empires of the eastern hemisphere slides 1-25 african civilizations
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Empires of the Eastern HemisphereSlides 1-25
African African CivilizationsCivilizations
Sahara Desert- World’s largest desert, comprises most of North Africa
West Africa- Along the Atlantic Ocean and in the Niger River Valley
East Africa- Along the Red Sea and in the Nile River Valley
Sub-Saharan Africa- Region located below the Sahara Desert in South Africa
Regions of AfricaIdentify the Regions on the Identify the Regions on the MapMap
Date: 1ADDate: 1AD
Location: Ethiopian Highlands Location: Ethiopian Highlands and the Nile River of East Africaand the Nile River of East AfricaIs now the modern nation of Ethiopia
Founded by Arabs from the Founded by Arabs from the Southern Arabian Peninsula Southern Arabian Peninsula (draw (draw a line from Arabian peninsula to a line from Arabian peninsula to Axum)Axum)Eventually merged merged blended Arab and blended Arab and African CulturesAfrican Cultures
Axum
• Traded along the Red Sea withTraded along the Red Sea with, Egypt, and Egypt, and the Roman Empirethe Roman Empire
Cultural diffusion an EFFECT of trade, Cultural diffusion an EFFECT of trade, adopted Roman idesadopted Roman ides, the most important , the most important was was Christianity Christianity
Missionaries brought the Christian Faith to Axum around 320 AD
Axum’s King, Ezana converted to Axum’s King, Ezana converted to Christianity and made it the official Christianity and made it the official religionreligion
Axum- Christian Christian KingdomKingdom
St. Mary of Zion churchEthiopia
1000 A.D. to 1500 A.D. 1000 A.D. to 1500 A.D.
Located in sub-Saharan AfricaLocated in sub-Saharan Africa
Interior region of southeast Africa
Controlled The Zambezi and Controlled The Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers allowed Zimbabwe Limpopo Rivers allowed Zimbabwe to TRADE via the Indian Ocean to TRADE via the Indian Ocean despite being landlocked
Practiced various polytheistic polytheistic religionsreligions
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe was known for building huge Zimbabwe was known for building huge stone fortresses stone fortresses
The city “Great Zimbabwe” or great city “Great Zimbabwe” or great stone house was the capital of stone house was the capital of great Empiregreat Empire
The “Great Zimbabwe”
““Stone House” Stone House” refers to the large refers to the large
royal palace-royal palace-fortresses built fortresses built
for defense for defense against attackagainst attack
Zimbabwe• 1500 AD:Mono-1500 AD:Mono-
Motapa was the most Motapa was the most important ruler important ruler
• He expanded the He expanded the kingdom’s borders kingdom’s borders
• Increased commerce Increased commerce (trade) in the Indian (trade) in the Indian OceanOcean
West African Kingdoms
• Ghana, Mali, SonghaiGhana, Mali, Songhai• Rose & fell in succession from
300-1500 AD300-1500 AD• Traded (gold & salt) to Traded (gold & salt) to
build empires of immense build empires of immense (huge) wealth & military (huge) wealth & military powerpower
The civilizations in West Africa were located near prosperous gold mines
They traded the gold across traded the gold across the Sahara for salt and the Sahara for salt and other goodsother goodsGhana, Mali and Songhai all benefited from these mines
Gold & Salt TradeGold & Salt Tradeof the West African of the West African
KingdomsKingdoms
Early on these civilizations practiced animismanimism, , worshipping nature spiritsworshipping nature spirits
However, traders from the traders from the Middle East brought Islam Middle East brought Islam with them
Many West Africans adopted West Africans adopted IslamIslam
Religion of West Africa Kingdoms
Trans-Saharan Trade Trans-Saharan Trade RoutesRoutes
• These extended from the sub-Saharan West African kingdoms across the Sahara Desert to Europe
• Saharan Trade connected the Saharan Trade connected the African Kingdoms (Ghana, Mali, & African Kingdoms (Ghana, Mali, & Songhai) with the European WorldSonghai) with the European World
• (Use the map from the next slide (Use the map from the next slide and draw a line showing the and draw a line showing the trade route from West Africa to trade route from West Africa to EuropeEurope
West African Kingdoms
• Brought people from the African interior regions into contact with the Middle East
Established an empire in West Africa beginning in 300 -1200A.D.300 -1200A.D.
Located in the Niger Valley Niger Valley between the Sahara Desert and between the Sahara Desert and Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean
Traded gold for goods across Traded gold for goods across the Saharathe Sahara
Had a hierarchy of classes, ruled hierarchy of classes, ruled by a dynasty controlling a by a dynasty controlling a large, centralized bureaucracylarge, centralized bureaucracy
Ghana
Ghana
An Example of a Trans-Saharan
caravanTerritory
Ghana Ruled in red
Took control of West Africa around West Africa around 1235 A.D.1235 A.D.
Also prospered from trans-prospered from trans-Saharan tradeSaharan trade
Capital was Timbuktu Capital was Timbuktu
Timbuktu became a center for center for trade and cross-cultural trade and cross-cultural learninglearning
Mali
Mansa MusaMali King
Mali Controlled Africa until the death of the their great king, Mansa Musa in A.D. 1332King Mansa Musa made King Mansa Musa made a pilgrimage to Mecca a pilgrimage to Mecca and Cairoand Cairo, , bringing caravans of gold to trade with Arab Muslim leadersHis voyage made Mali His voyage made Mali famous in the Middle famous in the Middle East & EuropeEast & Europe
What is the name of the river?
What is their capital city?
Islam came to West Africa from Arab traders who traveled trade routes
Mali would adopt Islam under Mali would adopt Islam under Mansa MusaMansa Musa
The city of Timbuktu became the center of Islamic culture and education in West Africa
Timbuktu was also a center of trade
Islam in Mali
Replaced the Mali Empire Replaced the Mali Empire when it was weakened by weakened by civil warscivil warsRuled West Africa from A.D. A.D. 1493 until A.D. 15891493 until A.D. 1589Continued the gold/salt gold/salt tradetradeAlso practiced Islam practiced Islam Great builders, constructed constructed large mosques and civic large mosques and civic buildingsbuildings
Songhai
What River does Songhai lie What River does Songhai lie along?along?What is he name of the Capital?What is he name of the Capital?List the common characteristics List the common characteristics of the Kingdoms of Songhai and of the Kingdoms of Songhai and Mali.Mali.
Africa is made up of four distinct regions. The people who inhabit these regions are just as different. The kingdoms of Axum, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Mali and Songhai all played a major role in the development of Africa from the first years AD to the Middle Ages.
Conclusion