how?• Better weaponry made with iron, not stone and bronze• Economy – original basis? What makes it well known?• First based on farming• Emerges as a major trading state –city of Meroe
Meroe – Kush Trading City
• Good location – At the point of where the land route across the
desert crosses the Nile– Large supply of iron ore – Uses?
• Make weapons and tools for trade• Exports and imports?• Exports - Iron, ivory, gold, ebony, slaves –
Imports - luxury items like silver and jewelry
Society in Kush
• Not much is known• Mostly urban and prosperous - How do we
know this? • Archeological evidence• State authorities probably controlled the foreign
trade• Most likely had a large merchant class• Peak was from about 250 BCE to 150 CE,
declines with the rise of the Axum
The Rise of Axum
• Founded as a colony by Arabs in modern day Ethiopia
• Emerges as an independent state that combines Arab and African cultures
• Prosperity can be credited to its location on the Red Sea – part of the trade route from India to the Mediterranean
• Exports and Imports?• Exports – Ivory, frankincense, myrrh, slaves –
Imports – textiles, metal goods, wine, and olive oil
King Ezana
• Competition between Kush and Axum for Ivory trade
• In the beginning of the 4th century he invades and conquers Kush
• What does he do that is significant?• Around 330 CE he converts to Christianity and
makes it the official religion of Axum• After his death Axum continues to flourish, but
by the 7th century it begins to decline
The coming of Islam
• Islamic/Arabic expansion affects Africa shortly after its origination
• 641 - Egypt is conquered• By the early 8th century the coast of N. Africa is
under Arabic control• Relatively peaceful relations between Islamic
Africa and Axum until a trading war ensues over the control of slave and ivory
• Axum Empire collapses in 950
Islamic Empire 7th Century