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Kuba ceremonial mask, Congo.

African Civilizations,1500 B.C.–A.D. 700

African cultures adapt to harsh environments, spread through major migrations, and establish powerful kingdoms.

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African Civilizations,1500 B.C.–A.D. 700

SECTION 1

SECTION 2

SECTION 3

Diverse Societies in Africa

CASE STUDY: Migration

The Kingdom of Aksum

Map

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Section 1

Diverse Societies in Africa African peoples develop diverse societies as theyadapt to varied environments.

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A Land of Geographic Contrasts

Diverse Societies in Africa

Geography of Africa• Large continent but coastline has few ports,

harbors, or inlets

Challenging Environments• Africa has many deserts, including huge Sahara• The southern edge of the expanding Sahara is

called the Sahel• Rainforests found near central part of continent

Welcoming Lands• Northern coast and southern tip of Africa have

Mediterranean climates• Savannas, or grasslands, cover almost half of

Africa

SECTION

1

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Early Humans Adapt to Their Environments

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1

Nomadic Lifestyle• Earliest people are nomadic hunter-gatherers• Herders drive animals to find water, graze

pastures

Transition to a Settled Lifestyle• Agriculture probably develops by 6000 B.C.• As the Sahara dried up, farmers move to West

Africa or Nile Valley• Agriculture allows permanent settlement,

governments to develop

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Early Societies in Africa

SECTION

1

Societies Organized by Family Groups• Extended families made up of several

generations• Families with common ancestors form groups

known as clans

Local Religions• Early religions usually include elements of

animism—belief in spirits

Keeping a History• Few African societies have written languages• History, literature, culture passed on by

storytellers called griots• Cultures in West Africa are advanced long before

outsiders arrive

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West African Iron Age

SECTION

1

Learning About the Past• Artifacts reveal how people lived in the past• Evidence of sub-Saharan cultures producing iron

around 500 B.C.

The Nok Culture• Nok—West Africa’s earliest known culture—

made iron tools, weapons

Djenné-Djeno• From 600–200 B.C., cities begin to develop near

rivers, oases• Djenné-Djeno—Africa’s oldest known city (250

B.C.), discovered in 1977• Bustling trade center; linked West African towns,

camel trade routes

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Relocation of large numbers of Bantu-speaking people brings cultural diffusion and change to southern Africa.

Section 2

Migration CASE STUDY: Bantu-Speaking Peoples

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People on the Move

Migration

Migration• Migration—permanent move to new place; a

pattern in human culture

Causes of Migration• Push-pull factors—Conditions that push people

out of an area or pull them in

SECTION

2

Effects of Migration• Brings diverse cultures into contact; changes life in

the new land

Tracing Migration Through Language• One way to trace migration is to study how

languages spread • Africa has many complex language families

Chart

CASE STUDY: Bantu-Speaking Peoples

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Massive Migrations

Bantu-speaking Peoples• Bantu-speaking peoples—early Africans who

spread culture and language• Originally lived in savanna south of Sahara; now

southeastern Nigeria• The word Bantu means “the people”

SECTION

2

Migration Begins• Bantu speakers migrate south and east starting

about 3000 B.C.• Live by slash-and-burn farming, nomadic herding• Share skills, learn new customs, adapt to

environment

Continued . . .

Map

Image

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Causes of Migration• Bantu speakers move to find farmland, flee

growing Sahara• Need iron ore resources and hardwood forests for

iron smelting• Within 1,500 years they reach southern tip of

Africa

continued Massive Migrations

SECTION

2

Effects of the Migration• Bantu speakers drive out some inhabitants; intermix

with others • Bantu migrations produce a great variety of cultures• Language helps unify the continent

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Section 3

The Kingdom of Aksum The kingdom of Aksum becomes an international trading power and adopts Christianity.

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The Rise of the Kingdom of Aksum

The Kingdom of Aksum

Aksum’s Geography• Aksum—kingdom replaces Kush in East Africa;

blend of Africans, Arabs• Located on Horn of Africa, modern day Ethiopia and

Eritrea• Trading kingdom linking Africa and Indian Ocean

trade routes

SECTION

3

Continued . . .

The Origins of Aksum• Land first mentioned in Greek guidebook in A.D. 100 • Rulers take control of areas around Blue Nile and

Red Sea• Dynasty of Aksum rules until 1975; ends with death

of Haile Selassie

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Aksum Controls International Trade• Aksum is hub for caravan routes to Egypt and

Meroë• Adulis, chief port, has access to Mediterranean

Sea, Indian Ocean

continued The Rise of the Kingdom of Aksum

A Strong Ruler Expands the Kingdom• King Ezana—strong ruler of Aksum from A.D. 325 to

360 • He conquers part of Arabian peninsula, now Yemen• In 350 conquers Kushites and burns Meroë to

ground

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3

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An International Culture Develops

Aksum Culture• Blended cultural traditions of Arab peoples and

Kushites• Adulis population: Egyptian, Arabian, Greek,

Roman, Persian, Indian • Greek is international language; Aksumites trade

gold to Rome

Aksumite Religion• Believe in one god, Mahrem, and that king

descended from him• Are animists—worship spirits of nature and

ancestors• Exposed to Christianity by traders

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3

Continued . . .

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Aksum Becomes Christian• Young King Ezana educated by Christian man

from Syria• As ruler, Ezana declares Christianity as

kingdom’s official religion• Aksum, now part of Ethiopia, still home to millions

of Christians

continued An International Culture Develops

Aksumite Innovations• Written language, minted coins, irrigation canals and

dams• Aksumites invent terrace farming due to hilly

location • Terraces—steplike ridges constructed on mountain

slopes

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3

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The Fall of Aksum

Islam• Aksum kingdom lasts 800 years; witnesses rise of

Islam religion• Followers of prophet Muhammad conquer all of

Arabia by 632

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3

Islamic Invaders• Between A.D. 632 and 710, Islamic invaders leave

Aksum alone• In A.D. 710, they attack port city of Adulis, causing

Aksum’s decline

Aksum Isolated• As Islam spreads, Aksum rulers move capital to

northern Ethiopia • Isolation, soil erosion, deforestation cause loss of

remaining power

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