Chapter 7 Early Africa

Mild zone

Desert

Savanah

Rain Forest

AFRICA HAS FOUR ZONES OF CLIMATE

CH. 7 Africa

2 Early Civilizations: 1.Kush 2.Axum

Emerging Civilization and the Rise of Islam • About seven or eight thousand years ago, the mastery of farming gave rise to the first

civilizations in Africa: Egypt, Kush, and Axum. ⇓

• A busy trade in ivory, ebony, frankincense, and leopard skins between Egypt and Kush to its south developed by 2000 B.C. ⇓ . (pages 225–226)

Early African Civilizations

Emerging Civilization and the Rise of Islam (cont.)

• In 750 B.C., the Kushites conquered Egypt, but the Assyrians, Assyrians whose iron weapons overmatched the bronze and stone of the Kushites, drove them out of Egypt. ⇓ • The Kushites returned to their original lands. (pages 225–226)

Emerging Civilization and the Rise of Islam (cont.)

• Kush was a major trading empire for several hundred years. ⇓

• It provided iron, ivory, gold, ebony, and slaves to the Roman Empire, Empire Arabia, and India in return for such luxury goods as jewelry and silver lamps.

Emerging Civilization and the Rise of Islam (cont.)

• Then a new power, Axum, caused Kush’s decline. ⇓ • Axum was founded by a colony of Arabs in what is now Ethiopia. In the fourth century A.D., King Ezana of Axum conquered Kush.

• Axum prospered because it was located on the Red Sea and the trading route between India and the Mediterranean. ⇓ (pages 225–226)

Trade has always been a big part of the culture of Africa

Emerging Civilization and the Rise of Islam (cont.) • Axumite civilization’s most distinctive feature was its religion. ⇓

• About A.D. 330, King Ezana converted to Christianity, Christianity and he made it the official religion of Axum. ⇓ • Shipwrecked Syrians had introduced Christianity to Axum. ⇓ • Within a few centuries, Islam brought important challenges to the kingdom of Axum.

(pages 225–226)

Next great trading civilizations that emerged were: 1.Ghana 2.Mali 3.Songhai

The Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, Songhai

• The kingdom of Ghana, weakened by wars, collapsed during the • As early as A.D. 500, 1100s. The greatest Ghana–the first of the great trading statetrading that arose West African states– states in emerged its place was Mali, in the Niger River valley Sundiata grasslands between which Keita the Sahara and established in the thetropical midforest along the coast. ⇓ thirteenth century. (pages 228–230)

Analyzing Maps and Charts The great trade empires of West Africa grew out of the various vegetation zones and the products they produced. For example, yams were better suited to one area, grazing animals to another. How would these differences account for growth in trade?

Analyzing Maps and Charts People traded for things they desired but could not produce.

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.

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Summary of Africa – Land of Great Diversity