Diverse Societies in Africa

Land of Geographic Contrast Africa is the 2nd largest continent in the world Sahara is the largest desert in Northern Africa Sahel: area that the desert would take over more and more every year (located on southern edge of the Sahara desert Savannas: grassy plains

Early Humans Adapt Africa’s earliest people were nomadic hunter-gatherers Later began to domesticate and raise a variety of animals for food Growing food changed their lives they built permanent shelters This required more organization

Early Societies in Africa Religions Keeping a History Organized into family groups Believed in one creator or god and also animism, a religion in which spirits play an important role in regulating daily life Few civilizations in Africa had a written language Oral storytelling was a way to share the history and literature of the cultures Griots, storytellers, kept this history alive, passing it from parent to child

West African Iron Age Nok Djenne-Djeno West Africa’s earliest known culture was that of the Nok. Lived in what is now Nigeria Djenne-Djeno: ancient Djenne, was uncovered by archaeologist and located on the Niger river Some artifacts found that it is the oldest known city in Africa south of the Sahara

Migration: permanent move from one country or region to another.

Causes of Migration Three major reasons for migration: Environmental, Economic, and political When looking at migration historians talk of the push- pull factors (these factors either push people out of an area or pull them into an area Can trace movements of people over time by studying the spread of languages On your test!!!

Massive Migration Bantu-speaking people: originally lived in the savanna south of the Sahara, continued to move southward throughout Africa spreading their language and culture No exact reasons on why they moved Brought new technologies and shared ideas about social and political organization

Kingdom of Aksum Aksum: an African kingdom, in what is now Ethiopia and Eritrea, that reached the height of its power in the fourth century A.D.

Rise of the Aksum Legend traces the kingdom of Aksum and the Ethiopian royal dynasty to the son of King Solomon First mention of Aksum was in a Greek guidebook written around 100 A.D. Zoskales thought to be the first king of Aksum Adulis: chief seaport Ezana occupied the throne during Aksum height, strong ruler and first to conquer the part of the Arabian peninsula that is not Yemen

International Culture Develops Terraces or step like ridges constructed on mountain slopes, helped the soil retain water and prevents it being washed downhill in heavy rains Aksumites: believed in 1 god and called him Mahrem Later becomes Christian Adapted to their rugged, hilly environment Created a new method of agriculture, terrace farming

Fall of Aksum Lasted 800 years Declined under invaders who practiced the religion of Islam Moved capital over the mountains into what is now northern Ethiopia Depletion of forests and soil erosion led to its decline as a world power