Chapter 3 ReviewEarly African Societies and Bantu Migrations

Key Features of Early African Societies

Centralized political authority - absolute ruler (pharaoh in Egypt; person of the king in Kush)

Imperialist expansion – Palestine, Syria, North Africa, South into Nubia)

Highly stratified patriarchies

Agricultural based economies

Development of industries, transportation, trade network

Writing systems – hieroglyphics

Organized religions

State

Cause – Annual flooding of the Nile River was predictable

Effect – irrigation developed the need for government organization

Trade Networks

Pharaoh

Living incarnation of sun god

Menes was 1st Pharaoh to unite Upper and Lower Egypt (3100 BCE)

Old Kingdom

Middle Kingdom

New Kingdom

Falls around 900 BCE

Culture

Study Questions

How did Egyptian religious beliefs reflect their society?

How did climatic change influence development of African cultures

How did the institution of the Pharaoh evolve?