Hatshepsut• Major ruler of Egypt
who wanted to be remembered
• Wanted to carve a record of her deeds on the sides of the temple
• Allows archeologists to know that early African people’s were connected
• Gives evidence of trade and cultural diffusion
Tracking the Evidence: Olduvai Gorge • Located on the edge of the Great Rift Valley in
Tanzania • Site of a major anthropological discovery by Mary
and Louis Leakey• 2 million year old bone fragments that belonged to
one of the earliest ancestors of humans• Anthropologists and Archeologists study the
remains of ancient peoples to learn how they lived• We still do not know a lot about the earliest
peoples
Records on Stone• Rock paintings have been found from South
Africa to the Sahara• Left behind by ancient peoples they allow us to
learn about them• They show tools, weapons and hunting and
gathering techniques • This evidence allows us to understand how they
lived• Ex: Imagine 500 years from now what someone
would learn from the things in your room
Saharan Rock Art • Shows animals and people
living together• Woman are carrying large
packages on their heads• The Sahara was wetter
and had lakes, rivers and grass at one point
• Arrowheads, fish hooks and cattle bones show that the area has changed
• Why do you think this happened?
Nile Valley Civilization• Formed when hunters and gathers learned to
farm and settled by a constant water source• Developed in the Nile Valley about 7000 years
ago• About 3000 B.C.E powerful rulers emerged and
were called Pharaohs • Over time they built the power and wealth of the
Egyptians• Main part of their rule was through trade and
conquest
Religion and Government of Egypt • Religion– Egyptians were polytheistic
and believed in many gods– Chief god was Amon- Re
(God of the Sun)– Osiris- god of the
underworld and Nile– Isis- Wife of Osiris
• Strong belief in life after death
• Reason for pyramids and tombs
• Government– Pharaohs were viewed as
gods descended from Amon-Re
– Total power over the lives of the people
– Priests and Nobles helped the Pharaoh’s run Egypt
– Priests conducted ceremonies to please the gods
– Taxes were paid in grain and other goods
Connecting Geography and Religion • Use the story on page 74-
75 for the following activity
• Find a partner and get a spot around the room
• Read the “Up Close” story about the gift of the Nile
• On a piece of paper answer the questions about the story
• This is a graded assignment
• Questions:– 1.) Explain what the Nile
River does and how it helped the people of Egypt.
– 2.) Read over the hymn that is sung and tell me how it connects geography and religion.
– 3.) Explain the three specific seasons that the story talks about.
– 4.) Answer this LEQ: How did geography and location impact the early people of Africa?
Egyptian Achievements• Huge amount of ruins and artifacts were left behind
by the Egyptians• System of writing called Hieroglyphics that used
pictures and symbols• Decorated the walls of pyramids and temples with
pictures and hieroglyphics • This tells us about their beliefs, knowledge and
everyday lives• 365 day calendar was created • Mathematicians were able to survey the land after
floods• Egyptian doctors studied the human body
Kingdom of Kush • Trade and warriors moved up and down the Nile
River between Egypt and its neighbors• Kingdom of Kush under King Kastha conquered
the Nile Valley in 750 B.C• Kushite control of the Nile Valley ended when the
Assyrian Empire took over the Nile Valley• Kush still remained strong and built a new capital
Meroe further down the banks of the Nile• Eventually the Kushites replaced the Egyptian
gods with their own gods
Wealth and Growth of Kush• Adapted Egyptian Alphabet and made it their
own• Large amounts of Iron Ore in the ground allowed
them to make weapons• Trade networks with Egypt and the
Mediterranean World • Kush lasted for 1000 years before it ended
through invasions by foreigners • Question: What cultural elements did Kush
borrow from Egypt.
Kingdom of Axum • As Kush was falling down Axum developed in the
plateaus of Ethiopia • Important trade center for Ancient Africa• Traded in: spices, gems, and ivory• Traded to Egypt, Arabia and South Asia• 350 A.D King Ezna conquered Kush• Converted to Christianity and withstood the rapid
growth of Islam• Ethiopian Christian Church survives today• Have their own language called Geez