Geography of Africa

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Geography of Africa

• World History I

2
Racist and Pseudoscientific Explanations for
Africas Development

• "I am apt to suspect the Negroes to be naturally
  inferior to the Whites. There scarcely ever was a
  civilised nation of that complexion, nor even any
  individual, eminent either in action or in
  speculation. No ingenious manufacture among them,
  no arts, no sciences." - David Hume
• "A genius has perhaps scarcely ever appeared
  amongst the negroes, and the standard of their
  morality is almost universally so low that it is
  beginning to be acknowledged in America that
  their emancipation was an act of imprudence"
  Otto Weininger

3
Homework Review

• King Ezana ruler of Ethiopian kingdom called
  Aksum in the 4th Century CE
• Significance Made Christianity the official
  religion of Aksum. Aksum was the first Christian
  African kingdom. King Ezanas religious
  influences form the foundation of the modern day
  Ethiopian Church.

4
Homework Review

• How did trade affect the development of both Kush
  and Aksum?
• The Kush thrived as an important corridor for
  trade of gold, ivory, ebony, ostrich feathers and
  many more goods. It was the center for a rich
  cultural exchange, because it was located across
  trade routes between the Red Sea and the Nile.
• The Aksum competed for trade in eastern Africa by
  sending gold, rhinocerous horns, ivory, incense
  and decorative obsidian stone to the
  Mediterranean through Egypt. In return, they
  received glass, metal, pottery, wine and olive
  oil from Europe. Between 300-600 CE the Aksum
  dominated Red Sea trade.

5
Homework Review

• What role did conquest play in the histories of
  Kush and Aksum?
• The Kush were victim to conquest from the
  Egyptians, invaded by the Assyrians and finally
  conquered by Aksum.
• Aksum gained power by conquering the Kush and was
  eventually overtaken by the rise of Islamic Arab
  power in the Red Sea trade.

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Kingdom of the Kush
Pyramid Tomb 1st c. CE
Decorated cups from Meroe (1st-2nd c. CE)
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Kingdom of the Kush
(Above) Example of Meroitic Script (1st 2nd c.
CE) (Below) Nubian Princess in her Ox-chariot
(from an Egyptian Tomb) 14th c. BCE
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Kingdom of Kush
The Lion Temple south of Meroe
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Kingdom of Aksum (Axum)
(Left) King Ezanas stele (4th c. CE) (Above)
The worlds largest stele (4th c. CE)
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Kingdom of Aksum
This key-hole Arch in Aksum Catacombs is very
similar to the popular style in 4th c. CE Syria
Grave goods in Aksum most likely from Egypt
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Kingdom of Aksum
Modern-day Treasury in Axum, Ethiopia said to
house the legendary Ark of the Covenant