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African Civilizations
World History
Africa is the 2nd largest continent
in the world.
*The largest deserts are the
Sahara in the north and the
Kalahari in the south.
African Civilizations
World History
Africa is the 2nd largest continent
in the world.
*The largest deserts are the
Sahara in the north and the
Kalahari in the south.
The Sahara is about the size of
the U.S.
The Saharan desert is growing.
African Civilizations
World History
Africa is the 2nd largest continent
in the world.
*The largest deserts are the
Sahara in the north and the
Kalahari in the south.
The Sahara is about the size of
the U.S.
The Saharan desert is growing.
*Rainforests are almost
uninhabitable – they are too
dense with trees and lack edible
vegetation.
African Civilizations
World History
The Sahara is about the size of
the U.S.
The Saharan desert is growing.
*Rainforests are almost
uninhabitable – they are too
dense with trees and lack edible
vegetation.
*The Northern coast and the
southern tip have Mediterranean
climates. They are densely
populated with farmers and
herders.
African Civilizations
World History
*Rainforests are almost
uninhabitable – they are too
dense with trees and lack edible
vegetation.
*The Northern coast and the
southern tip have Mediterranean
climates. They are densely
populated with farmers and
herders.
*Most Africans live on the
savannahs.
African Civilizations
World History
*Rainforests are almost
uninhabitable – they are too
dense with trees and lack edible
vegetation.
*The Northern coast and the
southern tip have Mediterranean
climates. They are densely
populated with farmers and
herders.
*Most Africans live on the
savannahs.
Savannahs include mountainous
highlands and swampy tropical
African Civilizations
World History
*Most Africans live on the
savannahs.
Savannahs include mountainous
highlands and swampy tropical
stretches. Dry seasons alternate
with rainy seasons.
The Saharan Desert was once
savannah.
*Migrations of people across
Africa helped to spread language
and cultures across the
continent.
African Civilizations
World History
The Saharan Desert was once
savannah.
*Migrations of people across
Africa helped to spread language
and cultures across the
continent.
Arab people crossed the Red Sea
into Africa as early as 1000 BCE
African Civilizations
World History
The Saharan Desert was once
savannah.
*Migrations of people across
Africa helped to spread language
and cultures across the
continent.
Arab people crossed the Red Sea
into Africa as early as 1000 BCE
*The kingdom of Aksum, which
is now Ethiopia, took over the
kingdom of Kush.
African Civilizations
World History
Arab people crossed the Red Sea
into Africa as early as 1000 BCE
*The kingdom of Aksum, which
is now Ethiopia, took over the
kingdom of Kush.
Legend traces the origins of
Aksum to King Solomon and the
Queen of Sheba.
African Civilizations
World History
*The kingdom of Aksum, which
is now Ethiopia, took over the
kingdom of Kush.
Legend traces the origins of
Aksum to King Solomon and the
Queen of Sheba.
*Aksum’s location made it a hub
for caravan routes to Egypt.
Traders from Egypt, Arabia,
Persia, India, and the Roman
Empire used the main port at
Adulis.
African Civilizations
World History
Legend traces the origins of
Aksum to King Solomon and the
Queen of Sheba.
*Aksum’s location made it a hub
for caravan routes to Egypt.
Traders from Egypt, Arabia,
Persia, India, and the Roman
Empire used the main port at
Adulis.
Aksum was very culturally
diverse. Many languages were
spoken there.
African Civilizations
World History
Traders from Egypt, Arabia,
Persia, India, and the Roman
Empire used the main port at
Adulis.
Aksum was very culturally
diverse. Many languages were
spoken there.
*Aksum’s great ruler was named
Ezana (325 CE – 360 CE) – He
converted to Christianity
African Civilizations
World History
*Aksum’s great ruler was named
Ezana (325 CE – 360 CE) – He
converted to Christianity
Today Ethiopia is home to
millions of Christians.
* New cultural achievements
included terrace farmingsteplike ridges constructed on
mountain slopes.
African Civilizations
World History
Today Ethiopia is home to
millions of Christians.
* New cultural achievements
included terrace farmingsteplike ridges constructed on
mountain slopes.
Aksum’s culture and government
was strong for over 800 years.
*Between 632 CE - 750 CE
Islamic invaders conquered most
of the Mediterranean spreading
their culture and religion.
African Civilizations
World History
Aksum’s culture and government
was strong for over 800 years.
*Between 632 CE - 750 CE
Islamic invaders conquered most
of the Mediterranean spreading
their culture and religion.
Aksum became isolated from
other Christian settlements
Geographic isolation led to
political decline.
African Civilizations
World History
Kingdom of Ghana emerged around
500 BCE.
*It was located in the upper Niger
River Valley, a grassland region
between the Sahara desert and the
West coast of Africa.
African Civilizations
World History
Kingdom of Ghana emerged around
500 BCE.
*It was located in the upper Niger
River Valley, a grassland region
between the Sahara desert and the
West coast of Africa.
The kings of Ghana were strong
rulers who governed without any
laws.
African Civilizations
World History
Kingdom of Ghana emerged around
500 BCE.
*It was located in the upper Niger
River Valley, a grassland region
between the Sahara desert and the
West coast of Africa.
The kings of Ghana were strong
rulers who governed without any
laws.
*They prospered off their
possession of gold and iron.
African Civilizations
World History
*It was located in the upper Niger
River Valley, a grassland region
between the Sahara desert and the
West coast of Africa.
The kings of Ghana were strong
rulers who governed without any
laws.
*They prospered off their
possession of gold and iron.
Ghana was one of the richest gold
producing areas in all of Africa.
African Civilizations
World History
The kings of Ghana were strong
rulers who governed without any
laws.
*They prospered off their
possession of gold and iron.
Ghana was one of the richest gold
producing areas in all of Africa.
Muslim merchants from North Africa
brought to Ghana metal goods,
textiles, salt, and horses.
African Civilizations
World History
*They prospered off their
possession of gold and iron.
Ghana was one of the richest gold
producing areas in all of Africa.
Muslim merchants from North Africa
brought to Ghana metal goods,
textiles, salt, and horses.
*Salt was highly desirable – it
preserved food, helped with taste
and also people needed extra salt
to replace what their bodies lost in
the heat.
African Civilizations
World History
Muslim merchants from North Africa
brought to Ghana metal goods,
textiles, salt, and horses.
*Salt was highly desirable – it
preserved food, helped with taste
and also people needed extra salt
to replace what their bodies lost in
the heat.
Most trade was carried out by the
Berbers- nomadic people who
traveled by camel in large caravans.
African Civilizations
World History
*Salt was highly desirable – it
preserved food, helped with taste
and also people needed extra salt
to replace what their bodies lost in
the heat.
Most trade was carried out by the
Berbers- nomadic people who
traveled by camel in large caravans.
Caravans were up to 100 camels
loaded with goods, they would
travel 3-4 miles an hour, and often
take 30-40 days to reach their
African Civilizations
World History
Most trade was carried out by the
Berbers- nomadic people who
traveled by camel in large caravans.
*Caravans were up to 100 camels
loaded with goods, they would
travel 3-4 miles an hour, and often
take 30-40 days to reach their
destination.
Summary