Africa-Americas

Mansa Musa

(about 1280 - about 1337) was an emperor (mansa) of the Mali Empire during the 14th century. He became emperor in 1307. He was the first African ruler to be widely known throughout Europe and the Middle East. Mansa Musa was the great nephew of Sundiata Keita, who was founder of the empire.

African Women

A. Portugal-Prior to Islam, the Romans brought African slaves to Europe from North Africa. As Muslims advanced west across North Africa in the early 700s, they took control of the North African slave trade. Some slaves must have crossed into Portugal and Spain shortly thereafter, if not before, in smaller numbers, accompanying the Saharan caravan trade. In 1441, the Portuguese delivered their first cargo of West African slaves to Lisbon. From 1450 until 1500, the Portuguese imported about eight hundred slaves each year. In 1454 and 1456, the papacy approved Portugal's slave trade on the grounds that the Portuguese slave traders were to advance Christianity as well. Papal authority helped lay the foundation for Portugal's monopoly (asiento) of slave trading south of Senegal in 1468. Portugal was the first of several countries, including Holland, France, Spain, and England, that would assume asientos over the centuries

Desert

Africa's 3rd zone. North and south of the grasslands. 40% of the land in africa is desert. Worlds largest is the Sahara, which is located in africa. The Kalahari lies in southwestern Africa and is another desert. The deserts used to limit travel and trade.

Aztec

Aztec Beginnings •A.D. 1300s in Mesoamerica •Hunters and warriors •Quetzalcoatl •Sun god •Promised a home •A.D. 1325-Island on Lake Texcoco •Would become Tenochtitlan City of Tenochtitlan •Gods demanded a city be built •Built bridges to mainland •Floating gardens •Temples, palaces, homes Aztec Society •Emperor was descendant of gods •Montezuma I •A.D. 1440-1469 •Expanded to Gulf of Mexico •Built temples, aqueducts, and roads •Social Structure •Emperor/Royal family •Nobles/Priests •Commoners •Unskilled workers •Slaves/captives Aztec Life •Most Aztecs were commoners •Farmers, artisans, merchants •Boys trained to be warriors •Girls trained to work at home, weave cloth, prepare for motherhood •Could own and inherit property Aztec Religion •Priests played important role •Sacrificed captives to please gods •Death was honorable •Sacrificed would be rewarded in afterlife •Priests also recorded: •History •Religion •Literature Aztec Achievements •2 Calendars-just like who? •260 day-religious ceremonies and festivals •365 day-everyday use/planting and harvesting crops •Written language •Irrigation system -Inca Incan Beginnings •A.D. 1300s •Andes Mountains •Modern day Ecuador, Peru, and Chile •Capital: Cuzco •Within 100 years, powerful empire •Largest in Americas Incan Government •Ruled by strong emperors •Pachacuti •A.D. 1438-1471 •Conquest •Strong central government •Tax bureaus •Legal courts •Military posts Inca Achievements •Complex system of roads •Over 4000 miles •Connected entire empire •Moved soldiers, goods, and information •Aqueducts •Fertilizers •Terraced farming •Potatoes and quinoa •Food surpluses Inca Society •Divine ruler/royal family •Protected by sun god •Head priest/Army commander •Regional army leaders •Temple priests, local army commanders, skilled workers •Farmers, herders, soldiers •Built on war/conquest •Like Aztecs, boys required to serve in army •Largest/best army in region Inca Religion/Culture •Polytheistic •Rarely used human sacrifice •Built stone structures •No written language •No wheels •No iron tools •Still able to build huge cities

Education

Duty of villagers and family Griots-Professional oral historians who served as keepers of traditions and advisors to kings within the Mali Empire through oral tradition & life lessons children taught basics by mother till age 6 and then mothers taught daughters and fathers taught daughters

African society

Family was a basis Lived in extended families- Families made up of many generations.

Religion introduced by trade

Islam - Berber and Arab merchants Beginning in the AD 700s traditional African religions were challenged by Islam. African rulers welcomed Muslim traders and allowed their people to convert to Islam. The rulers didn't become Muslims til. AD 1000s. By the end of 1400s most of the people in south Sahara had converted to Islam.

Leather

Leather is a durable and flexible material created by tanning animal rawhides, mostly cattle hide. It can be produced at manufacturing scales ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry. Leather is used to make various goods including footwear, automobile seats, clothing and furniture.

Maya

Mayan Beginnings Around A.D. 300 •Southern Mexico and Central America •Yucatan Peninsula •Challenges •Thick, tropical forests •Stinging insects •Disease •Despite challenges, they prospered •Swamps/sinkholes provided year round water •Cleared forested areas •Planted corn and other crops •Began building cities Maya Society •50 independent city-states •Each ruled by a king •Descendant of sun god •Greatest was Pacal II •Ruled Palenque for 67 years •Strict class system •King/Royal family •Nobles/Priests•Farmers, artisans, hunters •Slaves/captives Maya Religion •gods controlled everything on earth •Performed ceremonies to please them •Often human sacrifice •Chac - Maya rain god •Rituals during times of drought - captives Mayan Achievements •Astronomy-Studied sun, moon, stars -Developed calendars-260 day - religious events-365 day - agriculture and seasons -Mathematics-Based on 20-Concept of 0 -Written language Mayan decline •Around A.D. 900 •Conflict/warfare increased •Erosion and over-farming •Drought •Drop in food production •Illness and starvation

Other traded items

Salt, ostrich feathers, weapons, and books

Songhai

Songhai empire, also spelled Songhay, great trading state of West Africa. It came after both Ghana and Mali empires. The Songhai Empire is located in the West African Empire, A.D. 1500. It is also on the Niger River near Gao. Rainforest, Niger River, Sahara Desert, and the grasses of the Savanna are some of the landforms found on the Songhai Empire.Natural Surroundings: the Sahara Desert in the north, the grasses of the Savanna, the Niger River running through the south, and the rainforest running through the south too. The heat of the Sahara desert, the grasses of the Savanna, the Niger River running through the south, and the rainforest running through the South as well. The Songhai people became skilled fishermen due to having the Niger River nearby. The food they ate came from the Niger River and the rainforests of the south. In order to change the land to their benefit, they dug trenches in the ground, therefore diverting the water to their crops many miles away. As Mali's power waned, Songhai asserted its independence and rose to power in the area. Songhai had been an important trade center within Mali's empire, just as Mali had once been ruled by Ghana. Great Songhai kings such as Sunni Ali Ber and Askia Mohammed Toure extended the Songhai kingdom farther than Ghana or Mali had before it and brought an organized system of government to the area. It was the largest and most powerful kingdom in medieval West Africa. Important People - Sunni Ali, he built the vast empire by military conquest, his rule began in 1464 and lasted almost 30 years, he built a professional army that had a river boat fleet of war canoes and a mobile fighting force on horse back. Askia Muhammad, he leader of the revolt, he was a devout Muslim, he drove Sunni Ali's son from power and replaced him, he set up an efficient tax system and chose able officials during his 37 year rule. Women and children were treated differently than males, they controlled the government, and the marriage system. Men had jobs in the army, farming, and mining. Noble men had jobs such as doctors, priests, and judges or other educated jobs. Farming was important because it gave self employed people food and money to live off of. Trade in Songhai was very important, because it made the nobles and Kings rich, along with supplying them with things they needed sold gold, salt, kola nuts, and slaves in this time Africa's main economy was trade because there were many natural resources available throughout the continent. They were able to trade these to Arabs and other Africans by large caravans carrying many valuable goods. slam had been introduced to the royal court if Songhai in 1019. Askia opened religious schools, constructed mosques, and opened up his court to scholars and poets from throughout the Muslim world. He sent his children to an Islamic School and enforced. Islamic practices. Yet he was tolerant of other religions and did not force Islam onhis people. Blankets and mats where signature traditional crafts of Songhai, men in the town of tera weave cotton blankets known as terabeba. Most buildings were small and did not take up much space. They were made of stone and included many islamic and african features. The art and architecture both followed the religion of islam; in art it would showcase the islamic aspects of life. The architecture showed their faiths and beliefs.The architecture of the Songhai Empire reflects traditional building styles of the West Africa Sahel, a semiarid region of West Africa between the Sahara Desert and more humid regions to the south. The Sahel is mostly grassland and subject to droughts, as well as periodic heavy rains. One of the best preserved examples of Songhai architecture is the Tomb of Askia and its connected complex of mosques. Built of a combination of mud brick and wood timbers, the tomb structure resembles a step pyramid, but in a more rounded form. It was built around 1495 in Gao by Askia Mohamed, a Songhai emperor. The tomb complex, which includes the tomb, two mosques, a cemetery and an open plaza-like assembly space, is located in present-day Mali. The tomb structure is made of mud brick with large wood timbers sticking out from the mud wall. This construction method allows people easy access to the upper areas of the structure; they can climb on the wood timbers to reinforce the walls with new mud plaster following heavy rains, which erode the walls over time.Example of type of mud brick and timber construction used during the Songhai Empire. Near the tomb are two flat-roofed mosque structures, a large one in which men worship and a smaller one for women. These structures have flat roofs made of timber poles covered in mud, supported from below by a series of mud-brick pillars. A wall near the mosques also includes double-niched mihrab typical of West African culture. A mirab is a prayer niche in a wall of a mosque. The art and architecture both followed the religion of islam; in art it would showcase the islamic aspects of life. The architecture showed their faiths and beliefs.The architecture of the Songhai Empire reflects traditional building styles of the West Africa Sahel, a semiarid region of West Africa between the Sahara Desert and more humid regions to the south. The Sahel is mostly grassland and subject to droughts, as well as periodic heavy rains. One of the best preserved examples of Songhai architecture is the Tomb of Askia and its connected complex of mosques. Built of a combination of mud brick and wood timbers, the tomb structure resembles a step pyramid, but in a more rounded form. It was built around 1495 in Gao by Askia Mohamed, a Songhai emperor. The tomb complex, which includes the tomb, two mosques, a cemetery and an open plaza-like assembly space, is located in present-day Mali. The tomb structure is made of mud brick with large wood timbers sticking out from the mud wall. This construction method allows people easy access to the upper areas of the structure; they can climb on the wood timbers to reinforce the walls with new mud plaster following heavy rains, which erode the walls over time.Example of type of mud brick and timber construction used during the Songhai Empire. Near the tomb are two flat-roofed mosque structures, a large one in which men worship and a smaller one for women. These structures have flat roofs made of timber poles covered in mud, supported from below by a series of mud-brick pillars. A wall near the mosques also includes double-niched mihrab typical of West African culture. A mirab is a prayer niche in a wall of a mosque.

Nile

The Nile is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa, and is commonly regarded as the longest river in the world, though some sources cite the Amazon River as the longest.

Zambezi

The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa, the longest east-flowing river in Africa and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. The area of its basin is 1,390,000 square kilometres, slightly less than half of the Nile's.

Olmec

The basis of African society was what? •The family •What three ways of self-expression were essential to African culture? •Art •Music •Dance •What European country was the first to bring enslaved Africans back to Europe? •Portugal Olmec Geography •1200 B.C.-400 B.C. •First Mesoamerican civilization •Based on farming and trade •Rise assisted by: •Alluvial soil •Transportation network of nearby rivers •Just like? •Indus •Nile •Yellow •Mesopotamia Olmec Art •Hallmark of the culture •Used many mediums: •Jade •Clay •Basalt •Greenstone •Naturalistic •Religious Colossal Heads •Most recognized aspect of Olmec civilization •Portraits of rulers •No two heads are alike •17 have been discovered •Range in size: •11 to 5 feet tall •25 to 55 tons Olmec Achievements Writing system •First in western hemisphere •Mesoamerican Ballgame •Combination of racquetball and soccer

Axum

a city in the northern part of Ethiopia. The town has a population of 56,500 residents (2010) and is governed as an urban wäräda. The original capital of the Kingdom of Aksum, it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in Africa.

Ivory

a hard creamy-white substance composing the main part of the tusks of an elephant, walrus, or narwhal, often (especially formerly) used to make ornaments and other articles.

Spices

a hard creamy-white substance composing the main part of the tusks of an elephant, walrus, or narwhal, often (especially formerly) used to make ornaments and other articles.

Griots

a member of a class of traveling poets, musicians, and storytellers who maintain a tradition of oral history in parts of West Africa.

Isthmus

a narrow piece of land connecting two larger areas of land

Mali

a very trade-based country. It was actually one of the biggest empires in West Africa in that time. As a descendant of the kingdom of Ghana, it inherited many of its riches, but also its issues. For instance, it was in the Sahara Desert, and therefore dealt with the overwhelming heat. Today we'll introduce its geography, history, economics and culture. Mali's kingdom was located in Western Africa. It was beside the Niger River and then it spread across 1,200 miles. It covered countries like Mali, Niger, Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea, and The Gambia. Mali was surrounded by the Sahara desert, Niger River, which provides, water, fish, and a place to bathe. They could also get salt from salt mines. There were also variety of deserts and fertile areas along the Niger River. It effected their kingdom because they had different types of soil. If there are different types of soli, they can grow a lot of different crops. When they have different variety of crops, they had more opportunity to trade. Mali changed its environment by desertification of the county. The problems are soil erosion, deforestation, and the loss of pasture land. Mali makes about 0.4 tons of wastes. Before Mali's birth, years of competition and fighting took place took place in the lands west of the Niger River. In the 13th century C.E., a group called the Soso emerged victorious. In around 1230 C.E., Sundiata moved to take over. Sundiata's name literally translates to "Lion King", which was fitting, for he was strong and regal. One legend about him says the he and his nemesis, Sumanguru were sorcerers. King Sumanguru had spawned eight spirit heads for assistance. King Sundiata had relinquished the heads and shot an arrow to graze Sumanguru's arm, to drain all of his remaining magic. Mansa Musa, the heir of Sundiata, introduced Mali to beneficial economic practices. He was also known to ride around in his finest clothes and give gold to the poor. Also due to Mali's variety of soils for different plants and goldmines, Mali became an extremely successful trade center. Unfortunately, not all of it's rulers were as great as Sundiata and Mansa Musa. After the death of Mansa Musa the Second in 1387 C.E., the kingdom slowly degraded until 1500s, where it reduced to its core. Women were oracles, spirit mediums, seers, advisors, queen mother, traders, slaves, miners, herders, and builders. Women were treated poorly and didn't have many rights but were sometimes allowed to participate in the government and business. Men were traders, miners, herders, builders, hunters, had strong military roles. Farming was really important to the economy especially when it came to growing rice. Malians considered rice a luxury item and sold it. Rice was also one of the most popular dishes. Trade was really important in ancient Mali. Items that were traded-cotton, gold, livestock products such as cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry, peanuts, beans, rice, onions, sorghum, miller, papaya, gourds. Major export-gold. Traded with people in Thailand, Italy, Brazil, Portugal (exports), Cte d'Ivoire, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Senegal (imports). Most people converted to Sunni Islam after merchants introduced it. It spread so quickly because the king Mansa Musa ordered the constructions of mosques throughout the country. Some people still believed in West African Folk Religion though. They believed in the dead, the use of magic, traditional medicine, spirits, a supreme creator, and that humanity harmonizes supernatural with natural. The spiritual world was represented through art such as masks, statues and sculptures. Wooden masks often depicted deities or ancestors and were believed to channel spirits when worn by ceremonial dancers. Statues and sculptures were used to represent, connect to, or communicate with spiritual forces. •The most common forms of art were pottery and terracotta figurines. Terracotta figurines varied depending on who made them. They were done completely by hand and the person making them had considerable artistic freedom and could make them symbolic to whatever they wanted. Pottery was crafted by hand and fired 50 at a time in a 45-minute bonfire every 3 days. Some were used for holding and transporting things while others were just decoration. When they made buildings they used mud brick (a combination of mud and husks of rice). Roofs were usually timber and the outside was covered with mud plaster. Wood logs projected from the walls were notorious in Mali architecture. Because of the materials used rainfall caused severe damage and the buildings need constant maintenance.

Three forms of self expression

a. Art-subject usually represents human being, used symbolism in art, portray youthfulness, balance and proportions with color and scale, early art used only wood, art is very abstract to give it message and meaning b. Music-was important for culture & religion, along with art & dance (led to jazz, rock and rap) Music which features voices and/or African drums. produced a totality of music in its combination of voice and instrument sounds. c. Dance

Bantu migration

a. Language-They also adopted Bantu languages, while maintaining a nonagricultural lifestyle and a separate identity.Bantu-speaking farmers grew in numbers and created chiefdoms, those chiefs appropriated the Batwa title of "owners of the land" for themselves, claimed Batwa ancestry, and portrayed the Batwa as the original "civilizers" of the earth. b. Culture c. Technology i. Farming ii. Iron working d. Matrilineal- traced their decent, or ancestry, through mothers, not fathers.

Ancient African religion

a. One creator god b. Many other lesser gods c. Diviners

Pueblos

an American Indian settlement of the southwestern US, especially one consisting of multistoried adobe houses built by the Pueblo people; a member of any of various American Indian peoples, including the Hopi, occupying pueblo settlements chiefly in New Mexico and Arizona. Their prehistoric period is known as the Anasazi culture.

Sinkhole

an area where the soil has collapsed into a hollow or depression.

Zimbabwe

arose in southeastern africa. During the 1400s, this large empire reached from south of the Zambezi River to the Indian Ocean.

Slaves

captured during wars. Merchants sent these captives to the Mediterranean area and southwest Asia to serve as soldiers or savants.

Maize

corn, a crop early Americans grew

Introduction of Asian camel by Romans

in 200 AD. Donkeys and horses would not survive the desert heat traveling across the Sahara. Greatly changed trade in Africa. Camelot were/ well suited for the desert. Their humps store fat for food. They can travel days without water. Berbers used both as a food source and as a way to travel. Formed caravans with many camels. Caravans crossed the Sahara over and over to trade.

Swahili

it was based on a blend of African and Muslim culture. Comes from an Arabic word which means "people of the coast". A Bantu language widely used as a lingua franca in East Africa and having official status in several countries.

Sundiata Keita

king of Mali. "The lion prince." Ruled from 1230-1255. He united the people of Mali. Conquered territory extending from the Atlantic coast to the trading city of Timbuktu. He put Mali in control of the gold mines in west africa.

Savanna

north and south of the rains forest. Cover about 40% of Africa's land area. High temperatures and uneven rains. Enough rain for farming and herding. Farmers grow grains, such as millet and sorghum. Herders raise cattle and other animals. The Savanna's connect with an area of even drier grasslands known as the Sahel. Plants that grow there are barley enough food. People of Sahel were traditionally hunters and herders.

Mediterranean

small areas of mild climate. 4th zone. Along the northern coast and souther tip of of africa. Adequate rainfall, warm temperatures, and fertile land. Produce abundant crops.

Rain forest

stretch along the equator. Makes up about 10% of Africas land area. Get a heavy rainfall, and is warm all year long. The dense growth of trees and plants makes farming difficult. Farmers do grow root crops such as yams.

Ghana

the Ancient Ghana empire was the richest African empire of its time. The Ghana kingdom was located in Western Africa which in todays time is the countries of Mauritania, Senegal, and Maudi. The natural surroundings of Ghana was the Sahara desert which was located to the south of the kingdom and mostly Savana grasslands. The geography affected Ghana by the major rivers that helped trade. Ghana changed its environment when the empire grew rich from gold and salt which gave them extra of everything allowing them to grow. Ghana originated as a trading post between the salt mines and the gold mines. Ghana gained wealth by taxing the salt and gold that came through the empire's borders. Ghana declined because of a Muslim military group known as the Almoravids. The Almoravids temporarily conquered the capital of Africa, disrupted trade routes, and released invasive species. This caused the Ghanaian empire to weaken, and small portions revolted and broke off causing the downfall of Ghana. The roles of women were to provide children and worked as artists. The jobs for men were tool making, farming, trades man, and slave work. Farming was not important to the economy. Trade was very important in the time Ghana was prospering. They traded gold and salt mainly. The Ghanians most important religious beliefs was Islam Sunni. Arts that were created are gold jewelry, wood carvings, and weaving. The architecture for the kingdom at that time were round huts with grass roofing and several adjoining buildings surrounding a communal compound in the middle of an enclosure.

Gold

west african merchants sent gold mined in their region to towns bordering the Sahara. Caravans then carried it northward.