Geography (cont) Sorghum, rice, millet, rice, wheat and corn grown on savannahs. Not just one big plain though mountainous and swampy areas too

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Shanna Watts
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1 Geography & Society in Africa: 500 BCE-900 CE

2 Geography Around 5000 miles wide and long Various climates, jungles, snow-capped mountains, deserts and rain-soaked areas. 40% desert - largely uninhabitable and make movements to more welcoming climates difficult. 136 degrees during the day, rainfall evaporates quickly. Sahara in the north and Kalahari to the south. Sahara covers an area the size of the US!!!! Mostly flat, gray wasteland, with 20% sand dunes. Each year, the desert grows, replacing the edges, or Sahel = desertification.

Geography (cont) Rain forests, densely wooded, stretches across half the middle of Africa, 5% of the continent. Hot and humid, enormous amounts of rain.

3 Geography (cont) Rain forests, densely wooded, stretches across half the middle of Africa, 5% of the continent. Hot and humid, enormous amounts of rain. Canopy keeps out sunlight, so small plants do not grow. Northern coast and southern tip = welcoming climates and fertile soil = dry, sunny summers, mild winters. Densely populated with farmers and herders. Largest number of people live on the savanna - grassy plains, 40% of the continent. Dry season alternate with rainy seasons. Sorghum, rice, millet, rice, wheat and corn grown on savannahs. Not just one big plain though mountainous and swampy areas too

Meroë: Nile Valley Civilization 300 BCE-100 CE Nubians had conquered Egyptians Ruled by monarchs, ten of which were women, and ruled, outwardly as such. e.g.) pharaoh Hatshepsut, who wore male clothing.

4 Meroë: Nile Valley Civilization 300 BCE-100 CE Nubians had conquered Egyptians Ruled by monarchs, ten of which were women, and ruled, outwardly as such. e.g.) pharaoh Hatshepsut, who wore male clothing. Equal power as male counterparts Human sacrifice victims in tombs Merchants, weavers, potters, masons, servants, laborers, and slaves. Iron smelting = iron tools and weapons Herders and farmers paid tribute to the monarch Rain-fall based agriculture = no need for irrigation systems ( no need to concentrate population near the Nile.

Found: statue of Roman emperor Augustus, likely seized during a raid = proof of contact with the Mediterranean world.

5 Meroë (Cont) Massive wealth and military power from long-distance trading connections to the north via the Nile, and east and west by camel caravans. Found: statue of Roman emperor Augustus, likely seized during a raid = proof of contact with the Mediterranean world. Moved away from traditional Egyptian gods Local lion god: Apedemak Meroitic script replaced Egyptian writing, still undeciphered. (Right) gold bracelet (100 bce) = demonstrates craftsmanship, wealth, influence of Egyptian culture in Nubia (goddess, Hathor.)

Meroë Declines After 100 CE...deforestation from smelting fires. Egyptian trade with the African interior switched from Nile Valley to the Red Sea, reducing resources for Meroë s rulers.

6 Meroë Declines After 100 CE...deforestation from smelting fires. Egyptian trade with the African interior switched from Nile Valley to the Red Sea, reducing resources for Meroë s rulers. Axum s conquests effectively ended Meroë by the 340s CE. Three separate Nubian states emerged Egyptian (coptic) Christianity penetrated the region, lasting 1000 years. (Would later be replaced by Islam.)

Nok & Aksum Nok: Nigeria (500 BCE - 200 CE) Farmers, smelted iron - tools for farming and hunting. Aksum (300-700 CE): Located outside of Kush on a plateau on the edge of the Red Sea.

Imported cloth, glass, olive oil, wine, brass, iron, and copper. Long-distance trading networks Like Meroë - urban centers, imperial ambitions.

7 Nok & Aksum Nok: Nigeria (500 BCE CE) Farmers, smelted iron - tools for farming and hunting. Aksum ( CE): Located outside of Kush on a plateau on the edge of the Red Sea. Controlled international trade (important trading center). Miles of coastline gave in a leg up in sea trade. Exported salt, rhino horns, tortoise shells, ivory, emeralds, and gold. Imported cloth, glass, olive oil, wine, brass, iron, and copper. Long-distance trading networks Like Meroë - urban centers, imperial ambitions. Worshipped in different ways: animism, sacrifice, the god Mahrem, Christianity. Architecture: tower built to celebrate achievements. Deforestation, soil erosion, and geographic isolation after fleeing to hills to avoid capture by invaders caused Aksum to decline Fell to invaders who brought Islam.

Niger River (Cities Without States) Prolonged dry spells brought people out of the southern Sahara into the fertile floodplain of the Niger River in West Africa Domesticated sheep, cattle, and goats

8 Niger River (Cities Without States) Prolonged dry spells brought people out of the southern Sahara into the fertile floodplain of the Niger River in West Africa Domesticated sheep, cattle, and goats Ironworking and agricultural technologies Between 300 BCE and 900 CE, city-based civilizations emerged. Jenne-jeno (40,000 people) Strangely, absence of state structure existing in other cities. No imperial system or bureaucracy No archaeological signs of despotic powers More like Norte Chico and the Indus River Valley civilization Turned ore into metal, making them feared and admired. Farmers worked the countryside. Eventually, artisan communities became occupational castes, jobs passed on through family and children only married within their specific groups. Trans-Saharan trade eventually brought Islam to west Africa.

You Will Need: Your notebook Your textbook Your pencil

You Will Need: Your notebook Your textbook Your pencil Today you will learn about the kingdoms of Kush and Aksum who developed advanced civilizations with large trading networks. Kush and Aksum Kush and