Midterm

Question 1

Hamitic Hypothesis

Answer 1

Denies African History. Credits a race of white people with all the great achievements and developments of Pre-Colonial Africa. Believers say that African Americans didn’t contribute to history. Hamitic hypothesis states that artifacts were made by foreigners who came to Africa and not Africans themselves.

Question 2

Acephalous Societies

Answer 2

Acephalous societies are made up of sedentary farmers/pastoralists whose families maintain virtual autonomy. Examples are the Igbo and Tiy of Nigeria, Tallahensi of Ghana, and the Kikuyu of Kenya. Igbo acephalous societies practiced exogamy.Acephalous cultivator societies are not static and changes are influenced by social development and external contact, at times leading to emergence of chiefs/title societies, and also social stratification (slavery).

Question 3

Onwuka K. Dike

Answer 3

Onwuka K. Dike lived from 1917-1983. African history was criticized for scarcity of written documents and reliance on oral traditions. Dike pioneered and demonstrated the viability of written documents. Dike defended African history and was the main source or oral traditions.

Question 4

Transhumance with examples

Answer 4

Transhumance is the African Pastoralist practice of constantly moving from one vegetation zone to another. Transhumance is influenced by search/need for pasture. Transhumance assisted crop production and moved cattle to certain societies without disease. Fulani, Massai, Beribeja, and Almer are examples.

Question 5

Title of Queens of Meroe

Answer 5

Kadake

Question 6

Queen of Meroe’s significance in political organization

Answer 6

Kadake were the head rulers who had a role in the government. Led in wars.

Question 7

Africans in the government and society of Ancient Rome

Answer 7

Rome emerged as new power across the Mediterranean and waged three wars with Carthage & employed Berber king of Numidia

Question 8

Status of Christianity in Axhum (Aksum) and how it got that status

Answer 8

Dessication, Berbers formed mini-states of Libya, Mauri, and Numidia. Gharamante roamed desert area and coastal population grew.

Question 9

Role of Meroe in Egypt

Answer 9

Meroe conquered then ruled Egypt. Made many contributions in religion

Question 10

Significance of Nabta Playa, Egypt in African history

Answer 10

earliest evidence of domestication of cattle

Question 11

Origin and Development of Iron working in Africa

Answer 11

Developed independently in Africa over 2500 ya. Further aided sedentary life. iron used for making tools, etc. Forests & environment destroyed.

Question 12

common problems shared by written sources and oral traditions

Answer 12

both can be falsified or destroyed.

Question 13

Muslim invasion of Egypt

Answer 13

Boosted trade & economy. Slave trade affected population and political stability.

Question 14

How Islam spread to South Africa

Answer 14

Islam spread to South Africa through trade in gold/slaves and muslim refugees