AfricaAfrica

A brief historyA brief history

Bantu MigrationsBantu Migrations 1/3 of Africans 1/3 of Africans

speak a Bantu speak a Bantu languagelanguage

500-1500 AD, 500-1500 AD, migrated out of migrated out of western Africawestern Africa

Moved east and Moved east and southsouth

Farmers and Farmers and herdersherders

Adapted to Adapted to climates and climates and ecosystemsecosystems

African CultureAfrican Culture Farmers – yams, bananas, slash and burn Farmers – yams, bananas, slash and burn Villages of related people with a common Villages of related people with a common

ancestorancestor Matrilineal and Patrilineal tribesMatrilineal and Patrilineal tribes Government – shared power, elders reach Government – shared power, elders reach

decisions by consensus, collected taxes, decisions by consensus, collected taxes, chief, soldierschief, soldiers

Polytheistic, believed forces of nature had Polytheistic, believed forces of nature had divine spirits, performed rituals and divine spirits, performed rituals and ceremonies, believed ancestor spirits ceremonies, believed ancestor spirits could help themcould help them

Kingdoms of the NorthKingdoms of the North

Egyptian – NileEgyptian – Nile Nubian or Kush – Sudan and upper Nile, Nubian or Kush – Sudan and upper Nile,

traders, imitated Egyptian architecturetraders, imitated Egyptian architecture Phoenicians – traders, CarthagePhoenicians – traders, Carthage Romans – 146BC – 430AD Defeated Romans – 146BC – 430AD Defeated

Carthage, roads, dams, aqueducts, cities, Carthage, roads, dams, aqueducts, cities, Christianity, Latin Christianity, Latin

Arabs – 600s, Islam, Arabic, mosques, Arabs – 600s, Islam, Arabic, mosques, libraries, tradelibraries, trade

West African KingdomsWest African Kingdoms

Ghana – Niger and Ghana – Niger and Senegal, gold-salt Senegal, gold-salt trade, “land of trade, “land of gold,” Muslim gold,” Muslim

Mali –Timbuktu, Mali –Timbuktu, Mansa Musa, Islam, Mansa Musa, Islam, leading center of leading center of learning, learning,

Songhai – 1450-Songhai – 1450-1586, Niger River, 1586, Niger River, eclipsed Malieclipsed Mali

Kano people lived in Hausa, pop. Kano people lived in Hausa, pop. 30,000, Arabic writing system, 30,000, Arabic writing system, Muslim, leatherworkers, artisans, Muslim, leatherworkers, artisans, many rulers were women many rulers were women

Benin – forest people on the Guinea Benin – forest people on the Guinea coast, traded pepper, ivory, and coast, traded pepper, ivory, and slaves to their neighbors, elaborate slaves to their neighbors, elaborate avenues, tidy homes, great palace, avenues, tidy homes, great palace, known for bronze statuesknown for bronze statues

East African KingdomsEast African Kingdoms

Ethiopia – Christian and Jewish religions Ethiopia – Christian and Jewish religions unified the tribes, Kings were descended unified the tribes, Kings were descended from Solomon and the Queen of Shebafrom Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

Axum – 900BC – 600AD Red Sea and Nile, Axum – 900BC – 600AD Red Sea and Nile, traded with Arabia, India, and the traded with Arabia, India, and the Mediterranean, exports: ivory, hides, and Mediterranean, exports: ivory, hides, and rhino horn, imports: linen, brass, copper, rhino horn, imports: linen, brass, copper, iron tools, wine, olive oil, Christianity, iron tools, wine, olive oil, Christianity, spices, iron, stones, cottonspices, iron, stones, cotton

South African KingdomsSouth African KingdomsZimbabwe – Limpopo River, walls, Zimbabwe – Limpopo River, walls,

palace, cone shaped towers, palace, cone shaped towers, prosperous, Bantu people, 900-prosperous, Bantu people, 900-1500, farmers, traded with India 1500, farmers, traded with India and China, manufactured jewelry and China, manufactured jewelry and iron tools, weavers of cotton and iron tools, weavers of cotton cloth. Over farming, civil war, and cloth. Over farming, civil war, and Declining trade weakened Declining trade weakened Zimbabwe.Zimbabwe.

Zulu Zulu (1800s), (1800s), Shaka Zulu Shaka Zulu – their great – their great warrior who warrior who united tribes united tribes into one into one kingdomkingdom

Dutch built Cape Town in 1652, Farmers were Dutch built Cape Town in 1652, Farmers were called Boers. British took control of Cape called Boers. British took control of Cape Town in the 1800s and the fleeing Boers Town in the 1800s and the fleeing Boers moved into Zulu territory and war broke out. moved into Zulu territory and war broke out. Zulu’s defeated by superior technology.Zulu’s defeated by superior technology.

Europeans arrive 1400sEuropeans arrive 1400s

Portuguese ships explore coast of Portuguese ships explore coast of West Africa,West Africa,

Dutch, English, and French followedDutch, English, and French followed Muskets, tools, and cloth were Muskets, tools, and cloth were

brought to Africabrought to Africa Gold, ivory, hides, and slaves were Gold, ivory, hides, and slaves were

taken outtaken out

1500s Slave Trade across the 1500s Slave Trade across the Atlantic began to provide labor to Atlantic began to provide labor to tobacco and sugar plantations in the tobacco and sugar plantations in the westwest

Most slaves went to Caribbean and Most slaves went to Caribbean and South AmericaSouth America

Africans captured the slaves, brought Africans captured the slaves, brought them to the coast of Africa to trade them to the coast of Africa to trade to Europeansto Europeans

Slave TradeSlave Trade

11 million 11 million Africans send Africans send to the Americasto the Americas

2 million died2 million died Ships were Ships were

called ‘floating called ‘floating coffins’coffins’

Triangular TradeTriangular Trade

Europe

AmericasAfrica

Textiles

Metalwork

Rum

Tobacco

Weapons

Gun powder

Tobacco

Molasses

Sugar

Slaves – Middle Passage

1800s- Imperialism1800s- Imperialism

Slavery outlawed in the AmericasSlavery outlawed in the Americas European countries moved into the interior European countries moved into the interior

of Africa and established coloniesof Africa and established colonies Wanted raw materials and marketsWanted raw materials and markets Ruled Africans without their consentRuled Africans without their consent Build up infrastructureBuild up infrastructure Exploited Africans and their continent until Exploited Africans and their continent until

the 1960s, when countries were given the 1960s, when countries were given their independence. their independence.

Berlin Conference 1884Berlin Conference 1884

European countries were grabbing African European countries were grabbing African lands so fast, they were in conflict over lands so fast, they were in conflict over several areas.several areas.

Instead of fighting a war over lands, Instead of fighting a war over lands, representatives from European countries representatives from European countries met in Berlin and drew the political map of met in Berlin and drew the political map of Africa.Africa.

Some tribes were divided and others who Some tribes were divided and others who were long-time enemies were pit in the were long-time enemies were pit in the same country.same country.

Europeans ruled African countries as Europeans ruled African countries as colonies until the 1950s and 60s.colonies until the 1950s and 60s.

When Africa countries got their When Africa countries got their independence, many had problems independence, many had problems that began as a result of the colonial that began as a result of the colonial era.era.

Problems in Africa Today?Problems in Africa Today?

PovertyPoverty DiseaseDisease IlliteracyIlliteracy Civil WarsCivil Wars CorruptionCorruption