African Empires
Civilizations in Africa have a major
impact on what we do TODAY
??????
What is the
connection
between what
happened in
ancient African
times to the way
we live in
America TODAY?
FOLLOW ALONG…..


African nations were “civilized” for
thousands of years before European
arrival and invasion.
The invading Greeks and Romans
developed their own similar
“civilizations”, which later influenced
the founders of America.
ANCIENT AFRICA
Greeks
Romans
Persians
Watch youtube video real quick
“African Influence on Early Europe”
BEING “CIVLIZED” IS…….
1.
2.
Having a highly developed
society and culture
Showing evidence of moral and
intellectual advancement; being
humane, ethical and reasonable
EGYPT
EGYPT



Original name is
Kemet
The first African
civilization.
One of the oldest
civilizations in
world history
EGYPT


Lasted for 1500
years because of
its great location.
The Sahara Desert
protected it from
foreign enemies
EGYPT


Ruled by
pharaohs (kings)
for long periods of
time
Patriarchal
society (ruled by
men, related
through the
father’s side)
AKHENATEN

Popular pharaoh
who pushed the
Egyptians into the
belief in
monotheism( one
God) instead of
polytheism (many
gods)
NEFERTITI


Known for her beauty
and femininity even
up to this day.
Ruled along side with
her husband
Akhenaten and had
some duties.
NEFERTITI
TUTANKHAMUN



Commonly known as
King “Tut”.
Died early (age 19)
Offspring of an
incestuous
relationship (father
and sister/mother)
SKULL and
RECONSTRUCTION
CLEOPATRA



The last pharoah of
Ancient Egypt
Married her brothers
in order to become a
pharoah. (customary)
Later married Julius
Ceasar and had a son
named Caesorion
which means “Little
Ceasar”
CLEOPATRA
ARCHITECTURE
 Egypt
is popular for its
buildings and statues
that you will see in
American structures
today.
PYRAMIDS
PYRAMIDS
 Pyramids
are
actually tombs
where the
bodies of
pharaohs are
mummified and
stored

Pyramids are one
of the world’s
mysteries
because scientists
and historians
wonder how the
Egyptians were
able to build them.
PYRAMIDS
THERE ARE AMERICAN STRUCTURES
THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT IN HONOR OF
THE GREAT PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT.
LUXOR HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS
PYRAMID AREAN IN
TENNESSEE
SPHINX
SPHINX

The sphinx in
Egypt is a
symbol of a
great pharaohs
during the
Egyptian
civilization.
SPHINX
IT IS THE OLDEST
AND LARGEST
STONE STATUE IN
THE WORLD.
SPHINX
IT HAS THE BODY
OF A LION BUT
THE HEAD OF A
MAN.
SPHINX

The sphinx had a
nose that
resembled the
pharaohs, and is
rumored to have
been destroyed
by European
invaders.
SPHYNX
It sits in front of
the great pyramids
of Giza in Egypt to
this very day.
ANKH
ANKH


The ankh is an
Egyptian symbol
that means “key
of life”.
Egyptian gods are
often portrayed
carrying them
ANKH
 The
ankh is
seen in our
culture today in
jewelry and in
body art…on all
races of
people.
ANKH
HEIROGLYPHICS
HEIROGLYPHICS


One of the first
writing systems in
the world.
Use of symbols and
pictures to represent
objects and ideas
HIEROGLYPHICS


Very complex and
hard to understand
for hundreds of
years.
Found on the walls
of the pyramids
OBELISKS


Obelisks are ancient
Egyptians structures
that symbolized the
sun god.
They were copied by
the ancient Romans
and rebuilt in Europe.
OBELISKS

There is an
obelisk in our
nation’s capitol,
Washington, D.C.
has a replica of
one of the ancient
Egyptian obelisks.
RACE of Egyptians


To this day, many have STRONG
feelings over the race of the Ancient
Egyptians.
It’s safe to say that they were a mixture of
races, but nonetheless AFRICAN.
WHY DOES THE
RACE OF THE
EGYPTIANS
MATTER?
KUSH
KUSH

STOP!! For all you
dopeheads…. lol
this is the
civilization called
Kush …not your
street name for an
illegal substance!!
Get educated
PLEASE!
KUSH



Kush was the 2nd
African
Civilization.
Located just south
of Egypt
Lasted for 2,000
years
KUSH

Started off as good
friends with Egypt.

Was greatly influenced by
Egypt culture

Developed it’s own
handwriting that is
STILL unable to be
read.
KUSH
Built pyramids that
were similar to
those in Egypt, but
were steeper.
KUSH


Located in a land
called Nubia
(which means land
of the Blacks).
Present –day
Sudan.
Traded extensively
with Europeans
GHANA
GHANA



First of the Western
African Empires
Extremely popular for
its GOLD mines
Traded for salt, silk,
and cotton w/
Europeans
GHANA
GHANA GOLD MINES
GHANA GOLD
GHANA

The hot
temperatures of
Ghana required
the people to
need salt for
retention of
water in the
body.
Also traded for
Cotton and silk
MALI
MALI
 The
nd
2
African
Empire on
the Western
coast of
Africa.
Flag of MALI
MALI
Famous for its ruler
Mansa Musa


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Devout Muslim
Very Generous
Stressed
importance of
religion and
education
MANSA MUSA OF MALI

Known for
decreasing the
value of gold
because he was
so generous in
giving it away to
many people
during his
pilgrimage.
MALI

Known for its
university in
Timbuktu
where scholars
from around the
world would
come to study
religion and
other subjects.
SONGHAY
SONGHAY


The LAST of the
African Empires.
Famous for its ruler
Sunni Ali Ber who
eventually caused
the empire to
weaken from
expansion and
greed.
SONGHAY

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When Songhay became a divided group
of independent tribes; they began to
fight among one another.
WITHOUT BEING UNIFIED, it became
easy for invading Europeans to open up
trade for African slaves.
UNITED WE STAND…….
SONGHAY
IMPORTANT !!!!!!!
WHEN THE AFRICANS SOLD ONE
ANOTHER TO EUROPEANS, THEY WERE
NOT AWARE OF THE MISTREATMENT
AND CRUELTY THAT WOULD TAKE
PLACE.
SLAVERY IN AFRICA PRIOR TO
EUROPEAN ARRIVAL WAS FAR LESS
BARBARIC AND BLOODY.