Ancient African
Civilizations
Warm-Up:
What made
America such a
powerful
nation?
What’s the most famous African
Civilization you know?
The Nile Valley Civ.= The Egyptians
When?
(Began around 5000 BC)
Where?
The Nile Valley
What Should We Know About the
Nile Valley Civilization?

Their Gov was ruled
by ...PHARAOHS

They were like…
GODS
King TUT
The Egyptian’s religion
revolved around
worshipping MANY gods.
Religion
RA, the Sun God
What do we call this type of
religion???
POLYTHEISM…
Poly means many!
They believed in LIFE
AFTER DEATH
Pyramids were burial
tombs.
They held everything for
the Pharaoh’s next life!
Kingdom of Kush

When?

(750 BC-200 AD)
Where?
 Along the Nile, south
of the Egyptians


Who do you think
influenced them the
most?
Influenced by the Egyptians and
Assyrians

How do we know?
– Adapted Egyptian
Pyramids
– Adapted Egyptian
hieroglyphics into their
own alphabet
Also, they learned from
the Assyrians.
What do you think they
learned??
Iron-making
Religion of the Kush
Polytheism
 Like the Egyptians, the Kush worshipped
the sun-god, Ra

Kingdom of Axum

When?

Began around the
early 300’s AD.

Where?
Describe the relative
location of this
kingdom.
 They conquered the
Kush

Located in the modern day
country of ETHIOPIA
How about their Religion?
Try to guess…
 Hint: the kingdom
began in early 300’s
AD
 Hint: location

Oldest community of Christians in Africa.
Kingdom of Ghana
When?
 500 AD – 1076 AD





Where?
Western Sahara and
along the Niger River
What made them
wealthy?
Controlled the GOLD
mines in the region
Empire of Mali

When?

1300’s

Where?

West Africa
They conquered the
former kingdom of
Ghana.
 Why?

They took over and controlled the
SALT trade.
Salt??? What’s so important about
Salt?
Salt preserves meat!
How about their religion??
Guess…..
ISLAM
Were they successful?

For awhile

They were wealthy from
the salt trade

Had a system of laws based
on…
– The Qu’ran
TIMBUKTU became an
important center of
learning!
Yes, Timbuktu is a real place!
Eastern city-states
Approx. 600 ad – 1500 ad (900 years!!)
Why are they all located
along the coast?
TRADING! Of course!
Wait, what’s a city-state?
A city, wealthy and
powerful enough to
control a large territory.
City-states had their own
governments and even
ARMIES!!
Know any famous city-states?
Athens and Sparta
Venice, Florence and
Milan
What were they trading?
Slaves, Spices,
Ivory and Gold
Who did they trade
with?
MIDDLE EAST AND
EVEN AS FAR AS
INDIA AND CHINA
How did all this interaction with the Middle East
effect their culture?
•They adopted Islam as their religion.
•A new language developed there.
•Swahili = Arabic + African language (Bantu)
Diffusion
•Swahili is a great example of cultural____________?
CLICKERS!!
HIT: GO-4-1-GO
The Nile Valley Civilization is
most commonly known as these
people
A.
B.
C.
D.
Assyrians
Egyptians
Phoenicians
Khalifians
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
The Egyptians government was
ruled by who?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Kings
Presidents
Pharoahs
Ra
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
What did the Nile Valley
civilization believe happens to
you when you die?
Nothing
Reincarnation
Go to heaven
Go to the afterlife
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
Pyramids were made for what?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Buriel Tombs
Temples
Monuments
Entertainment
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
The Kingdom of Kush existed
when?
A.
B.
C.
D.
5-10 B.C.
200 – 300 B.C.
1950-1965
700 B.C. – 200 A.D.
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
Where was the Kingdom of
Kush located?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Kalahari Desert
Along the Nile,
south of Egyptians
South Africa
Mediterranean Sea
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
The Kingdom of Kush was
influenced by who?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Egyptians &
Assyrians
Sumerians &
Malians
Crystal Lakians &
Algonquians
Ghanaians &
Nigerians
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
Kingdom of Kush learned this
skill from the Assyrians
A.
B.
C.
D.
Ceramic-making
Iron-making
Copper-making
Gold-making
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
The religion of the Kingdom of
Kush was?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Polytheistic
Tritheistic
Monotheistic
Hectatheistic
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
The Kingdom of Axum was
located in which modern day
country
Nigeria
France
South Africa
Ethiopia
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
Who did the Kingdom of Axum
conquer
A.
B.
C.
D.
Mali
Egyptians
Kush
Ghana
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
The Religion of the Kingdom of
Axum was?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Islam
Christian
Jewish
Tribal
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
When was the Kingdom of
Ghana created?
A.
B.
C.
D.
200 B.C.
10000 A.D.
500 A.D.
20000 B.C
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
Kingdom of Ghana had wealth
because of which resource?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Oil
Diamonds
Iron
Gold
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
Empire of Mali started when?
A.
B.
C.
D.
1300’s
2000’s
200’s
5000’s
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
Kingdom of Mali was located
where?
A.
B.
C.
D.
South Africa
North Africa
West Africa
East Africa
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Kingdom of Mali became
successful because of which
resource?
Oil
Gold
Salt
Iron
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
Kingdom of Mali had laws based
which religion?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Christianity
Islam
Tribal Religions
Judaism
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
This city was the central city of
the Kingdom of Mali
A.
B.
C.
D.
Timbuktu
Johannesburg
Cairo
Nairobi
Response
Counter
25%
A.
25%
25%
B.
C.
25%
D.
Swahili is a language that mixes
African Bantu with…
1.
2.
3.
4.
English
Hindi
Egyptian
Arabic
Response
Counter
25%
1
25%
25%
2
3
25%
4
The East African city states
became wealthy because of …
1.
2.
3.
4.
Farming
Fishing
Trading
Conquering
Response
Counter
25%
1
25%
25%
2
3
25%
4
One more thing…
On the map provided, draw a circle in the region where
each of these 5 ancient civilizations were located.
 Label each region.
 Then, on the back answer these questions.
– 1. What did the people of the Kingdom of Axum have
in common with the people of the Kingdom of Ghana?

– 2. What did the people of the Empire of Mali have in
common with the people of the Kingdom of Kush?
– 3. Besides being in different time periods, what would
contribute to these cultures being so different from
one another? Be specific. List three things.