World History: Patterns of Interaction

 Deserts and rainforests in 1/3 rd of Africa support few people  Fertile coastal regions are located in the North & South which leads to these regions being densely populated by herders & farmers  Most Africans live on savannas, which cover 2/5ths of Africa and also supports much agriculture

 Early Africans developed a nomadic lifestyle in search of food & water  Began to grow their own food, creating permanent settlements – which turned into communities with developing governments.  Although living in different environments, many Africans share common elements such as: an importance of family and the creation of a belief system

 Djenne’-Djeno, West Africa’s oldest known city, is a thriving trade center because of it’s location.  The Nok culture developed iron technology and an advanced society.

Main Idea Summarized: Early African people developed diverse societies as they adapted to their environment

 Human migrations take place for a variety of reasons (pg 221).  Migrations have influenced World History and continue to affect the modern world.  Bantu speakers belong to many different ethnic groups but share some cultural characteristics

 Bantu-speaking farmers and herders from southeastern Nigeria migrated southward and settled throughout most of Africa south of the Sahara  The intermingling of Bantu cultures with other cultures created new cultures

Main Idea Summarized: Throughout history, people have been driven to uproot themselves and explore their world as they look for:  Food  Shelter  Better way of life

 After Arab peoples mingle with Kushite farmers and herders, the Kingdom of Aksum emerges  Aksum expands by conquest and controls maritime trade as far as the Indian Ocean  Aksum reaches it’s peak under the strong ruler, Ezana.  People from around the world trade goods and ideas in the port city of Adulis

 Overtime Aksum adopts Christianity  Aksumite culture includes a unique architecture, a written language, the coining of money & new farming methods.

 Islamic invaders move in and seize Aksum’s territory on the Arabian coast  Further invasions on the coast cut Aksum off from the sea and the once great kingdom is driven inland  Aksum becomes geographically isolated and then declines as a world trading power.

Main Idea Summarized: The Kingdom of Aksum became an international trading power, acquired Christianity and adopted various elements of many cultures until Islamic invasions cut the kingdom off from the rest of the world causing it to decline.