early africa 1

8/10/2019 Early Africa 1

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EARLY AFRICAN

CIVILIZATIONS


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Development of Civilizations

After Asia, Africa is the largest of the

continents.

It stretches nearly 5,000 miles and is almost

completely surrounded by 2 oceans and 2 seas

As diverse as it is vast, Africa includes several

distinct geographical zones.

The northern fringe, on the coast washed by the

Mediterranean Sea, is mountainous.

South of the mountains lies the largest desert on

Earth, the Sahara.


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The Land of Africa

South of the Sahara

is divided into anumber of majorregions.

In the west is the so-called hump of Africa,which juts out into the

Atlantic Ocean. Here the Sahara

gradually gives way tograsslands in theinterior and then totropical jungles along

the coast.


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The Land of Africa

Far to the east is a very

different terrain of snow-capped mountains, uplandplateaus, and lakes.

A distinctive feature is theGreat Rift Valley, wheremountains loom over deepcanyons.

Further to the south lies

the Congo Basin, with itsdense vegetation wateredby the Congo River. The tropical rain forests of

this area then fade into thehills, plateausand desertsto the south.


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The Climate of Africa

Africa includes 4 climate zones, which help

explain the different lifestyles of the peoples

Africa.

A mild climate zone stretches across the northe

coast and southern tip of Africa.

Moderate rainfall and warm temperatures resul

fertile land that produces abundant crops.

This crop production can support large populations.


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Deserts form

another climatezone.

The Sahara in the

north and the

Kalahariin the

south are the twolargest deserts.

Altogether, deserts

cover about 40% of

Africa.


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A 3rdclimate zone is the

rain forest thatstretches along theequator and makes upabout 10% of thecontinent. Heavy rains and warm

temperatures produce

dense forests wherelittle farming and littletravel are possible. The rain forest is also

home to disease-carrying insects, such asthe tsetse fly, whichinfects both animals andhumans with sleeping

sickness.


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A final climate zone consists of the savanna

broad grasslands dotted with small trees andshrubs.

Savannas stretch across Africa both north and

south of the rain forest and cover around 40% o

Africas land area.

The savannas receive enough rainfall to allow for

farming and the herding of animals, but the rain is

unreliable.


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Emerging Civilizations

By 2000 B.C., a busy trade

had arisen between Egyptand the area to the south

known as Nubia.

Egyptian merchants

traveled to Nubia to obtain

ivory, ebony, frankincense

and leopard skins.

Although Nubia wasunder Egyptian control

for many centuries, it

feed itself around 1000

B.C. and became the

independent state of

Kush.


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Kush

In 750 B.C., Kush conquered Egypt.

In 663 B.C., however, the Kushites, who were

still using bronze and stone weapons, were

overwhelmed by the Assyrians, who were arme

with iron spears and swords.

The Kushites, driven out of Egypt, returned to their

original lands in the upper Nile valley.


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The Rise of Axum

Kush flourished from about

250 B.C.-150 A.D., butdeclined because of the rise

of a new power in the region.

This new power, known as

Axum, was located in the

highlands of what is now

Ethiopia.

Axum exported ivory,frankincense, myrrh, and

slaves.

It imported textiles,

metal goods, wine and

olive oil.


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The Rise of Axum

For a time, Axum

competed with theneighboring state of

Kush for control of the

ivory trade.

Probably as a result of

this competition, in the

4thcentury A.D., KingEzana, The Axumite

ruler, launched an

invasion of Kush and

conquered it.


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The Rise of Axum

Perhaps the most distinctive feature of

Axumite civilization was its religion.About 330, King Ezana converted to Christianit

which was 1stbrought to Axum by shipwrecked

Syrians.

The king made Christianity the official religion of

Axum.


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Kingdoms of Africa

Ghana, the 1stgreat

trading state in WestAfrica, emerged as

early as 500 A.D.

Most of the people

in the area were

farmers living invillages under the

authority of a local

ruler.


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The Kings of Ghana

The kings of Ghana were strong rulers who

governed without any laws. They played active roles in running the kingdom

and their wealth was vast.

To protect the kingdom and enforce their wishes,

Ghanaian kings relied on a well-trained regular arm

of thousands of men.


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Economy and Trade of Ghana

Much of the trade

across the desertwas carried by the

Berbers, nomadic

peoples whose

camel caravans

became known asthe fleets of the

desert.

early africa 1

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