African Kingdoms

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African Kingdoms

• Where did they settle and why?

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East African KingdomsWho were they?

• Ancient Egypt
• Nubia/Kush
• Aksum (Axum)

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Ancient Egypt2700 BCE-1085BCE

• Located in the northeast region of Africa
• Older kingdom
• Trade connections with NAME
• Very developed
• Relied on the Nile and its resources
• Rivals with Rome, Greece, and Nubia
• Overtaken by Nubia to the south

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Nubia/Kush1000BCE-350CE

• Nubia and Kush are often referred to
  interchangeably
• Located in Eastern Africa along the Nile, just
  south of Egypt
• Very skilled at navigating the rough terrain of
  the Ethiopian Highlands and the Great Rift.
• Traveled in caravans
• Eventually took over Egypt
• Known for the Iron Tools
• Traded with Asia

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Aksum/Axum900 BCE-600CE

• Developed at the same time as Nubia/Kush
• Located in the Ethiopian Highlands along the Nile
  and towards the Horn of Africa
• Controlled the Sea Trade for 100 years
• Very skilled sailors- Connected trade from the
  Mediterranean Sea to India
• Converted to Christianity from tribal-indigenous
  religions.
• Very powerful due to their skills in trade and
  travel.

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So What?

• The Eastern African Kingdoms developed at an
  earlier time when other great civilization such
  as Rome, Greece, India, and China were also in
  power.
• The Eastern Kingdoms traded with these other
  advanced civilizations.
• The Eastern Kingdoms were interested in sailing
  to these areas to trade because they were the
  only other civilizations that had the advanced
  technology, goods, and resources they were
  interested in.

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What Else?

• The Eastern Kingdoms were well established and
  all settled in and along the Nile and the Coast.
• WHY?

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Western Kingdoms. Who were they?

• Ghana
• Mali
• Songhai

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Ghana- 400 CE-1200CE

• Settled along the Senegal River in what is
  currently known as the country of Mauritania and
  the western edge of Mali.
• Developed due to the rich resources of Salt and
  Gold.
• Known as the Land of Gold
• Developed a tax system for trade.

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Mali- 1240 CE- 1500CE

• Mali rose to power at the decline of the Kingdom
  of Ghana.
• Malis Kingdom included all of the kingdom of
  Ghana and spread to the Atlantic coast in the
  west and almost to the modern border of
  Mali/Nigeria.
• Mali took the skills, resources, and trade system
  established by Ghana and expanded upon it. This
  gave them great wealth and power.
• Salt was used as currency and continued to be a
  valuable resource.

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Mali Continued

• Gold continued to be a valuable resource.
• Muslims traded with the Africans and introduced
  them to the religion of Islam.
• Mansa Musa was a great Islamic leader who helped
  to transform the kingdom into a great Center of
  Leaning.

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Songhai-1450 CE-1600CE

• Developed in what is now Modern day Mali and
  Nigeria, accessing the Niger and Senegal Rivers.
• Rose to power at the decline of the Mali Kingdom.
• The Kingdom of Songhai took over the territory
  eastern portion of the kingdom of Mali and spread
  out farther east into Modern day Nigeria.
• Continued to use the trade routes and taxation.

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Songhai Continued

• Developed due the breaking away of several tribal
  communities along the eastern edges of the Mali
  kingdom.
• Became the leading African kingdom in the 1400s
  CE.
• Developed the trade center at Timbouctou
  (Timbuktu)
• Continued the practice of Islam

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The Western Kingdoms Agenda

• Develop as a Kingdom-Fairly new as compared to
  the Eastern Kingdoms and Europe/Middle East.
• Resources-Salt was a hot commodity and only found
  in and around present day Mali.
• Gold was also a valuable asset to a kingdom
• Control of waterways,coastlines, and land trade
  routes.
• Wealth and Power

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The African People
Tribal Community
Family Unit
Kingdom or Empire
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African Identity

• The African people lived as a family unit within
  a tribal community-village.
• Often the bonds to the village were very strong
  because all of the adults in the village took
  part in helping to raise the members of the
  village.
• The saying It takes a village to raise a child
  stems directly from this type of relationship.

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Kingdom Dynamics

• Many of the kingdoms became too large.
• The territory occupied by the kingdom was spread
  out and the villages along the borders of the
  territory often felt unprotected.
• They were influenced by a need for security and
  many times fell victim to tribes occupying the
  lands just outside of the kingdom.
• Sometimes they were swayed to join these groups
  out of a need for security or to feel more
  respected or involved within the new up and
  coming group/kingdom.

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How did differing groups of Africans see one
another?

• African Tribes saw each other as rivals, trading
  partners, allies, and enemies.
• The tribes usually were in competition for the
  same land and resources leading to the ultimate
  goal of wealth and power.
• The tribes often spoke different languages and
  held differing beliefs.
• Sometimes the differences created warring among
  the tribes.
• Other times the differences developed into
  prosperous allies.

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How will the similarities and differences among
the Africans impact their future with other
civilizations/countries outside of Africa?
Ok,..So now what??????
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Why would other civilizations/countries have an
interest in Africa? Explain! What outside
civilizations/countries do you think would have
an interest in Africa? Why? Are they likely to
trade for it or just take it? What type of
civilization/country might do this?