1. Western and Central Africa

2. 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.

3. 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

5. 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 traded
Necessity vs. Desire

6. 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 –

7. Movement out of Africa Out of Africa The slave trade Triangular 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

8. Movement out of Africa The slave trade = Maafa Middle Passage
Swahili for "holocaust" or "great disaster“
Middle Passage
one to six months depending on weather conditions
Typical slave ships contained several hundred slaves with about thirty crew members
Males chained together in pairs to save space
Women and children may have had somewhat more room.
Wretched Conditions
Disease, contamination, and filth were rampant

9. Slave Trade Map Destination % 35.4 22.1 17.7 14.1 4.4 0.2 Brazil
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
Danish W. Indies
0.2

11. 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

12. Movement into Africa “Scramble for Africa” “Berlin Conference”
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”

13. White Man’s Burden Rudyard Kipling’s poem
The white man (Europeans) are responsible for civilizing the primitive cultures of Africa
Used as an excuse for Europeans destroying African civilizations and taking their resources
Promotes colonies throughout Africa
And…Segregation, Discrimination and Racism

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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