1. Chap. 3: Geography and Early History of Africa Section 3: Early Civilizations of Africa

2. Guiding Questions: What kinds of evidence help us learn about the past? How did climate changes affect ancient Africa? What were some achievements of early African civilizations?

3. Tracking the Evidence The setting: Olduvai Gorge on the edge of the Great Rift Valley in Tanzania. The time: late 1950’s The people: team of scientists led by Mary and Louis Leakey The discovery: pieces of bone embedded in rock were almost 2 million years old. Led to the realization that Africa was home to the first people.

4. What do Archeologists Do? Study objects left by early people. Use clues from pieces of bone, a few seeds, or charcoal from an ancient fire. Scientists from many fields help the archeologist. Geologists study the rock. Botanists analyze the type of plant and the climate. Despite scientific advances, we still know little about early peoples. Archeologists are still searching for clues. Africa’s climate works against us -- heat and humidity destroys wood and bone.

5. “Written in Stone…” Some early people left pictures in stone. Painting on rock cliffs and stone walls The paintings show tools, weapons and hunting/gathering methods of early peoples Rock art (refer to picture on p. 72) Woman using a stick to dig roots from the ground Movement in graceful patterns, like a religious ceremony Hunter stalks a giraffe Rock art reveals that there were once many animals on the Sahara So maybe it was much wetter than it is today. Thousands of years ago, the Sahara had lakes, rivers, and grasses. People hunted, fished and herded cattle.

6. “Written in Stone…” A changing environment About 4,000 years go, the Sahara changed. Less rain; lakes and rivers dried up. Grass no longer grew… People moved away; probably to the Nile Valley.

7. Nile Valley Civilization Agricultural Revolution led to less of the nomadic life These farming communities became the basis for advanced civilizations Earliest civilization: the Nile Valley in Egypt 7,000 years ago. Fertile soil, plentiful wildlife Farming improved; more food was produced; population grew About 3,000 BC, powerful rulers had emerged United villages along the Nile Known as “Pharaohs,” they built large empires through trade and conquest Exchanged knowledge and ideas with distant cultures

8. Religion and Government Egyptians were polytheistic (many gods). Different gods ruled the forces of nature Chief god was Amon-Re, the sun god. Osiris, god of the underworld and of the Nile Isis, his wife Belief in life after death. Journey through the underworld was important Pyramids filled with food, clothing, jewels that they would need in the afterlife Egyptians considered the pharaoh a god Priests & nobles helped the pharaoh. Priests conducted ceremonies to please gods

9. The Gift of the Nile An ancient historian called Egypt the “gift of the Nile” Each year, the river floods and spreads mud over the nearby farmlands While fields are flooded, farmers work to haul stones for the pharaoh They are paid with grain from the royal storehouses When water recedes, the farmers plow and plant When the dirt dries up, they irrigate using a “shaduf” a simple water hoist. Crops are harvested four months later Half the crops go to the pharaoh 9th period

10. Achievements of Egyptian Civilization Huge temples and pyramid tombs are evidence of a wealthy and well-organized society Hieroglyphics - form of writing that used pictures and symbols Egyptian priests knew about stars and planets to develop a 365-day calendar Mathematicians and doctors were well advanced Egyptian civilization lasted for thousands of years and passed their knowledge to other African & Mediterranean civilizations

11. Kingdom of Kush Egyptians traded with neighboring peoples along the Nile, in Nubia and Kush. Sometimes, pharaohs sent armies to conquer those lands. Egyptian culture spread southward. But by 750 BC, Egyptian power had weakened. King Kastha of Kush conquered Egypt. Rule was short-lived, and ended when Assyrians invaded Egypt from the Middle East.

12. Kingdom of Kush Kush continued to flourish, despite defeat by Assyrians. Built a new capital at Meroë. Egyptian influence was strong - built temples & pyramids, worshipped sun god Amon-Re. But eventually, they developed their own gods, adapted Egyptian hieroglyphics and made their own alphabet. Iron ore deposits were near Meroë. Had learned how to use iron from the Assyrians. But Egyptians never picked up on it and continued to use bronze. 5th period

13. Kingdom of Kush Trade was strong with Egypt and rest of Mediterranean. Shipped cargoes to Arabia, East Africa and India. Pushed southward and west, as far as Lake Chad. Invasion and internal rivalries weakened Kush. After 1,000 years, by 200 AD, Kush collapsed. So how much should they figure into the Imagine Africa project?

14. Kingdom of Axum The Kingdom of Axum developed before Kush died out. Located on high plateaus of what is now Ethiopia. (see map on p. 76) Important center of trade (like Kush). Send spices, gems, and ivory north into Egypt, across Red Sea to Arabia, across Indian Ocean to South Asia. Around 350 AD, King Ezana conquered Kush.

15. Kingdom of Axum Ezana had converted to Christianity. Early Christians carried their beliefs across North Africa and up the Nile, so Christianity took firm root in Axum. Later, the religion of Islam spreads across North Africa. This cuts off Christian communities in Axum from the rest of the Christian world. So the Ethiopian Church develops a little differently than the rest of the Christian churches. Today, it’s one of the oldest Christian communities. Ethiopians have their own sacred written language, called Geez, as well as strong traditions of religious art. So how much should Axum figure into the Imagine Africa project? 1st period