Africa’s Rich
History
Series of Rich Kingdoms in
Sub- Sahara Africa
Cradle of Humanity
Long list of African
Accomplishments &
Contributions to human
history
Centuries before the
discovery of the New World,
Africa has cities that were
centers of trade & technology
Why a Biased
History of
Africa?
1. Western Historians
focused their attention on
the history of statesancient Egypt, Greece!
African history- clans,
families & tribes
2. Historians relied on
written records, stateless
society relied on oral
traditions
3. Justification of the Slave
Trade, African’s were
presented as inferior!
2012
Nubian
Empire
/Kush
Nubians, Black Africans that
established a civilization that
parallel Egyptian society .
1000 B.C. – 300 A.D.
Egyptian Influence- pyramids,
Pharohs, adopted Egyptian
Hieroglyphics & Egyptian Gods
Images
Nubian Pyramids at Meroe
Egyptian wall painting
depicting Nubians taking
offerings of gold to Egypt
Kingdom of Axum [300-700]
Ethiopia traces its origins to this
ancient city!
Christian Church, Lalibela
[Ethiopia]
Christian Empire in Africa
Christian Church, Lalibela
[Ethiopia] & Debra Damo Monastery
Coptic Christian Priest
Controlled
NE African
Trade
AXUM’S
ACHIEVEMENTS
Written
Language
(one of the few)
Built
Stelae
Terrace
Farming
Spread
Christianity
in No. & E.
Africa
Ethiopian Royalty
By 800 AD Aksum had almost ceased to exist. The elite and sections of
common people settle in central Ethiopia. Royal authority reigns in Ethiopia
until 1974. Image is Circa 1920-1930
Other African Empires that
students will research!
Western African Empires
Trading States of East Africa
Great Zimbabwe Empire
Gold-Salt Trade
SALT
GOLD
Berbers
+
Gold Salt Trade
Western Empires
 Ghana- the Gold Empire
Mali Empire
SALT
GOLD
[13c-15c]
Outline of Topics to research for the
Western Empires?
East African
City-States
City- States and great
trading market and
large towns.
Traders brought ivory,
gold and animal skins
from interior of Africa to
the coast cities.
The trading cities trades
with Arabs across the
Indian Ocean and in to
Asia
Swahili-Speaking Areas of E. Africa
SWAHILI [“the coast’] = Bantu + some Arabic
Outline of Topics to research for Eastern
Trading States?
Great Zimbabwe
[1200-1450]
“Zimbabwe” = “stone enclosure”
+
Great Zimbabwe Empire
Outline of Topics to research for the
Zimbabwe Empire?
Diviners, healers, ancestor
worship & Animism
Tells the future,
Cowrie shells