Kingdoms and Trading Statesof Afn·ca (i50 B.C.-A.D. 1586)

EARLY CIVILIZATIONSOF AFRICA

TEXT SUMMARYGeography has always influenced howAfricans live. Most Africans live in thesavanna. These grassy plains are goodfor farming and cattle herding. Manypeople also settled in the fertile Nile Rivervalley. Several large deserts made it diffi-cult to travel in parts of Africa. Steepwaterfalls on several of Africa's majorrivers limited contact between the coastand the interior of the continent.However, people did migrate and trade.

The kingdom of Nubia emerged inNorth Africa at the same time Egyptiancivilization developed. ubia and Egypthad contact through trade and war. As aresult, the Nubians adopted manyEgyptian ways. They built palaces andpyramids in the Egyptian style. At thesame time, the ubians developed their

own civilization. By controlling traderoutes, Nubia grew wealthy. The Nubiansystem of writing used an alphabet, nothieroglyphics.

Several early civilizations influencedNorth Africa. Trade linked Egypt withGreece and Mesopotamia. Later,Roman conquerors built roadsand cities across North Africa.Under Roman rule, Christianityspread. Merchants used camelsbrought from Asia to create newtrading networks across theSahara. In the 600s, Arab armiesspread Islam throughout NorthAfrica. Over time, Islamreplaced Christianity and theArabic language replaced Latin.

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The varied climates,physical features,and naturalresources of Africahelped creatediverse ways of life.

CRAPHIC SUMMARY: Early Civilizations and North Africa

ROMANS• Conquer and rule

North Africa• Build roads. aqueducts.

dams, and cities• Spread Christianity

REVIEW QUESTIONS1. Why was the use of camels impor-

tant in Africa?

ARABS• Conquer cities in

North Africa• Spread Islam• Bring Arabic language• Spread Muslim ideas

and learning

2. Diagram Skills What were twoways in which early Roman civi-lization influenced North Africa?

Early African civilizationshad strong ties to othercultures, especially thosethat developed in theMediterranean region.

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KiNGDOMS OF WESTAFRICA

TEXT SUMMARY

By A.D. 100, farming villages in WestAfrica were growing into towns. Overtime, these towns became part of animportant trade network. Gold and saltwere the most important products trad-ed. People needed salt in their diet to pre-vent dehydration, or the loss of water.There was plenty of salt in the Sahara,

but there was little in thesavanna. There, a block of saltwas worth its weight in gold.

Strong West African rulerscreated powerful kingdoms.These kingdoms gained controlof the trade routes. By 800, thekingdom of Ghana controlledtrade in gold and salt acrossWest Africa. Around 1250, the

built powerfulkingdoms by gain-ing control of traderoutes and defeat-ing their enemies.

kingdom of Mali crushed Ghana and woncontrol of the gold trade routes. Mali builtthe great trading city of Timbuktu.Timbuktu became a center of learning.Around 1450, a new kingdom calledSonghai emerged. The ruler of Songhaibuilt the largest state that had ever exist-ed in West Africa.

Muslim merchants brought their reli-gion when they settled throughout WestAfrica. In time, however, Islam became animportant influence. The emperor ofMali, Mansa Musa, converted to Islam. Hebased his system of justice on the Quran.West African kingdoms also used Muslimmilitary technology. They adoptedMuslim ideas, including the written lan-guage, coins, and business methods.

GRAPHIC SUMMARY: Kingdoms of West Africa

Ghana (800-l000) Mali (1200-1450) Songhai(1450-1600)

• Controls trade in gold and salt • Mali conquers kingdom of Ghana • Songhai grows into largest Westacross West Africa African state

• Women work in business and • Mansa Musa becomes great • Controls important trade routesgovernment emperor

• King has Muslim advisers • Mali controls gold trade routes • Emperor sets up Muslim dynasty

• Timbuktu becomes a great tradingcity and center of learning

West Africa was the home of three important civilizations.

REVIEW QUESTIONS1. What were the two most important

products traded in West Africa?2. Chart Skills Which kingdom

conquered Ghana?

Survey Edition CHAPTER 12 Guide to the Essentials © Prentice-Hall, Inc.64

TRADE ROUTES OF EASTAFRICA

TEXT SUMMARYThe kingdom ofAxum was located onthe coast of East Africa. In A.D. 350, Axumconquered and absorbed Nubia. Axumcontrolled a trade network that linkedAfrica, India, and the Mediterraneanworld. In the cities of Axum, Africansmixed with people from other lands.

In the 300s, the king ofAxum convert-ed to Christianity. Over time, Christianityspread throughout the kingdom. Civil warand the spread of Islam in Northern Africaled to the decline of Axum. However, peo-ple living in the mountains continued topractice Christianity. These peoplebecame the ancestors of the Ethiopians.Ethiopian Christians borrowed many dif-ferent traditions from other cultures. Theyadapted East African music and dance.They observed Jewish holidays and rulesabout diet.

While Axum declined, other tradingcities arose along the East African coast. Inthe 600s, Arab and Persian merchants setup Muslim communities there. By 1000,merchant ships from port cities such asMogadishu sailed to India to trade. Tradeled to a mixing of cultures in East Africa.

Starting in the 600s, tradingcities grew along the EastAfrican coast.

Over time, this blending of cul-tures resulted in a new languagecalled Swahili.' Swahili mixedArabic words with Bantu, anAfrican language.

Trade routes acrossthe Indian Oceanlinked East Africawith other regions.

GRAPHIC SUMMARY:The Rise of East AfricanTrading Cities

• Early trade with Phoenician, Greek,Roman, Arab, Chinese, and Indianmerchants

• Trading communities set up on theeastern coast

SHORT-TERMEFFECTS

LONG-TERMEFFECTS

• Growth of citieson coast intostrong city-states

• Rise of slave trade

• Rich mix ofcultures

• Developmentof Swahililanguage

REVIEW QUESTIONS1. How did the Swahili language

develop?2. Chart Skills Name two results of

the rise of East African tradingcities.

1

© Prentice-Hall, Inc. Guide to the Essentials CHAPTER12 Survey Edition 65

MANY PEOPLES, MANYTRADITIONS

TEXT SUMMARYAcross Africa, people lived in differentways. In the deserts, people gatheredroots and herbs and hunted small ani-

mals. They lived in smallgroups. In some parts of thesavanna, nomadic people raisedcattle. Along the coasts, peoplefished. They traded extra fishfor grains and animal skins.Farming communities grewmany crops, such as grains,yams, and bananas.

The village, the family, and religionwere important in Africa. Most farmingpeople lived in villages. Villagers helpedeach other with planting and harvesting.Each African family belonged to alineage, or group of households whoclaimed a common ancestor. Several lin-

Village governments,family bonds, andreligious beliefs gavepeople a sense ofcommunity.

eages formed a clan. Belonging to a fami-ly, lineage, or clan helped each person tofeel part of a community. Africans hadmany different religious beliefs. Villagersworshiped many gods and goddesses.Many Africans believed that the spirits oftheir ancestors could help them. Theytried to influence the spirits of naturewith rituals and ceremonies.

Art and literature strengthened Africansociety. African artists used ivory, wood,and bronze. Some art was only for deco-ration. Statues and masks were often usedin religious ceremonies. Many Africansocieties used stories to teach history andvalues. In West Africa, storytellers calledgriots passed stories from generation togeneration.

GRAPHIC SUMMARY: Diverse African Traditions

Village life Family Patterns Religious Beliefs

• Elders share government power • Each family belongs to a lineage • Worship many gods andgoddesses

• Villagers help each other with • Several lineages form a clan • Elders ask spirits for rain andplanting and harvesting good harvests

• Some villages ruled by larger • Elders teach children the clan's • Ask spirits of ancestors for helpkingdoms, such as Songhai history and religious beliefs

Each family belonged to a lineage. Several lineages formed a clan.

REVIEW QUESTIONS1. How did Africans live in the savanna? 2. Chart Skills What is a clan?

In the deserts?

66 Survey Edition CHAPTER 12 Guide to the Essentials © Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Narne Class _

CHAPTER 12-~- WI ," ,. t Test

IDENTIFYING MAIN IDEAS

Date _

Write the letter of the correct answer in the blank provided. (10 points each)

1. What geographic features created a barrierto the movement of people and goods inAfrica?A. oceansB. harborsC. mountainsD. deserts

2. Trade across the Sahara was revolutionizedby this.A. camel caravansB. desertificationC. horse-drawn chariotsD. new roadways

3. The Sahara trade was dominated by whattwo products?A. copper and goldB. salt and pepperC. gold and saltD. diamonds and iron ore

4. How did Islam influence Mali emperorMansa Musa?A. He adapted Islamic education tech-

niques.B. He rejected Muslim military techniques.C. He based his system of justice on the

Quran.D. He revised the Arabic language based on

Islamic traditions.

5. Axum prospered partly because it had aport on theA. Mediterranean Sea.B. Indian Ocean.C. Atlantic Ocean.D.Red Sea.

6. What religious tradition did the Axumitespass on to the Ethiopians?A. ChristianityB. IslamC. HinduismD.Buddhism

7. Over the centuries, Ethiopian ChristiansA. remained isolated.B. borrowed many traditions from other

cultures.C. converted to Islam.D. sent missionaries to other states.

8. In dry desert areas, people adapted bypracticingA. slash-and-burn agriculture.B. herding and fishing.C. hunting and gathering.D. ancestor worship.

9. African art masks were tied toA. literature.B. lineages.C. economics.D. religion.

__ 10. The griots of West Africa preservedA. oral traditions.B. written records.C. woven cloth.D. religious statues.

© Prentice-Hall, Inc. 67Guide to the Essentials CHAPTER 12 Survey Edition