African Civilizations, 1500 B.C. - A.D. 700

African Civilizations, 1500 B.C. - A.D. 700

• Interaction with Environment: Diverse climates and resources in Africa led to varied lifestyles. The Nok people in West Africa pioneered iron-making by 500 B.C.
• Ironworking Sites: Spatial distribution of ironworking sites likely relates to availability of resources and materials.
• Cultural Interaction: Bantu-speaking migrations significantly influenced the cultures of eastern and southern Africa, introducing new societal ideas.
• Power and Authority: The Aksumite kingdom became a major trading center, facilitating Indian Ocean and Arabian trade. It also became a center of Christianity in East Africa.
• Aksum vs. Other Centers: Aksum was better situated than Nok or Djenné-Djeno for trade due to its location on trade routes.
• Integrated Technology: Interactive maps, visuals, and primary sources are available to further study the topic. Internet Resources available include: Research Links, Maps, Internet Activities, Test Practice, Primary Sources, Chapter Quiz, and Current Events.
• 1500s B.C.: Southern Sahara Africans lived in scattered farming communities; pastoralists and hunter-gatherers.
• 1000 B.C.: Olmec culture in southern Mexico (stone Olmec head).
• 751 B.C.: Kushite King Piankhi conquers Memphis in Egypt.
• 461 B.C.: Age of Pericles in Greece.

How Newcomers Change a Community

• Community Interaction: Newcomers bring survival skills and can change communal life. Small hunter-gatherer groups may accommodate newcomers, but have concerns about the newcomers' intentions.
• Benefits: Both newcomers and native people could benefit from cultural exchange, including skills in hunting, farming, or animal herding.
• Change: Newcomers' arrival and interaction significantly change everyone involved (people and community).

Diverse Societies in Africa

• Geographic Contrasts: Africa is geographically diverse, containing everything from coastal plains to snow-capped mountains, and regions suffering from drought to over 200 inches of rain per year. This has greatly impacted the diversity of societies that developed.
• Geographic Challenges: Deserts (Sahara and Kalahari), and the rainforests, present challenges to human inhabitation.
• Rain Forests: Dense canopies, tsetse flies, and lack of easily accessible vegetation make the rainforests challenging.
• Impact: Savannas, or grassy plains, cover over 40% of Africa and are fertile for agriculture.

Migration: Bantu-Speaking Peoples

• Cultural Interaction: Bantu-speaking people spread their cultures and languages throughout southern Africa.
• Push-Pull Factors Influence Movement: Environmental, economic, and political motivations cause migrations, with individuals seeking new opportunities, better living conditions, or escaping hardship.
• Effect of Migration: Significant cultural blending, redistribution of the population in new areas, and the transfer of ideas and technologies.

The Kingdom of Aksum

• Power and Authority: Aksum was a major trading power located in modern-day Eritrea and Ethiopia, engaging with international trade. Aksumites also developed a distinctive culture and adopted Christianity as its religion.
• Location: Aksum was well-positioned for trade, benefiting from trade routes by the Red Sea.
• Territorial Expansion: Aksum expanded its territory through military conquests.
• Cultural exchange: Aksum became influenced by its interactions with other cultures during trade.