1. Early Civilizations in Africa Adler Chapter 20 Extraordinary Panorama Variety in Geography Early Civilizations contact with Rome and North Africa

2. Geographic Considerations l North- Mediterranean- access to trade- coastal mountains- land for agriculture l East- Rift Valley- some mountains- Indian Ocean l West- grasslands and some rainforest along the Niger river l Central - equatorial- Congo-only real rainforest l South- high plateau- temperate climate- savanna

3. African Civilization- South of Egypt l Many ideas in Egypt may have come from south- agri and pyramids l Kush- similar to Mesopotamia- Khartoum was a major trading center 7th cen BCE Capitol Meroe »Rome received ivory, gold, ebony in addition to food »Herodotus - “People were tall and beautiful” l Axum took over 350CE- future Ethiopia-trade center ( Queen of Sheba- converted and remained Christian)

4. States of West Africa along the Niger River l Ghana- 5th cen CE- based on gold trade- middlemen- transport to Morocco- also had ivory, ostrich feathers and leather. »lived in splendor at capital l Mali- 600-1200 CE Atlantic to interior- converted to Islam- Mansa Musa(p 232) went to Mecca- depressed the gold market- (Gold, Salt and slaves- tax key to wealth) »area still Muslim- Arabic language unifying force

5. South African Civilizations Zimbabwe on the Zambezi (River) l located on the grasslands between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers l 1871- German explorer Karl Mauch found the remains of a powerful and prosperous civilization l city (10,000) wall of cement and stone 38 feet high l found ornaments of gold, copper, porcelain from China l wealth source- tax on cattle and gold trade l German Mauch- did not give credit to Africans- prejudice l historians recognize and give credit to Africans.p 234

6. General Comments on African Civilizations l Were varied like the geography l trade centers were important esp in east with India and No Africa with the Med region l Islam dominated in north- Ethiopia was isolated l Islam helped to unite N Africa- same language l Historians continue to learn more