Full Version of Notes
after African Empires
projects are completed.
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
 2015 change the format
 One notes as intro to empires
 Separte this into full empires to study for quiz; will
grade there projects but can compare to my notes
 Separate section on european exploration and add to
the slave trade or decide to keep with empires??
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
Pre-Historic Africa
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
Stele, King Ezana’s Royal Tomb,
Aksum (4c)
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
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
African Trade Routes
Swahili-Speaking Areas of E. Africa
SWAHILI [“the coast’] = Bantu + some Arabic
Gold-Salt Trade
SALT
GOLD
Berbers
+
Gold Salt Trade
Western Empires
 Ghana- the Gold Empire
Ghana Empire
[4c-11c]
Gold “Money”, Ghana/Ivory Coast
Salt
Mali Empire
SALT
GOLD
[13c-15c]
Timbuktu-”Heavenly Clay”
Timbuktu built during Mali’s
Rule
Timbuktu was a world center of Islamic learning from the 13th to the 17th
century.
Timbuktu Rooftop, Mosque
Mosque in Gao
Great Mosque at Djenne, Mali
Sundiata
[1210-1260]
King Sundiata, Mali Empire
Wealth and Learning in the Kingdom
“Lion Prince”
Mansa Musa
[r. 1312-1337]
European Map
Songhai Empire
SALT
GOLD
[15c-16c]
Sunni Ali
[r.1464-1492]
Great Zimbabwe
[1200-1450]
“Zimbabwe” = “stone enclosure”
+
Great Zimbabwe Empire
Great Zimbabwe Street
Great Enclosure, Zimbabwe
Diviners, healers, ancestor
worship & Animism
Tells the future,
Cowrie shells
Overland & Sea Trade Routes by 16c
African Trade [15c-17c]