Western Western and and

Central Central AfricaAfrica

Movement within Africa

Movement Within Africa “The Bantu Migrations”

Bantu people originated in West Africa They are the original 400 tribes of Africa

Too many people for the environment to support, so large groups of Bantu moved to other areas Spread into Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa

As they migrated “Cultural Diffusion” occurred Exchange of culture between groups of people

Food, clothing, customs, religion, etc.

Movement within Africa Movement Within Africa

The Bantu were much more advanced people than the tribes we studied so far

More advanced than the Hamer, Mursii, Maasai, and Bushmen

This began to create a difference in lifestyles between peoples of Africa

The Bantu are the civilized and modern people of Africa

They are in control of society Money and government

Ultimately, they have all of the power

Movement within Africa (Western Africa) Powerful empires developed in West

Africa: From the years 1050 – 1500 The empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

thrived in West Africa because of their location on trade routes across the Sahara

Gold and Salt were the main products tradedNecessity vs. Desire

Ghana, Mali, Songhai

Ghana – Ghana means “war chief”. Traders began to call this area Ghana. Gold and Salt were the main things exchanged here. Empire of Ghana was in power from 800 – 1100.

Mali – 1235, kingdom of Mali emerged. Conquered Ghana. 2/3 of the world’s gold came from West Africa at this time. Declined around 1400.

Songhai – 1400-1591

Movement out of Africa Out of Africa

The slave trade Europeans traveled to Africa in search of labor Set up trading posts along the West coast of Africa

Goree Island Just off the coast of the country of Senegal Millions of slaves left here for the slave auction in Cuba

Triangular trade Slaves went to the Americas from Africa Raw materials like molasses, cotton, coffee, tobacco went

to Europe Guns, manufactured goods, and money go back to Africa

Movement out of Africa

The slave trade = Maafa Swahili for "holocaust" or "great disaster“

Middle Passageone to six months depending on weather

conditionsTypical slave ships contained several hundred

slaves with about thirty crew membersMales chained together in pairs to save spaceWomen and children may have had somewhat more

room. Wretched Conditions

Disease, contamination, and filth were rampant

Slave Trade Map

Destination %Brazil 35.4

Spanish Empire 22.1

British W. Indies 17.7

French W. Indies

14.1

British N. America (future U.S.A)

4.4

Dutch W. Indies 4.4

Danish W. Indies

0.2

Movement into Africa Movement Into Africa

Africa was unexplored until the 1600s Became known as the “Dark Continent”

Little was known about Africa because physical barriers stopped exploration Vast deserts, dense rainforests, and cataracts

Western Africa was where most explorers ended up As exploration increased, numerous resources of

value were found Gold, silver, diamonds, coffee, tea, wood, cotton, etc

Cecil Rhodes founded a diamond company called DeBeers DeBeers markets 60 to 90% of the world's diamonds

Movement into Africa “Scramble for Africa”

The Industrial Revolution was occurring in Europe so the demand for raw materials increased

Europeans rushed into Africa to get as many resources as they could

Set up “Colonies” Take control of another country’s economy and government England, France, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, & Italy

Wars were being fought over the new land

“Berlin Conference” Meeting of European countries

Conference to “carve up Africa”

White Man’s Burden

Rudyard Kipling’s poemThe white man (Europeans) are responsible for

civilizing the primitive cultures of AfricaUsed as an excuse for Europeans destroying

African civilizations and taking their resourcesPromotes colonies throughout AfricaAnd…Segregation, Discrimination and Racism

Countries of Central & Western Africa – Basics of… Democratic Republic of the Congo Size of the U.S. east of the Mississippi

River! Located in large rainforest (40-80 inches

of rain a year) Belgium and King Leopold II colonized History of civil war since independence More than 200 ethnic groups

Republic of Cameroon

About the size of California Rubber, bananas, cocoa, and timber are

supported by the climate Bantu tribes inhabited highlands more

than 1,500 years ago Germany, France, and Britain ruled More than half of its people live in rural

communities ¼ population is Muslim

Republic of Senegal

About the size of South Dakota Dakar (capital) is a major port of West

Africa Tropical climate: 95 degrees during rainy

season Goree Island = slave trade (off coast) France colonized 95% Muslim 70% of people work in agriculture

Republic of Ghana

About the size of Oregon Temps can reach 100 degrees regularly British colonized in 1901 English is the official language More than half are Christian, 15-20% are

Muslim 50% of people work in agriculture HIV/AIDS is a growing problem

Sierra Leone

About the size of South Carolina Average 125 inches of rain a year Was once part of Mali Empire Slavery was big here Became a British colony Christianity and Islam are practiced 18 ethnic groups One of the world’s poorest countries

despite resources like diamonds and gold

Federal Republic of Nigeria

About size of California, Nevada, and Utah combined

Diverse geography, people, and culture Slaves from Nigeria went to North and South

America British colonized Most populated country in Africa; 250 ethnic

groups 50% Muslim, 40% Christian One of world’s largest oil producers