Transcript 1800 bc - ad .1500 - Bibb County Schools

AFRICA
1800 B.C. - A.D .1500
Introduction
PRESS
HERE
GEOGRAPHY
Sahara Desert
*Covers ¼ of the continent
*It was once fertile and well-watered.
*Changing wind and weather patternsovertime the land became dry
and barren
* Sahel—southern edge of desert—dry, rainfall sparse, farming difficult
and uncertain
Savannas
* vast stretches of dry grasslands
*Few trees and thorny bushes
*Farmers—grew grains such as sorghum, millet, and rice
*Cattle herders
GEOGRAPHY
Sub-Saharan
Plateau: a land area having a relatively level surface
considerably raised above adjoining land
Steep shorelines—few natural harbors
Most rivers are blocked by rapids.
Rainfall much greater farther south
100 incher of rain per year in central and
western Africa
Tropical Rain Forest
Jungle in some areas
Farther south of the rain forest—more dry grasslands
2 Deserts: Kalahari and Namib [nah-mib]
GEOGRAPHY
Other natural features:
5 Major Rivers—one of them is the Nile River
Lake Victoria—one of the world’s largest lakes
Great Rift Valley—earth’s crust parted
Victoria Falls
GEOGRAPHY
Now it’s map time!
 Color and label your map like the one on p. 279
in your book.
 Next, go to the map on p. 281, and trace the
route of the Bantu migrations in red onto your
map.
 Make a key to the left side or bottom of the
map.

Press
There are more than 60 million people who speak Bantu
as their native language. They live primarily in the
regions that straddle the equator and continue
southward into southern Africa.
1000 BC a massive migration began (considered one of
the largest in human history). This migration continued
until around the 3rd or 4th century AD.
Possibilities for Migration:
It may have been due to a growing population in
ancient times, which increased the need for more food. It
was around this time that the banana, which is native to
Asia, was introduced in southern Africa.
Currently the Bantu are
known more as a
language group than as
a distinct ethnic group.
Oral Traditions
handed down by
Griots.
Complete
assignment on
Ghana, Mali, &
Songhai p.284All three kingdoms
*vast trading networks
* main export was gold
each kingdom wealthy
and strong
Empire of Ghana
Gold
lacked adequate salt
Not surprisingly, the goldsalt trade between the
Ghana Empire and the
Arab desert merchants
flourished.
Change in political control of West Africa
Due to the fall of the Ghana Empire and the rise of the Islamic
Mali Empire in 1235
Control of the gold-salt trade remained the economic lifeline of
the region
Established a second major gold-salt trade route northeast across
the Sahara.
The Songhai people
rose up to challenge the Mali Empire in the late 1400s
understood the importance of controlling the trade centers
They captured Timbuktu, a center of education and trade very
well known outside of Western Africa
Commerce
Ghana, Mali, and Songhai established trade routes
As these networks grew and became more
prosperous, they expanded to include the
Mediterranean and then eventually Europe.
Trade goods included gold, salt, copper, iron, various
minerals, and agricultural products.
A negative effect of this interaction was the start of
the slave trade, when Europeans needed a cheap,
reliable labor source for their New World colonies
Religion and the Trans-Saharan Trade
Islam reached West Africa through Arab Merchants on
Saharan caravan routes.
During the Ghana, Mali, and Songhai empires Arab
merchants brought the Koran and the written language
Arabic to the traditionally oral cultures (Griot) each
empire encompassed.
Islamic Influences
In Mali, the emperor Mansa Musa was
famous for his pilgrimage to Mecca, one
of the Five Pillars of Islam.
This pilgrimage gained Mali closer ties
with the Islamic world, and increased
trade and cultural diffusion between Mali
and the Muslim Empire.
During the 1400s, Timbuktu
became a center of learning
under the leadership of Mali
emperor, Mansa Musa (click
on pic to watch his musical
debut)
Migration
Many migrations
occurred throughout
Africa. This resulted in a
diversity of cultures
across the continent as
ideas and beliefs were
spread.
SYNCRETISM
the combination of
different forms of
belief or practice
Make sure to put this in your notes:
Trans-Sahara Trade
•Increase in use of trade routes
•Increased contact with Muslims - connected West Africa with
Muslim world and beyond
•Increase in wealth
•Ghana provided ivory, slaves, horses, cloth and salt
•Kings converted to Islam in 900s
•Mali absorbed Ghana and controlled all trade into Sub-Saharan
Africa
•Mansa Musa makes pilgrimage to Mecca using route
•Major cities on route included Timbuktu and Gao.
•Songhai Kingdom
East African Trade
Routes
Exchange of slaves and goods
Exchange of cultural diffusion
Exchange of religious syncretism
Swahili City-states
Trade centers in eastern
Africa.
Mogadishu, Sofala, and Kilwa
Merchants traded gold, slaves
and ivory for pottery,
glassware, and textiles from
Persia, India and China.
Governed by kings, who
controlled the trade, as well
as the taxes.
GOLD
The Swahili language,
is basically of Bantu
(African) origin. It has
borrowed words from
other languages such
as Arabic probably as
a result of the Swahili
people using the
Quran written in
Arabic for spiritual
guidance as Muslims.
East Africa