Download The Cultures of North Africa

The Cultures of North Africa
Africa
What is Culture?
• Culture is the way of life of a group of
people who share similar beliefs and
customs.
– Has many elements
• Food, clothing, homes, jobs, language, etc.
• Also includes:
– How people view their world
– What their religion is
• These ideeas shape the way people behave.
What is Culture?
• Cultures in different places have common
elements
– Rural villages in Morocco—houses are made
of thick adobe which keeps out the heat
– Mexico and the southwestern US, many
people also live in adobe homes.
The Influence of Islam
• Islam is the religion of most N. Africans (95%+)
• People that practice Islam are called Muslims
– Believe in one God—Allah
– Muhammad was God’s final messenger
– The Old Testament prophets and Jesus
were God’s messengers
– Main duties of Muslims are outlined in
the 5 Pillars of Islam
Five Pillars of Islam
1. Declaration of Faith—declaring belief in
one God and in Muhammad as God’s
final messenger
2. Prayer—reciting prayers five times a day;
at awn, at midday, in the afternoon, at
sunset, and in the evening.
3. Alsmgiving—giving a portion of one’
wealth to the needy.
Five Pillars of Islam
4. Fasting—not eating or drinking from
sunrise to sunset during the ninth month
in the Muslim year, Ramadan.
5. Pilgrimage—Making the hajj, or
pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once in a
lifetime if able.
(These are important to know)
The influence of Islam
• The Quran is the sacred book of Islam
– Provides a guide to life
– Forbids lying, stealing, and murder
– Prohibits gambling, eating port, and drinking
alcohol
• Islamic law is based on the Quran and
governs all aspects of life, including family
life, business practices, banking, and
government.
The influence of Islam
• Islam Unifies the People of North Africa
– These peoples are spread out over a large area
(Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco)
– These people have many different backgrounds and
ways of life
• Ethnic Group—a group of people who share
language, religion or cultural traditions.
• Most N. Africans are Arabs, but other ethnic
groups exist.
The influence of Islam
• The largest of the ethnic groups is the
Berbers who live mainly in Algeria and
Morocco.
– Most Berbers speak Arabic as well as Berber
– Some live in cities, most live in villages in
rugged mountain areas
– Make their living by herding and farming
Cultural Change in North Africa
• How culture spreads
– Cultural changes often occur when people
travel
• They bring their customs and ideas with them
• They pick up new ideas and customs
• This is called cultural diffusion or to spread out
• (I would know the meaning of cultural
diffusion)
A Mediterranean Outlook
• B/c of location, N. Africa is a hub of trade
– Throughout history, the people of North Africa
have traded with people in Europe, Asia, and
other parts of Africa.
– The have influenced, and been influenced by,
cultural in all of these places.
A Mediterranean Outlook
• The mixing of cultures in N. Africa did not
occur only though trade, it also occurred
through conquest
– N. Africa is home to one of the world’s oldest
civilizaitons—ancient Egypt
• They developed trade links with ancient
civilizations in both Europe and SW Asia
• They both conquered and were conquered by
other empires
• The conquests brought about cultural diffusion
Preserving Muslim Culture
• More recent influence to North Africa is
Western culture
– Some Muslims are concerned that their
countries are becoming too Western.
– More people are wearing Western clothes,
buying Western products, seeing Western
films, and adapting Western ideas.
– Some Muslims fear that this will lead to the
loss of Muslim values and traditions.
The influence of Islam
• Tuareg—group of Berbers who live in the
Sahara
– They herd camels, goats, and other livestock
• Cairo Egypt and Tunis, Tunesia
– some city people work at traditional crafts
– Others are architects, engineers, scientists,
and bankers
– Some sell baskets in outdoor markets, others
sell television sets in modern stores.