1. Chapter Three Early African Societies & The Bantu Migrations

2. Geography of Africa Continent is 3X the size of the USA North – fairly mountainous coastline Sahara Desert – takes up most of northern ½ of Africa West – Interior Grasslands, tropical jungle along coast East (Indian Ocean) – mountains, plateaus, highlands Central – jungle/rainforest South – hills/plateaus/deserts

3. Development of Agriculture in Africa Sahara desert originally a highly fertile region (c. 10,000 BCE) –Western Sudan – savanna Domestication of cattle – 9000 BCE Cultivation – c. 7500 BCE – est. permanent villages By 5000 BCE small monarchies have begun to evolve in the Sudan desertification/desiccation begins around 5000 BCE Drier, hotter climates drive people towards rivers

4. The most perfect process is as follows: as much as possible of the brain is removed via the nostrils with an iron hook, and what cannot be reached with the hook is washed out with drugs; next, the flank is opened with a flint knife and the whole contents of the abdomen removed; the cavity is then thoroughly cleaned and washed out, firstly with palm wine and again with an infusion of ground spices. After that, it is filled with pure myrrh, cassia, and every other aromatic sub­stance, excepting frankincense, and sewn up again, after which the body is placed in natron [see below], covered entirely over, for seventy days - never longer. When this period is over, the body is washed and then wrapped from head to foot in linen cut into strips and smeared on the underside with gum, which is commonly used by the Egyptians instead of glue. In this condition the body is given back to the family, who have a wooden case made, shaped like a human figure, into which it is put. When, for reasons of expense, the second quality is called for, the treatment is different: no incision is made and the intes­tines are not removed, but oil of cedar is injected with a syringe into the body through the anus which is afterwards stopped up to prevent the liquid from escaping. The body is then cured in natron for the prescribed number of days, on the last of which the oil is drained off. The effect of it is so powerful that as it leaves the body it brings with it the viscera in a liquid state, and as the flesh has been dissolved by the natron, nothing of the body is left but the skin and bones. After this treatment, it is returned to the family without further attention. The third method, used for embalming the bodies of the poor, is simply to wash out the intestines, and keep the body for seventy days in natron

5. The Gifts of the Nile (p. 62) Egypt –From first cataract to Med. Sea –Annual flooding, broad floodplains allowed for a large population to flourish w/ fairly simple irrigation projects Nubia – also known as Kush –south of Egypt along Nile –Smaller floodplains –Smaller population than Egypt –More complex irrigation systems

6. Nile Valley Agriculture 10,000 BCE immigration from Ethiopia 5,000 BCE Sudanese herders Population pressure requires increasingly complex and intense irrigation Villages crop up along Nile by 4000 BCE Greater populations required more sophisticated government Few external threats to Egypt or Nubia, due to geography

7. Egyptian History Early Nubian domination (3400 – 3200 BCE) 3100 BCE large Egyptian kingdom forms from Aswan to delta (lower Egypt) Archaic Period– 3100 – 2660 BCE Old Kingdom – 2660-2160 BCE –Pyramid building Middle Kingdom – 2160-1640 BCE –Hykso invasion New Kingdom – 1550 -1075 BCE

8. The Pyramids Early architecture from Old Kingdom Tallest buildings in the world until the 19 th century 2 meter blocks, some 60 T each Role – burial chambers for Pharaohs

9. Relations between Egypt and Nubia Competition over Nile trade Often led to military conflict Precious metals and gems in Nubia Political and commercial alliances as needed

10. Turmoil & Empire Increasing regionalism chipped away at power of state Revolts and cost of pyramids end Old Kingdom Middle Kingdom – more turbulent period, irregular flooding Ended by Hykso invasion Driving out of Hyksos ushers in New Kingdom

11. The New Kingdom – p. 68 Agriculture flourish Large population Elaborate government Few pyramids, but elaborate temples, palaces, temples, statues Expansion of Egypt Lost control of Nubia by 1100 BCE Eventually Nubia conquers Egypt

12. Egyptian Urban Culture Slower to develop than Mesopotamia –Memphis c. 3100 BCE, Heliopolis C. 2900 BCE Nubian cities – Kerma, Meroe –Located at cataracts along the Nile –Dominated trade routes Well-defined social classes –pharaohs down to slaves –Pharaoh – absolute monarch –Depended on government officials and professional armies rather than on nobles –Fairly fluid social scale

13. Patriarchal Society Men dominated politics, economy, and household Occasional exceptions of female rulers Women had more influence along Nile than in Mesopotamia –Royal women often served as regents –Nubian women often ruled as monarchs –Women served as priestesses –Educated to serve in government –“Heiress Theory”???????

14. Economic Specialization Bronze metallurgy - Hykso invasion Iron – c. 900 BCE Trade along Nile –More difficult for Nubia due to cataracts –Egypt also traded along Med. Sea –Nile flows north which favored Egypt –Nubians needed to trade more overland –Traded w/Mesopotamia

15. Hieroglyphic Writing Possible Mesopotamian influence “Sacred Writings” Several simplified versions developed Rosetta Stone – disc. in 1799 (read p. 76) Nubians used own spoken language but Egyptian hieroglyphics

16. Egyptian Religion Principal god(s) – Amon Ra Mummification – really only for the wealthy Much happier view of life/death/afterlife Cult of Osiris –Assoc. w/the Nile – renewal/rebirth –Judge of the dead – high moral standards

17. Nubian Religion Apedemak – war god Own pantheon of gods, few records remain Adopted Egyptian gods, esp. Osiris

18. Bantu Migrations Large family of languages Gulf of Guinea coast Traded with “forest people” Bantu migrations start @ 3000 BCE Slow migrations throughout sub- Saharan Africa Migration/”ooze” aided by river travel & agricultural surpluses