3-2 Early African Civilizations

Kush

Although subject to Egyptian control for many centuries, Nubia freed itself around 1000 BC and became the independent state of __.

the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula

Axum was founded as a colony of Arabs from __.

Egypt, Nubia

By 2000 BC, a busy had grown between __ and the area to the south known as __.

Arab rule

By the early eighth century, the entire coastal region of North Africa as far west as the Strait of Gibraltar was under __.

Muhammad Ture

Continued Sunni Ali's policy of expansion, created empire that stretched a thousand miles along Niger river; Songhai empire reached peak under his rule

mild zone across N coast and S tip, deserts in the north (Sahara) and the south (Kalahari), rainforest along equator, and savannas that stretch across Africa both north and south of the rainforest

Describe the four climate zones in Africa.

various gods, power in diviners (people believe --> foretell events), and importance of ancestors

Examples of what African religions shared beliefs in

five thousand miles; almost completely surrounded by two oceans and two seas

How far does Africa stretch? What almost completely surrounds Africa?

major trading states

Kush emerged as one of the __ __ __ and flourished from about 250 BC to 150 AD

Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf

Muslims from the __ began to settle at ports along the coast resulting in a string of trading ports that included Mogadishu, Mombasa, and Kilwa

African coast of the Red Sea

Several Muslim trading states were established on the __.

East African coast

The Bantu speaking peoples gradually began to take part in the regional trade that moved by sea up and down the __.

Zimbabwe

Wealthiest and prosperous state in Southern Africa. Ruins of capital, aka Great Zimbabwe, illustrates kingdom's power and influence

well trained regular army of thousands of men

What did Ghanaian kings rely on to protect their kingdom and enforce their wishes?

gold and salt trade

What did Mali build its wealth on?

the rise of Axum

What led to the decline of Kush?

Its abundance of gold

What made Ghana the center of an enormous trade empire?

Muslim states moved inward to take over the trade Axum had dominated for hundreds of years

What ruined the peaceful relations between Christian Axum and its Muslim neighbors?

Egypt, Kush, Axum

What were the first three civilizations in Africa?

Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

What were the three states that made the Sahara into one of the leading avenues of the world trade?

Arab and African cultures

When Axum emerged as an independent state, what cultures did they combine?

Asia

Which continent is larger than Africa?

weakened by wars

Why did Ghana collapse around 1200?

helped preserve food, needed extra salt to replace what bodies lost in the hot climate

Why was salt so valuable to trade for?

drink enormous amounts of water at one time and needed little food for days

Why were camels a crucial factor in trade across the Sahara?

Axum

__ located in the highlands of what is now Ethiopia.

savannas

broad grasslands

Songhai

by the end of the 15th century, a new kingdom, __, surpassed Mali

Lineage groups

communities of extended family units; basis of African society

King Ezana

converted to Christianity and made it the official religion of Axum

Sundiata Keita

established Mali in the mid-thirteenth century; defeated Ghana and captured capital 1240, united people of Mali and created a strong government

Bantu

farming peoples who spoke dialects of the __ family of languages moved from the region of the Niger River into East Africa and the Congo River basin

Ghana

first great trading state in West Africa, emerged in the upper Niger River valley

Mali

greatest state that arose in the place of Ghana

Sunni Ali

leader of Songhai, created Sunni dynasty in 1464, allowed Songhai to expand. Conquests gave Songhai control of trading empire

Berbers

nomadic peoples whose camel caravans became known as the "fleets of the desert"

Mansa Musa

one of the richest and most powerful kings (1307-1337 rule), doubled size of Mali and created a strong central government and divided kingdom into provinces; his pilgrimage caused people to view the king as a great ruler of a powerful and prosperous kingdom. Encouraged building of mosques and teachings of Quran

Benin

produced gorgeous statues, including bronze heads and animal figures