Africa 1 lb of gold for 1

Africa

1 lb. of gold for 1 lb. of salt!!! Savannas (grassy plains) most people live here

Geographic Contrasts • Second largest continent in the world. • Some parts have constant drought • Can be land of rocky dust or desert • Example: Sahara Desert in North Africa • Other parts get 400 inches of rain a year • Can be land of lush, green rainforests • South Africa has fertile soil and vegetation.

What were the “ships of the desert” and how did they revolutionize trade across the Sahara? • CAMELS!!! • A new form of transportation from Asia -- they could carry heavy loads across the desert, often without water!

Early African People • First Humans appeared in Great Rift Valley • Nomadic lifestyle until they learned to domesticate animals • Lived in clans • Religion included animism – a religion where people believe that spirits are present in animals, plants, and other natural forces.

Great Rift Valley

• Approx. 1000 BC a massive migration began (considered one of the largest in human history). • Anthropologists debate why this occurred, some believe: – It may have been due to a growing population in ancient times, which increased the need for more food and land. 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.

What information can we learn from this map?

Kingdom of Aksum • Located by the Red Sea = modern day Ethiopia • Took over many important areas and Monsoon winds became an important played a big role center of trade in trade with India! • Traded with Egypt, Arabia, Persia, India and the Roman Empire at Aksum’s key sea port called ADULIS

Trade in Aksum • Items traded: salt, rhinoceros horns, tortoise shells, ivory, emeralds, and gold • Imported cloth, glass, olive oil, wine, brass, iron and copper

Aksum Religion • Traditionally monotheistic • God called Mahrem and their king Ezana was a direct descendent of him. • Offered sacrifices- animals • King Ezana converted to Christianity • In 451 A. D. , Ethiopia and Egypt with become Orthodox and split from Roman Catholic

Aksumite Architecture • Developed unique architecture using stone instead of mud bricks to build palaces and buildings • Used NO MORTAR • Instead they carved stones to fit together tightly • Built huge stone pillars called Stelae to celebrate king’s conquests

Fall of Aksum • Aksum lasted for 800 years • Fell to invaders who practiced Islam

Didjya Know? ? Zimbabwe means “House of Stone”

Pictures Cited • • • Slide 1 – http: //www. cedcc. psu. edu/khanjan/cc. Kenya/048_African%20 Sunset. JPG Slide 3 http: //www 1. istockphoto. com/file_thumbview_approve/1102986/2/istockphoto_1102986_salt_caravan_in_the_s ahara_desert. jpg, http: //photos. igougo. com/images/p 195855 -Timbuktu-The_Sahara_Desert. jpg, http: //www. visituganda. com/assets/images/what/photos/008 -Kibale-Chimptrees. jpg Slide 4 - http: //anthro. palomar. edu/earlyprimates/images/map_of_great_rift_valley. gif Slide 5 - http: //www. unganisha. org/home/docs/imgs/great_rift_valley/great_rift. jpg Slide 6 - http: //staff. harrisonburg. k 12. va. us/~cwalton/SOLPics/mapafricaaxum. JPG Slide 7 - http: //www. boneclones. com/images/ko 252 l_web-lg. jpg, http: //www. trophyroomcollection. com/ivoryimg/ivory. JPG, http: //www. emeralds. com/photos/lacruz. jpg Slide 8 - http: //wbchouston. org/files/Pictures/Christian. jpg Slide 9 - http: //cache. eb. com/eb/image? id=93423&rend. Type. Id=4 Slide 10 - http: //www. weltgebetsuhr. de/wgb/bilder/kaaba/original/kaaba-09. jpg

Africa West African Kingdoms

Ghana 800 AD Not the same as present day Ghana!!!

• Ghana is the land of • This important gold trade of gold and • Two most important salt took place on trading goods: the trans-Saharan – 1. Gold trade route. – 2. Salt • The king was the • Gold came from the only one allowed to Savanna keep gold nuggets. • Salt deposits were This way he could found in the Sahara keep the price of Desert gold high.

Ghana Gold!

Mali 1235

Mali Founded by: Sundiata • Like Ghana, Mali became wealthy because of gold. King • A man name Mansa Musa became leader of Mali. He was a devout Muslim. (about he In 1324 1312) • Because of Mansa Musa, completed one of become Mali grew to the five pillars! twice the size of Ghana. Which one? ? Mansa Musa became a center • The city of Timbuktu ruled for 25 years. Heof trade and based his system of justice on the learning because Mansa Musa ordered mosques Quran, but allowed religious and universities toand toleration in his empire. freedom be built. • Timbuktu is the location of the House of Wisdom

Songhai By 1460

Capital: Gao Songhai • After Mali declined, people broke away and formed a new civilization near the Niger river. • Two great rulers named: – 1. Sonni Ali – 2. Askia Muhammad

Songhai Built the largest state that had ever existed in West Africa! • Sonni Ali captured the city of Timbuktu. • Askia Muhammad was an excellent administrator. He set up an efficient tax system and chose able officials. • Later they were taken over by the Moroccans who were fighting with guns. Did not adopt Islam; followed traditional religious beliefs. Set up a Muslim dynasty.

Africa Review • What was the continent’s largest and most populated region? • What is the process where land slowly dries out? • What is the name of the largest desert in the world? • Ghana is considered the land of_____. • Who was the greatest ruler of the kingdom of Mali?

Pictures Cited • • • Slide 1 - http: //www. newbornbooks. com/african_sunset. gif Slide 2 – http: //www. massmuvtravel. com/_img/nkrumahmonument. jpg Slide 4 – – – • Slide 5 – – – • • Picture 1 – http: //www. remnantsofritual. com/photos/035_Staff. Finial. jpg Picture 2 – http: //newsimg. bbc. co. uk/media/images/41897000/jpg/_41897952_goldbars_bbc_1998_416. jpg Picture 1 – http: //www. ghanaweb. biz/GHP/img/pics/38278553. jpg Picture 2 – http: //www. marshall. edu/akanart/images/ohenekra. jpg Slide 6 - http: //www. whats 4 eats. com/graphics/cuisine/mali. jpg Slide 8 – http: //www. mrdowling. com/images/609 mosque. jpg Slide 9 – http: //www. metmuseum. org/toah/hd/sghi/hg_d_sghi_d 2 map. jpg Slie 10 - http: //archives. cnn. com/2000/WORLD/africa/01/03/africa. economies/mali. timbuktu. jpg