Africa’s Rich Africa’s Rich HistoryHistory

Series of Rich Kingdoms in Series of Rich Kingdoms in Sub- Sahara AfricaSub- Sahara Africa

Cradle of HumanityCradle of Humanity

Long list of African Long list of African Accomplishments & Accomplishments &

Contributions to human Contributions to human historyhistory

Centuries before the Centuries before the discovery of the New discovery of the New

World, Africa has cities World, Africa has cities that were centers of trade that were centers of trade

& technology& technology

Why a Why a Biased Biased

History of History of Africa?Africa?

1.1. Western Historians Western Historians focused their attention focused their attention

on the history of on the history of states- ancient Egypt, states- ancient Egypt,

Greece!Greece!

African history- clans, African history- clans, families & tribesfamilies & tribes

2.2. Historians relied on Historians relied on written records, written records,

stateless society relied stateless society relied on oral traditionson oral traditions

3.3. Justification of the Justification of the Slave Trade, African’s Slave Trade, African’s

were presented as were presented as inferior!inferior!

2012

Nubian Nubian EmpireEmpire/Kush/Kush

Nubians, Black Africans that Nubians, Black Africans that established a civilization that established a civilization that

parallel Egyptian society .parallel Egyptian society .1000 B.C. – 300 A.D.1000 B.C. – 300 A.D.

Egyptian Influence- pyramids, Egyptian Influence- pyramids, Pharohs, adopted Egyptian Pharohs, adopted Egyptian

Hieroglyphics & Egyptian GodsHieroglyphics & Egyptian Gods

ImagesImagesNubian Pyramids at MeroeNubian Pyramids at Meroe

Egyptian wall painting Egyptian wall painting depicting Nubians taking depicting Nubians taking offerings of gold to Egypt offerings of gold to Egypt

Kingdom of Axum [300-700]Kingdom of Axum [300-700]Ethiopia traces its origins to this Ethiopia traces its origins to this

ancient city!ancient city!

Christian Church, LalibelaChristian Church, Lalibela[Ethiopia][Ethiopia]

Christian Empire in AfricaChristian Empire in Africa

Christian Church, LalibelaChristian Church, Lalibela[Ethiopia] & Debra Damo [Ethiopia] & Debra Damo

MonasteryMonastery

Coptic Christian Priest

AXUM’SACHIEVEMENTS

AXUM’SACHIEVEMENTS

Controlled NE African

Trade

Controlled NE African

Trade

WrittenLanguage

(one of the few)

WrittenLanguage

(one of the few)

Spread Christianityin No. & E.

Africa

Spread Christianityin No. & E.

Africa

TerraceFarmingTerraceFarming

BuiltStelaeBuilt

Stelae

Ethiopian RoyaltyEthiopian RoyaltyBy 800 AD Aksum had almost ceased to exist. The elite and By 800 AD Aksum had almost ceased to exist. The elite and sections of common people settle in central Ethiopia. Royal sections of common people settle in central Ethiopia. Royal

authority reigns in Ethiopia until 1974. Image is Circa 1920-1930authority reigns in Ethiopia until 1974. Image is Circa 1920-1930

Other African Empires Other African Empires that students will that students will

research!research!Western African EmpiresWestern African Empires

Trading States of East AfricaTrading States of East AfricaGreat Zimbabwe EmpireGreat Zimbabwe Empire

Berbers

GOLDGOLD

SALTSALT

Gold-Salt Trade

+ Gold Salt TradeGold Salt TradeWestern EmpiresWestern Empires

Ghana- the Gold EmpireGhana- the Gold Empire

Mali Empire [13c-15c]

GOLDGOLD

SALTSALT

Outline of Topics to research for the Outline of Topics to research for the Western Empires?Western Empires?

East African East African City-StatesCity-States

City- States and great City- States and great trading market and trading market and

large towns. large towns. Traders brought ivory, Traders brought ivory, gold and animal skins gold and animal skins

from interior of Africa to from interior of Africa to the coast cities. the coast cities.

The trading cities trades The trading cities trades with Arabs across the with Arabs across the

Indian Ocean and in to Indian Ocean and in to Asia Asia

Swahili-Speaking Areas of E. Africa

SWAHILI [“the coast’] = Bantu + some Arabic

Outline of Topics to research for Outline of Topics to research for Eastern Trading States?Eastern Trading States?

Great Zimbabwe [1200-1450]

“Zimbabwe” = “stone enclosure”

+ Great Zimbabwe Great Zimbabwe Empire Empire

Outline of Topics to research for the Outline of Topics to research for the Zimbabwe Empire?Zimbabwe Empire?

Diviners, healers, Diviners, healers, ancestor worship & ancestor worship &

AnimismAnimismTells the future, Tells the future,

Cowrie shellsCowrie shells