Transcript Early Civilizations of Africa Hatshepsut

Early Civilizations of Africa
Hatshepsut
• Major ruler of Egypt
who wanted to be
remembered
• Wanted to carve a
record of her deeds on
the sides of the temple
• Allows archeologists to
know that early African
people’s were
connected
• Gives evidence of trade
and cultural diffusion
Hatshepsut’s Temple
Tracking the Evidence: Olduvai Gorge
• Located on the edge of the Great Rift Valley in
Tanzania
• Site of a major anthropological discovery by Mary
and Louis Leakey
• 2 million year old bone fragments that belonged to
one of the earliest ancestors of humans
• Anthropologists and Archeologists study the
remains of ancient peoples to learn how they lived
• We still do not know a lot about the earliest peoples
Records on Stone
• Rock paintings have been found from South
Africa to the Sahara
• Left behind by ancient peoples they allow us to
learn about them
• They show tools, weapons and hunting and
gathering techniques
• This evidence allows us to understand how they
lived
• Ex: Imagine 500 years from now what someone
would learn from the things in your room
Saharan Rock Art
• Shows animals and
people living together
• Woman are carrying large
packages on their heads
• The Sahara was wetter
and had lakes, rivers and
grass at one point
• Arrowheads, fish hooks
and cattle bones show
that the area has changed
• Why do you think this
happened?
Nile Valley Civilization
• Formed when hunters and gathers learned to
farm and settled by a constant water source
• Developed in the Nile Valley about 7000 years
ago
• About 3000 B.C.E powerful rulers emerged and
were called Pharaohs
• Over time they built the power and wealth of the
Egyptians
• Main part of their rule was through trade and
conquest
Religion and Government of Egypt
• Religion
– Egyptians were
polytheistic and believed
in many gods
– Chief god was Amon- Re
(God of the Sun)
– Osiris- god of the
underworld and Nile
– Isis- Wife of Osiris
• Strong belief in life after
death
• Reason for pyramids and
tombs
• Government
– Pharaohs were viewed as
gods descended from
Amon-Re
– Total power over the lives
of the people
– Priests and Nobles helped
the Pharaoh’s run Egypt
– Priests conducted
ceremonies to please the
gods
– Taxes were paid in grain
and other goods
Connecting Geography and Religion
• Use the story on page 74-75 • Questions:
– 1.) Explain what the Nile River
for the following activity
does and how it helped the
• Find a partner and get a spot
people of Egypt.
around the room
– 2.) Read over the hymn that is
sung and tell me how it
• Read the “Up Close” story
connects geography and
about the gift of the Nile
religion.
• On a piece of paper answer
– 3.) Explain the three specific
the questions about the story
seasons that the story talks
about.
• This is a graded assignment
– 4.) Answer this LEQ: How did
geography and location
impact the early people of
Africa?
Egyptian Achievements
• Huge amount of ruins and artifacts were left behind
by the Egyptians
• System of writing called Hieroglyphics that used
pictures and symbols
• Decorated the walls of pyramids and temples with
pictures and hieroglyphics
• This tells us about their beliefs, knowledge and
everyday lives
• 365 day calendar was created
• Mathematicians were able to survey the land after
floods
• Egyptian doctors studied the human body
Kingdom of Kush
• Trade and warriors moved up and down the Nile
River between Egypt and its neighbors
• Kingdom of Kush under King Kastha conquered
the Nile Valley in 750 B.C
• Kushite control of the Nile Valley ended when the
Assyrian Empire took over the Nile Valley
• Kush still remained strong and built a new capital
Meroe further down the banks of the Nile
• Eventually the Kushites replaced the Egyptian
gods with their own gods
Wealth and Growth of Kush
• Adapted Egyptian Alphabet and made it their
own
• Large amounts of Iron Ore in the ground allowed
them to make weapons
• Trade networks with Egypt and the
Mediterranean World
• Kush lasted for 1000 years before it ended
through invasions by foreigners
• Question: What cultural elements did Kush
borrow from Egypt.
Kingdom of Axum
• As Kush was falling down Axum developed in the
plateaus of Ethiopia
• Important trade center for Ancient Africa
• Traded in: spices, gems, and ivory
• Traded to Egypt, Arabia and South Asia
• 350 A.D King Ezna conquered Kush
• Converted to Christianity and withstood the
rapid growth of Islam
• Ethiopian Christian Church survives today
• Have their own language called Geez