Regional Interactions 3 - Africa African civilizations developed in sub-Saharan west and east Africa. Trade brought important economic, cultural and religious influences to African civilizations from other parts of the Eastern Hemisphere. States and Empires flourished in Africa during the medieval period, including Ghana, Mali and Songhai in West Africa, Axum in East Africa and Zimbabwe in Southern Africa

Ghana Mali Songhai Axum Zimbabwe

Axum Located in the Ethiopian highlands, east of the Nile River and west of the Red Sea What are highlands? A hilly or mountainous region. Higher elevation.

Religion of Axum: Christianity Axum became Christian because it became a thriving trade city and encountered Christians before Islam developed. Its earliest king converted to Christianity In 451 A.D., Ethiopia and Egypt split from the Roman Catholic Church and Axum later became an Orthodox Christian kingdom

Zimbabwe Located between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers near the Indian Ocean coast City of Great Zimbabwe was the capital of a prosperous empire

West African kingdoms Ghana, Mali, Songhai empires were located near the Niger River, south of the Sahara Desert Ghana developed first, then Mali, then Songhai Traders crossed the Sahara desert (Trans-Saharan trade) for gold and salt Timbuktu was a center of trade and learning (Muslim) Became Muslim during Mali Empire. Before that, animism was practiced

Salt in the Sahara

Ghana Gold!

Ghana Gold

Mosque in Timbuktu

What is Animism? Religion practiced before Islam in much of Africa. Belief that soul or spirit is present in every object, including inanimate objects.