1. People of the Forest and Plains

2. Introduction
Many sub-Saharan African societies were preliterate & transmitted knowledge, skills, & traditions orally
These civilizations made great strides in arts, buildings, & statecraft – urbanized settings without a writing system

3. Artists & Kings: Yoruba & Benin
A. Nok culture
Nigerian forests
Agriculture
Iron tools
Yoruba (1200 CE)
Kings & kinship
City-states
Urbanized agricultural
Yoruba speaking (non- Bantu language)
Ogboni – secret societies
Religious & political leaders

6. C. Ile-Ife
Holy city of Yoruba
Specialized in portrait heads
Yoruba speaking
D. Edo peoples
Benin (14th century)
City-state
Eware the Great (oba aka ruler)
Iguegha – artisean bronze casting
Contact with Europeans

9. Central African Kingdoms
Bantu close to Cape Horn by 1200
Beyond influence of Islam
Form states
Kingship rather than kinship
Kantanga
Luba peoples
Divine kingship
Hereditary bureaucracy

11. Kingdoms of Kongo & Mwene Mutapa
A. Kongo
Along lower Congo
Agricultural
Gender division of labor
Mbanza Kongo – capital
Hereditary kingship
Federation of 8 States
B. Mwene Mutapa (king)
Shona-speaking people
Zimbabwe (stone houses) that housed local rulers
Great Zimbabwe – center of kingdom
Control sources of gold – advantage in commerce
By 16th century torn apart via rebellion and internal divisions