AFRICA

Nile Valley Civilization Earliest Civilization in Africa 7,000 years ago Fertile Soil Lots of wildlife

The Pharaohs 3,000 BCE United villages along the Nile

Polytheism The worship of many Gods Amon-Re The Chief God/ The Sun God Osiris God of the Underworld and the Nile Isis Osiris ’ s Wife

The Pyramids Built as tombs for Pharaohs Filled with: Food Clothing Jewels Anything needed for the afterlife

The Kingdom of Kush 900 BCE CE Major accomplishment: Manufacture of iron Tools Weapons Why important? Major trading center Ethiopia Egypt Persia

Kingdom of Axum

Modern Day Ethiopia Why important? Important center of trade Spices Gems Ivory First African Christian Kingdom

Kingdom of Axum King Ezana 330 A.D. Conquers the Kush Burns towns Destroys temples

Axum Obelisk Symbol of Axum

The Gold-Salt Trade Timbuktu Country: Mali Importance: Center of trade Gold Salt Ideas Center of Muslim Scholars Timbuktu

Navigating the Sahara Navigators used stars Rested during the day Navigated at night Relied on: Oasis Oasis in the Sahara near Taghit

Gold – Salt Trade Salt more valuable than gold Western Africa Sahara Salt was plentiful Savannah Gold was plentiful This trade gave rise to the great empires of western Africa

The Empire of Ghana Ghana – war chief Ancient Ghana Note: Ancient Ghana ’ s location in comparison with the present state of Ghana

The Emperor Power rested on the control of the gold trade. Owned all the gold mined in the empire Source of wealth Allowed emperor to build strong armies

Invasions Almoravids (1076 BCE) Former trading partners Invaded Ghana Broke up the empire into smaller states

Empire of Mali Mandingos Farmers that had lived under Ghana ’ s rule Seized gold producing lands.

Mansa Musa Most influential ruler of Mali Extended borders Captured salt mines.

Mansa Musa and Mali Mali Following Musa ’ s death Mali was revered for its safety and security. This lasting security revealed the power and strength Mansa Musa established during his reign.

Mali Empire

Influence of Islam - Mali Adopted by Mansa Musa Influence of Islam increased Laws became based on the Koran

The Great Mosque Djenne, Mali

The Great Mosque in Mali

Musa ’ s Decline Weak rulers followed Mansa Musa Empire was weakened and shrank.

Songhai Sunni Ali A lifetime of war Captured Timbuktu and many key trading centers Preserved safety of trade routes

Songhai Askia Muhammad Encouraged teachers and writers to settle in Timbuktu Timbuktu became a great center for teaching and learning Tomb of Askia

Songhai Morroco Invasion Why? Heard of the great riches of the Songhai Empire How? Better technology Cannons Guns

The Forest Kingdom of Benin Delta of the Niger River Ewuare Captured 201 cities and towns Including Ibo country

Benin City Center of industry Broad avenues Produced: Woven Goods Brass Wood Ivory Objects

Cities of East Africa City-State A large town that has its own government and usually controls the surrounding country side. Examples: Kilwa; Malindi; Mombassa Kilwa Pillar of Vasco de Gama

Arab – African Trade Swahili Mixture of: Bantu and Islamic Words

Portuguese Invasion Early 1500 ’ s Portuguese attacked and occupied many city-states, thus ending their prosperity.

Zimbabwe “ Great Stone House ” Importance: Gold Mines Made rulers wealthy, but most of the populace were herders or farmers. Power struggles ended the kingdom in the 1500 ’ s.

Review Zimbabwe Timbuktu Askia Muhammad Portuguese City-State Kilwa Mombassa Songhai Swahili Benin City Mansa Musa Islam Christianity Islam Gold Salt Trade Mali Gahna Askia Muhammad King Ezana Amon-Re Forest Kingdom of Benin Axum Kush Sunni Ali Next to each civilization, phrase, or word, explain its importance or key characteristic in one phrase.