African Kingdoms

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African Kingdoms

• Chapter 81-3

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Kush (See map p. 135)

• South of Egypt on the Nile River
• Conquered by Egypt (about 1500 B.C.) and ruled by
  them for about 500 years
• Learned and adopted elements of Egyptian culture
  (Amon-Re, hieroglyphics, copper and bronze
  working)
• Later became independent of Egypt

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Kush, cont.

• Capital at Napata
• Caravans of traders carried gold, ivory, and
  other goods to trade with Egypt
• Learned iron-smelting from the Assyrians. (Who
  did the Assyrians learn it from?)
• Iron hoes (new technology) increased crop output

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Kush, cont.

• Meroe, new capital in 540 B.C.
• Question How did Meroes location help to make
  it an important city?

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Answer

• It was located on the Nile River, making it a
  good location for trade and transportation it
  was also in the center of good grazing land.

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Aksum (See map p. 135)

• A trading kingdom that rose when Kush declined.
  (They burned Meroe.)
• Traded with people of Mediterranean (Greeks,
  Romans, etc.) and Far East.
• Greeks brought Christianity to Aksum.
• Aksum became Christian kingdom in 324 A.D.

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Aksums achievements

• Writing system
• Farmed on terraces (raised levels of land)
• Minted gold coins
• Built stone monuments over 60 feet tall
• Question Why did Aksum decline (become weak and
  lose power)?

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Answer

• Other kingdoms began to interfere with Aksums
  trade, and Arab armies invaded North Africa.
  Aksumites retreated to inland areas of Africa.

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Events in the History of Kush and Aksum

• 750 B.C.King Kashta took territory from Egypt
• 540 B.C. Kushites moved capital to Meroe
• 324 A.D. Aksum converted to Christianity
• 350 A.D.Aksumites destroy Meroe
• 600s A.D.Arab armies swept across North Africa

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Ghana (See map p. 135)

• Founded about 200 A.D.
• First of the large trading kingdoms in West
  Africa
• Iron weapons enabled them to take control of
  trade routes
• Trading technique called silent barter
• 1042 A.D., Arabs from North Africa started war
  with Ghana destroyed capital

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• Question What were the two major items
  exchanged in Ghanian trade?

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• Answer gold and salt

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Mali (See map p. 135)

• Next large trading kingdom in West Africa

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Malis King Sundiata Keitas Contributions

• Conquered Ghana
• Re-established the salt-gold trade the Arabs had
  disrupted
• Organized Mali into provinces (What other group
  have we studied that organized their territory
  into provinces?)

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Malis King Mansa Musa I

• Malis most famous king
• Made a pilgrimage (religious journey) to Arabia
  with 12,000 servants. Gave gold bars to people
  along the way.
• Brought Spanish architect back to Mali with him

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Mansa Musas contributions

• Built the university in Timbuktu
• Made Timbuktu a center for trade and learning
• Question What event made Mansa Musa famous?

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• Answer
• His pilgrimage to Arabia

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Songhai (See map p. 135)

• Replaced Mali as most powerful kingdom in West
  Africa
• Became largest of trading kingdoms
• Songhai was divided into provinces each ruled by
  a governor.

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Askia Mohammeds contributions

• Extended Songhai Empire
• Promoted culture in the kingdom by welcoming
  teachers, doctors, students, and religious
  leaders from Asia and Europe
• Question How did the Songhai kingdom come to an
  end?

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• Answer The Songhai were defeated by a Moroccan
  army who were equipped with guns. (Songhai only
  had swords and spears.)
• Question Why do you think the Moroccans would
  want to defeat the Songhai?

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Zimbabwe (See map p. 135)

• Trading kingdom of East Africa
• As a result of a population explosion (a large
  and sudden growth in population) the Shona,
  Zimbabwes ancestors, left West Africa in 100
  A.D.
• Shona settled in Zimbabwe in about 700 A.D.

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Zimbabwe, cont.

• Chief ruled as god-king as long as he remained
  healthy
• Was expected to poison himself when he grew older
• Traded goods from interior of Africa, such as
  gold and ivory, to merchants along the east coast
  of Africa

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• Question Why did the Shona leave West Africa?

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• Answer The land there could not support the
  large number of people living there, so the Shona
  needed to find new places to live.
• Question What are some other reasons why human
  populations may change or migrate?

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Kilwa (See map p. 135)

• A trading city-state on coast of East Africa
• Sailed the Red Sea and Indian Ocean
• Collected taxes from traders from other countries
• Many Arab traders settled along East African
  coast
• Cultures began to blend

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• Question What two cultures did the Swahili
  culture incorporate?

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• Answer Arabic and African
• Question Describe some changes that have taken
  place in the United States as people from
  different cultures come into contact with one
  another.
• Why is it important that cultures learn to
  cooperate rather than conflict?

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