African Civilizations
Franceschini
Common Core SS Standards addressed throughout the reading packet:
6H.1.3 Use primary and secondary sources to interpret various historical perspectives.
6H.2.1 Explain how invasions, conquests, and migrations affected various civilizations, societies and regions
6H.2.3 Explain how innovation and/or technology transformed civilizations, societies and regions over time
6H.2.4 Explain the role that key historical figures and cultural groups had in transforming society
6G.1.1 Explain how the physical features and human characteristics of a place influenced the development of civilizations, societies and regions
(e.g., location near rivers and natural barriers, trading practices and spread of culture).
6G.1.2 Explain the factors that influenced the movement of people, goods, and ideas and the effects of that movement on societies and
regions over time
6G.1.4 Explain how and why civilizations, societies and regions have used, modified and adapted to their environments
6E.1.1 Explain how conflict, compromise, and negotiation over the availability of resources (natural, human and capital) impacted the economic
development of various civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., competition for scarce resources, unequal distribution of wealth and the
emergence of powerful trading networks).
6C&G.1.1 Explain the origins and structures of various governmental systems (e.g., democracy, absolute monarchy and constitutional
monarchy).
6C.1.1 Analyze how cultural expressions reflected the values of civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., oral traditions, art, dance, music,
literature, and architecture).
6C.1.2 Explain how religion transformed various societies, civilizations and regions (e.g., beliefs, practices and spread of Buddhism,
Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism).
Common Core Reading Standards addressed throughout the reading packet:
 Locate and cite details, State main ideas and summarize.
 Determine meanings of words and phrases.
 Determine how information is presented (sequentially, comparatively, etc.).
 Integrate and analyze visuals (maps, charts, pictures) etc. with text.
Common Core Writing Standards addressed throughout the reading packet:
 Produce clear and coherent writing appropriate for the task.
 Use technology and internet to produce writing.
 Informative and Explanatory Writing in the context of SS
Unit Vocabulary:
Students should write the bold faced words in their vocabulary journal. They should write a
definition and write the sentence as used in context. When possible, a picture, symbol or icon
should accompany each
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Taken from Kids Past, Mr. Donn
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Wiki Reading 1
African Civilizations- Introduction
The continent of Africa is three times bigger than the United States. This vast landmass
provides a varied landscape of forests, river valleys, deserts and grasslands. Over the
centuries, many different peoples and cultures have made Africa their home. Indeed, it is
believed by many archeologists that Africa is the birthplace of the human race. Early African
peoples did not usually leave a written record. Instead, they passed on their histories through
oral traditions and stories.
This lack of written histories has made the task of studying these peoples more difficult.
Archeologists have had to learn as much as they can by collecting these oral traditions and by
studying ancient artifacts.
Nubia and The Kingdom Of Kush
6H.2.1 Explain how invasions, conquests, and migrations affected various civilizations, societies and regions
6H.2.3 Explain how innovation and/or technology transformed civilizations, societies and regions over time
6H.2.4 Explain the role that key historical figures and cultural groups had in transforming society
6E.1.1 Explain how conflict, compromise, and negotiation over the availability of resources (natural, human and capital) impacted the economic
development of various civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., competition for scarce resources, unequal distribution of wealth and the
emergence of powerful trading networks).
Objective- SWBAT assess the role of Nubia/Kush
EQs- How did Kush become powerful and what was their role in African trade?
The first civilization to appear in northern Africa was that of the Nubians. The
Nubians lived in villages along the Nile River just south of Egypt around 3000 B.C. The fertile
soil and endless fresh water from the Nile made it the perfect location to build a civilization.
They didn't have to worry, as the Egyptians did, about the annual flooding of the Nile to bring
good soil. They already had good soil. They enjoyed plenty of rainfall all year long to keep things
fresh and growing. Nubian kings, noblemen, and merchants grew wealthy through trade with
Egypt and other peoples. Elaborate Nubian tombs have been found, showing that the kings of
the time were as wealthy as the Egyptian kings of the same era.
After a thousand years Nubia gradually evolved, becoming larger and more powerful. By
2000 B.C., Nubia was known as the Kingdom of Kush. Kush was built in at the base of the
mountains, at the start of the Nile River.
Nubian Temple
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Kush had tremendous natural wealth. They had gold mines, ivory and iron ore. Other
kingdoms wanted to conquer Kush and keep the wealth for themselves. Kush did not allow this to
happen. They were known as the Land of the Bow because of their many expert archers.
The nobles lived along the Nile River. They thought of themselves as Egyptians, although
the Egyptians would not have agreed. They lived in similar houses and worshiped the same gods
as the ancient Egyptians, with a couple of additional gods tossed in, like the three-headed lion
god. Unlike the Egyptians, their rulers were queens, rather than kings or pharaohs. They
mummified their dead. They built tombs with flat roofs.
Like the Kush nobles, the common people mummified their dead, and worshiped the same
gods. But they did not think of themselves as Egyptians. The common people lived in villages.
They were farmers. They were proud of their village. Each village had a leader, but the leader
was not a king or queen or chief. The leader did not rule. Rather, the leader suggested and led
discussions. The villagers decided.
One of Kush's natural resources was iron ore. This was the Iron Age. Everyone wanted
iron weapons and iron tools. Kush was the center of the iron trade in the ancient African world.
To produce iron from ore, Kush needed to burn wood. Wood was running out. Kush had to turn
their attention to other trade goods to survive.
They had heard stories of the wonderful gold mines on the other side of Africa. It was a
very long trip. The Sahara Desert was in the way. Around 750 CE, Kush tried using camels and
camel trains to cross the sea of sand. It was dangerous. It was miserable. But as Kush traders
discovered, it could be done. Kush turned their attention to the trade with West Africa. This
was the beginning of the Trans-Sahara Trade Route
Around 1500 B.C., Egyptian leaders sent armies in to overpower Kush. For nearly 500
years, Kush would be controlled by the Egyptians, and would be forced to pay the Pharaoh a
tribute. Eventually, however, around 1000 B.C., Kush was able to turn the tables, winning their
freedom from Egypt. Then, in 724 B.C., led by a Kushite king named Piankhi, a large and well
trained Kushite army was able to invade Egypt and control it.
In 671 B.C., the Assyrians, who had superior weaponry, were able to run the Kushites out of
Egypt, and rule it for themselves. The Assyrians used iron weapons, which were harder and more
powerful than the bronze weapons that the Kushites used.
After leaving Egypt and returning to their original borders, the Kingdom of Kush entered a
golden age. For the next 150 years, the Kushites grew wealthy. They were able to build large
comfortable homes, and plan beautiful cities. This golden age was, however, brought to an end
by a people known as the Axums, who invaded around 500 B.C. from the East.
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Wiki Reading 2
Axum
6H.2.1 Explain how invasions, conquests, and migrations affected various civilizations, societies and regions
6H.2.3 Explain how innovation and/or technology transformed civilizations, societies and regions over time
6H.2.4 Explain the role that key historical figures and cultural groups had in transforming society
6E.1.1 Explain how conflict, compromise, and negotiation over the availability of resources (natural, human and capital) impacted the economic
development of various civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., competition for scarce resources, unequal distribution of wealth and the
emergence of powerful trading networks).
Objective- SWBAT assess the role of Axum.
EQs- How did Axum become powerful and what was their role in African trade?
What religion did the kingdom convert to?
The Axums controlled a territory along the Red Sea that allowed them to prosper from
trade. After defeating the Kingdom of Kush, Axum was able to control trade into and out of
much of Africa. Cargo ships from Rome, India, Persia, and Egypt brought goods in, and took
ivory and other goods out to the rest of the known world.
Around 330 A.D., the king of Axum was converted to Christianity by a pair of
shipwrecked missionaries. This king declared that Christianity was to be the official religion of
the nation.
The Christian nation of Axum thrived until the A.D. 600s when Muslim raiders and
bandits began seizing Axum goods and territory. Unable to adequately fight back, the Kingdom
of Axum became smaller and less influential. Gradually, the people of Axum began calling their
kingdom Ethiopia.
Aksum reached its peak under the leadership of King Ezana who ruled from around 325
CE to 360 CE. During this time, Aksum expanded its territory and became a major trade center.
It was under King Ezana that Aksum conquered the Kingdom of Kush, destroying the city of
Meroe. King Ezana also converted to Christianity. He was a devout Christian and Christianity
became the major religion of the kingdom.
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Center of Trade
Aksum was perfectly located to become a major center of trade. Merchants would travel
from central Africa, Persia, India, and Egypt bringing their goods to Aksum to trade. Aksum had
access to several different trade routes including major waterways such as the Red Sea, the
Gulf of Aden, and the Nile River. The major port city of Aksum was the city of Adulis, which
was situated on the coast of the Red Sea. Merchants in Adulis traded in a wide variety of
products including salt, gold, ivory, gems, cloth, glass, and olive oil. Some traders would travel
from distant lands such as the Roman Empire and India to acquire goods at Adulis.
Culture of the Kingdom of Aksum
Because of Aksum's location and role in international trading, the culture of Aksum
became a blend of many cultures throughout the region. They were influenced by the Egyptians,
the Greeks, the Romans, and the Arabs. Christianity, the primary religion after 325 CE, had a
major influence on the culture as well. Aksum was one of the more advanced cultures of
Ancient Africa. They developed a written language and minted their own coins. They also
developed terraced farming and irrigation, which allowed them to farm the slopes of the local
mountains, making their hilly land more productive.
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Wiki Reading 3
The Kingdom of Ghana
6H.2.1 Explain how invasions, conquests, and migrations affected various civilizations, societies and regions
6H.2.3 Explain how innovation and/or technology transformed civilizations, societies and regions over time
6H.2.4 Explain the role that key historical figures and cultural groups had in transforming society
6E.1.1 Explain how conflict, compromise, and negotiation over the availability of resources (natural, human and capital) impacted the economic
development of various civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., competition for scarce resources, unequal distribution of wealth and the
emergence of powerful trading networks).
Objective- SWBAT assess the role of the Kingdom of Ghana.
EQs- How did Ghana become powerful and what was their role in African trade?
Around 300 A.D., a new and powerful kingdom emerged in West Africa. This kingdom was
known as Ghana. Between 300 and 1200 A.D., Ghana controlled the export of salt and gold. They
were also able to prosper from the collection of taxes on the many merchant caravans that
traveled through their territory as they brought goods from one area to another. Ghana
controlled a vast area of over 100,000 square miles. A Ghanan king was referred to as the
Ghana, just like an Egyptian king was referred to as the Pharaoh.
Trans-SaharanTrade Route
The kingdom of Ghana was rich! Ancient Ghana was located in a different place than the
modern country of Ghana in West Africa. The ancient kingdom of Ghana was a key part of the
Trans-Sahara Trade Route.
But even earlier than the trading that went on between East and West Africa, the
kingdom of Ghana acted as guards for the traders from the north, and the traders from the
south. Ghana was in the middle. Ghana was a great military power in ancient times. They had an
army of 200,000 fighting men. People in the north had salt mines. People in the south had gold
mines. Ghana had an army that could protect the traders. Ghana charged a fee for their
protection in gold and in salt and in other goods. This arrangement worked well for everyone.
Ghana became rich because it benefited from the wealth that poured into the empire.
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Ghana also had a vast supply of food to eat. The Niger River ran through ancient Ghana.
The river provided water for bathing and washing. There were ample fish and waterfowl to eat.
The people also farmed. They grew sweet potatoes and other vegetables. No one went hungry in
ancient Ghana.
Their storytellers were called Griots. The Griots were the first to tell the wonderful
stories of Anansi the Spider. The people believed in many gods and goddesses. The
storytellers told stories about their gods, their people, their villages, their triumphs, their
trades, their wonderful king, and of course, everyone's favorite, stories of Anansi the Spider.
The people of Ghana were peace loving. Their laws were gentle. People were important. The king
had a council of elders to advise him. There were district leaders all over the kingdom to make
sure people were treated fairly.
Ghana’s Role in the Salt Gold Trade and Trans-Sahara Trade Route.
Ghana offered the traders protection, for a fee. Ghana set up the rules of trade. Trade
was even - an ounce of gold for an ounce of salt. The kingdom of Ghana did not have gold mines
or salt mines, but Ghana got rich handling the trade of gold for salt. Ghana was so good at
protection and trade that the kingdoms to the north and south of Ghana, along with Ghana
herself, became known as the Gold Coast. Word of their wealth spread across Africa. Traders
braved the Sahara Desert, bringing with them silks and spices to trade for gold. The kingdom of
Ghana again acted as the protection for traders. The more traders braved the Trans-Sahara
Trade Route, the more the kingdom of Ghana flourished.
After a while, word reached the east coast of Africa about the riches to the west. All
the east coast traders had to do was cross the Sahara to get there, which was no easy feat.
Camels helped them do that. Camel trains began arriving ready to trade. They brought with
them silks and spices and other luxury goods, like peacock feathers.
The king of Ghana was very smart. He wanted to protect his people from the foreigners.
He was concerned about invasion. No one knew these people. No one knew if they were honest.
First, the king charged these new traders a tax. People had to pay a tax to enter Ghana, and a
tax to leave Ghana. Ghana's army kept the trade routes protected from bandits. This system
worked for everyone. Some traders did not want to pay the tax. They tried to negotiate
directly with the miners to the north and south. But the miners would not work with them. They
knew the value Ghana's army offered. They did not trust the new traders. The traders had no
choice but to trade through Ghana and pay the tax. This tax helped to make Ghana even richer
than she was already.
Second, the king set up a system of silent barter. The traders from the camel trains
never saw the people with whom they were trading. The west coast Africans left gold at a
prearranged spot. The camel train traders took the gold and left goods in payment. If they did
not leave enough good in payment, all trade stopped. So the camel traders often left more than
they needed to, to make sure trade would continue. It was a very clever system. This solved the
problem of speaking different languages and risking working with people you did not know or
trust.
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Third, the king of Ghana set up an entire city for the foreign traders, a place to eat and
sleep and relax and worship in their own way. He did not want these Moslem traders to disrupt
life for his people. This city was built about 6 miles away from the real city.
The kingdom of Ghana lasted about 800 years, until the kingdom of Mali took over.
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Wiki Reading 4
The Kingdom of Mali and Mansa Musa
6H.2.1 Explain how invasions, conquests, and migrations affected various civilizations, societies and regions
6H.2.3 Explain how innovation and/or technology transformed civilizations, societies and regions over time
6H.2.4 Explain the role that key historical figures and cultural groups had in transforming society
6E.1.1 Explain how conflict, compromise, and negotiation over the availability of resources (natural, human and capital) impacted the economic
development of various civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., competition for scarce resources, unequal distribution of wealth and the
emergence of powerful trading networks).
Objective- SWBAT assess the role of the Kingdom of Mali. SWBAT assess the impact and role of Mansa Musa
EQs- How did Mali become powerful and control its empire under Mansa Musa?
Around 1200 A.D., a small city-state controlled by Ghana was able to win its
independence. This city-state was named Mali. During the 1300s A.D., Mali expanded its
territory and influence. By the late 1300s A.D., Mali controlled all of the former Kingdom of
Ghana as well as much of the territory around it.
This new kingdom faced many threats from both its neighbors as well as the people they
had conquered. Sundiata was Mali's young king. He was a great leader and very clever. Rather
than simply trade with the people to the north and to the south, Sundiata expanded Mali so that
Mali actually controlled some of the gold mines and some of the salt mines. His son continued to
expand Mali, when he took over as king but it was Sundiata's grandson, Mansa Musa, who has
fascinated people for hundreds of years. Mansa Musa loved knowledge. He built a university in
Timbuktu, one of the cities on the Trans-Sahara Trade Route. He established religious
freedom. As for himself, he converted to Islam, and traveled extensively. Mansa Musa made
Timbuktu the capital city, a cultural center of the empire.
When Mans Musa took over as king, the empire of Mali had grown so big that Mansa Musa
knew he could not hear all the concerns of all his people. One of the first things he did was to
divide the empire into provinces. He put a governor in charge of each province. Each village had
a mayor. Business that affected the empire was done by Mansa Musa and his advisors. The day
to day problems were handled locally. Mansa Musa did not turn his back on his people. He made
sure the local governments were operating fairly and effectively.
Mali was rich when Mansa Musa came to power. The army guarded the gold mines. They
guarded sections of the trade routes. There were usually about 90,000 men on duty at any one
time. Wealth in the form of gold poured into Mali. Traders always stopped at Mali. They knew
they would be welcomed, fed, housed, and safe. Mansa Musa was generous. Trade with Mali was
always good for the traders who had come so far.
Mansa Musa traveled to see the holy city of Mecca. He felt safe leaving his empire and
his people in the hands of his advisors and local officials. He was right. They did a great job
during the year he was gone. On his way to the city of Mecca, Mansa Musa did what he always
did - he took people and camels with him, along with a great deal of gold. On the way, he shared
his wealth with the people he met. By the time he reached Cairo, in Egypt, word of his wealth
had spread. People were packed along the streets waiting for his arrival.
By the time he was ready to return home, he had given out so much gold that he needed
to borrow some to get home. But many nobles were eager to loan the king whatever he needed.
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They had no doubt they would be repaid. And they were. He paid back everyone who had loaned
him gold to get home, more gold than he had been given.
Mansa Musa put Mali on the map. After his trip to Mecca, there was almost no one in the
African world who did not know the great king, Mansa Musa.
By the mid 1500s A.D., the peoples they had conquered began to rebel against their
control. At the same time, attacks from outside forces weakened the armies of Mali, causing
the kingdom to split into several smaller city-states.
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Wiki Reading 5
The Kingdom of Songhai
6H.2.1 Explain how invasions, conquests, and migrations affected various civilizations, societies and regions
6H.2.3 Explain how innovation and/or technology transformed civilizations, societies and regions over time
6H.2.4 Explain the role that key historical figures and cultural groups had in transforming society
6E.1.1 Explain how conflict, compromise, and negotiation over the availability of resources (natural, human and capital) impacted the economic
development of various civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., competition for scarce resources, unequal distribution of wealth and the
emergence of powerful trading networks).
Objective- SWBAT assess the role of the Kingdom of Songhai and Sunni Ali
EQs- How did Songhai become powerful and control its empire under Sunni Ali?
Songhai was a fishing village in the Mali Empire. Like all villages, they were allowed to
have their own local government. Mali wanted them to pay taxes like all the villages in the
empire. But Songhai refused. They were fiercely independent. Mali let them get away with it
because they wanted the fish that Songhai could provide. Songhai did a great job catching and
trading fish.
Slowly, Songhai developed a strong army and a central government. The nobles were
Muslim. The common people believed in the old gods. The lifestyle of the nobles and the common
people began to change. The nobles became rich and comfortable. The common people were poor
and did all the work. As Mali weakened during the European Middle Ages, Songhai started to
take charge of West Africa.
Around 1400 A.D., a strong military leader by the name of Sunni Ali led his forces in a
succession of battle victories. Through these victories, Sunni Ali conquered much of the former
Kingdoms of Ghana and Mali. As Songhai grew, Sunni Ali sent warriors to take over landlocked
cities, such as the city of Timbuktu. It was not long until Songhai had grown into the largest
kingdom in West Africa. At one point, Songhai stretched 2,000 miles along the West African
coast. They soon controlled all the gold mines in the south, and all the salt mines in the north.
That gave them incredible power with the traders from the other side of the Sahara. Songhai
had all the gold and salt they needed. They had luxury goods. The nobles had everything except
books. If you wanted to crack a great trade with Songhai, you needed to haul books across the
Sahara Desert. Songhai was also very active in the slave trade. Anyone could be captured and
sold to the slave traders.
Upon his death, Sunni Ali left rule of his kingdom to his son. Sunni Ali was Muslim, but his
son was not. The people rebelled against their new non-Muslim king, and instead installed their
own king, a man named Askia Muhammad.
In 1528 A.D., Muhammad was overthrown by his son. Following this event, the Kingdom of
Songhai entered a period of war and decline. This war weakened the kingdom so that by 1589
A.D. they were unable to defend themselves against invading armies from Morocco.
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Wiki Reading 6
African Religions
6C.1.2 Explain how religion transformed various societies, civilizations and regions (e.g., beliefs, practices and spread of Buddhism,
Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism).
Objective- SWBAT compare the common beliefs of traditional African religions. SWBAT create a GO that compares and contrasts traditional
African religions with that of their own
EQs- What do all traditional African religions have in common? How would you compare them to a
modern religion?
The religions practiced by the majority of people living in Africa are Christianity and Islam.
However, there were many traditional religions practiced prior to the arrival of these two religions.
Today, around 10 percent of the African population still practice some form of traditional religion.
Common Beliefs of Traditional African Religions
Although Africa is a huge continent with many different peoples and traditional religions, some
beliefs and practices are common through many of the religions. These include:
 Supreme God - Many African religions believed in a supreme god that created the world.
 Nature Spirits - Beneath the supreme god were a number of spirits who mostly lived in nature
including animals, water, and the earth.
 Ancestral Spirits - The spirits of dead ancestors often played an important part of the religion.
By honoring these spirits, they hoped that the spirits would help them or would talk to the
supreme god on their behalf.
 Sacrifice - Most of the Ancient African religions offered some sort of sacrifice to their gods or
the spirits. The sacrifice varied from small items, like portion of food or drink, to much larger
items like cattle or even human sacrifice.
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Rites of Passage - Traditional religions played an important role in the rites of passage. These
included rituals surrounding marriage, entering adulthood, birth, and death.
Magic. They believed the local witchdoctor could perform feats of magic. People would visit the
witchdoctor to find help for their problems. The witchdoctor might give them something magical
to wear, or bury, or give away. Witchdoctors knew a great deal about herbs and home-made
medicines. Their magic spells sometimes worked.
Rituals
Traditional rituals and ceremonies played an important part in the community. Masks, drums,
chanting, and dancing were often a part of the ritual. Generally the rituals called on the spirits of
ancestors or the spirits of nature for help and assistance.
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Wiki Reading 7
The Bantu
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