Early African Civilizations

1800 B.C. – A.D. 1500

Rain Forest

Desert

Mild zone

Savanna

Aspects of African SocietyEarly history is based on limited evidence– Griots passed down the oral traditions– Bantu, a family of closely related African

languages– Music played a big part in culture

Aspects (cont)

Lineage groups – Claimed descent from a common ancestor– Elders held a lot of power

Aspects (cont)

Many societies were matrilineal (descent traced through the mother)– Women could inherent property– Husband moved into the wife’s house

Merchants received favors, and the king filled his treasury with taxes.

They provided mutual support for members.

The lineage was based on the mothers.

Religious Beliefs

Most African societies believed in one single creator God

Diviners –have the power to foretell events – Often employed by the king to contact the supreme god

Ancestors and spirits were important

Religious Beliefs (cont)

Conversion– Most of North Africa, grasslands south of

Sahara, and east Africa had converted to Islam by 15th century

– Christianity was more successful in mountains of Ethiopia

The author is unknown.

Wisdom, or learning, cannot be purchased with money. It requires study.

Some things or people never change.

Crocodiles were native animals of West Africa.

KushMajor trading stateFlourished from 250 BC to AD 150750 BC conquered Egypt, but were driven out by the Assyrians

AksumAD 350 conquered KushKing ’Ēzānā converted to ChristianityBecame the dominant trading stateCompeted with Muslim states for control of the slave and ivory trades

West Africa

Smaller kingdomsPrimarily subsistence farming

West Africa (cont)

Economy revolved around trade– Gold– Salt– Slaves

Ghana

First great trading state in West Africa– Iron and Gold– Blacksmiths were prizedBerbers, nomads whose camel caravans were called the “fleets of the desert,” carried the trade across the desert

Mali

Captured Ghana in AD 1240Mansa Mūsā doubled Mali’s size under his rule from AD 1312 to 1337– Made pilgrimage to Mecca

leading approx 60,000 servants and soldiers

– Ordered that mosques be built and encouraged the study of the Qur’an