Ancient Africa Flashcards
1
Q
Geography
A
- 2nd largest continent
- 7000+ km (east-west) & 8000 km (north-south)
2
Q
Coastlines
A
- Narrow (80 - 160 km) - each side of plateau
- Many waterfalls + rapids
- Caused as rivers drop down to coast from plateau - VERY few harbours, ports, or inlets
- Shorter coastline than all of Europe
3
Q
Deserts
A
- Sahara Desert in north & Kalahari Desert in south
- Unsuitable for habitation + obstacle for travel
- Sahara = size of US
- Small sections of sand dunes + wasteland of scattered rock - Kalahari - 6th largest worldwide
- Extreme temperatures
- Semi-desert = some areas receive rainfall + more vegetation
4
Q
Rainsforests
A
- Mahogany & teak trees grow 150ft tall - ‘natures greenhouse’
- Tsetse fly lives in rainforest = feeds off animals + humans
- Prevented from using cattle, donkeys, + horses
- ‘Sleepy sickness’ for humans = can be deadly
5
Q
Hospitable Environments
A
- Northern $ southern coasts = Mediterranean-style weather + fertile soil
- Savannas (grassy plains)
- 40% continent
- Tall grasses + trees
- Dry + rainy seasons
6
Q
Human Environmental Adaption
A
- 6000 BCE: approx. date for start of agriculture
- 8000-6000BCE: experts think Sahara received increased rainfall–>turned into a savanna
- Savannas = best land for agriculture - grew grains = allowed for cattle
- Some learned to farm in rainforests - root crops, ex. yams
7
Q
Early Societies
A
- Families formed basic social unit - combined to form family groups
- Few Societies had written language = relied on oral traditions
- Religion: 1 god + animism
- Spirits played important role in daily life
8
Q
West African Iron Age
A
- Ppl living in south of Sahara appear to have skipped Copper & Bronze Ages
- 500 BCE: Main source of archaeological info from potter, charcoal, + slag
- The Nok Culture (500 BCE - 200 CE)
- Earliest known west African ppl (Nigeria)
- Artifacts discovered over 500 km stretch
- 1st known iron smelters
9
Q
Ancient City: Djenne-Djeno
A
- 600-200 CE: evidence of 1st cities
- Discovered 1977 on tributary of Niger River in West Africa
- Discovered thousands of items - pottery, copper hair ornaments, clay toys, glass beads, iron knives
- 50 000 residents at peak
- Lived in round reed huts plastered w/ mud
- Fished, herded cattle, raised rice
- Busy trading centre bc of river + overland camel routes
10
Q
Migration of Bantu Speaking Peoples
A
- 1500 BCE: expansion began - from southern Nigeria - kenya
- 2000 - 1000 BCE: small population groups began to migrate into central Africa, then across to the Great Lakes region of East Africa
- 3 waves of migration
- Founded coastal settlements of East Africa
- Original language: Proto-Bantu
- Lexicostatistics = use languages markers to compare to Bantu
- Migration splintered in small groups as opposed to conquering hordes
- Unknown origin of iron ore tech
- Maybe Phoenicians, Egyptians, Kushites = or local knowledge? - Some groups resisted wave of Bantu culture
- Ex. Pygmies & the San
11
Q
Migration of Bantu Speaking Peoples: CAUSES
A
- Exhaustion of local resources
- Overpopulation
- Increased competition for local resources
- Warfare between rival tribes or succession disputes
- Climate change affecting crops
- Spirit of adventure
12
Q
Migration of Bantu Speaking Peoples: CONSEQUENCES
A
- Sharing culture between Bantu & indigenous
- Cultivation of grain crops or fishing techniques
- Foods into new areas, ex. yams + plantain bananas
- Contributed to diversity
- Bantu controlled African states
- Hubs for commerce, military = created complex political structures
- Ex. Kingdom of Mapungubwe & Zulu Empire
- Hubs for commerce, military = created complex political structures
- Superior tech encouraged local ppl to accept Bantu leadership
- Spread of iron-smelting + smiting tech
- pottery techniques
- Agricultural tools + techniques
- Spread of Bantu-related languages
- Deforestation - Charcoal needed to smelt + metal
- Increase in ppl living in villages - created more regional societies - kingship formed
13
Q
Kingdom of KUSH
A
1500 - 1100 BCE
- kush = aka Numbians (Founded by king Alara)
- Impressive Temples, houses, palaces
- Great commercial wealth
- Rich gold mine, bronze weapons, ebony, leopard skins
- Capital moved to Meroe
- Famous ruler: King Pianky
- Present-day Sudan
- ruled approx. 1000 yrs
- Temples ordered kings to commit suicide as part of succession practice (eventually ended)
14
Q
Kush interactions w/ EGYPTIANS
A
- Egyptians ruled Kush for 400 yrs = Conquered Egyptians after a civil war
- 5 successive Kushite kings ruled more territory than all of Egyt
- More pyramids in Sudan than Egypt
- Egyptians wrote about them… not good things
- Retained religion & gods of Egypt, but more devoutly
- Egypt relied on Kushite gold for burials & mercenaries/military
15
Q
Kush interactions w/ ROMANS
A
- Adopted some of Roman headwear
- Augustus demanded tribute from Kushite Kingdom
- Refused to pay - Kushites eventually waged war on Egyptian territory occupied by Romans
- 20 BCE: Romans recognized Kushites independent; no payment required
