African History Overview

African History

• African history encompasses the history of people of African descent, slavery, how racism influenced social structures, and organized protests by Black students.
• Black student protests at schools like Brookings led to demands for Black studies programs.
• Reclaiming African historical narratives corrects negative stereotypes.
• The spread of Africans outside of the continent (African diaspora) primarily occurred due to the transatlantic slave trade.
• Africa's diverse climate consists of tropical rainforests, savannas, grasslands, deserts, and Mediterranean-type climates.
• Bantu migration was influenced by climate change, population pressure, and the need for better land for livestock and crops.
• The Bantu migration led to blending of languages and cultures.
• Ancient African societies like Nubia (Kuss), Aksum, and Nok were powerful and influential, known for agriculture, trade in various resources (gold, ivory, etc.), and notable achievements in iron working.

Early African Empires

• Ghana's rise was due to its location between the Sahara and West Africa, making it a central trading hub. Ghana thrived based on strong leadership, military, and trade. Its decline was influenced by shift in trade routes.
• Mali flourished due to its profitable gold trade and power under Mansa Musa, with important trade routes to other regions. It declined due to lowering gold reserves and economic issues.
• The Songhai Empire regained independence and prospered through having powerful warriors and traders. Decline factors included instability, religious tensions, and conflicts.
• Timbuktu became a center of learning with many universities and libraries, attracting individuals from various regions.

Cultural and Religious Practices

• Syncretism is blending elements of different religions. An example is Voodo in the Americas formed from West African traditions and Christian elements.
• Great Zimbabwe architecture was used for defense and trade.
• Swahili city-states' importance stemmed from their location along important trade routes.
• Trade with Arabs, Persians, Indians, and Chinese greatly influenced the Swahili city-states. Portuguese intrusion led to invasions and establishment of settlements.

West Central Africa and Leadership

• The Kingdom of Kongo's conversion to Christianity strengthened its relationships with Portugal, but later facing undue pressure for trade and forced involvement in the slave trade.
• Queen Idia of Benin and Queen Njinga of Ndongo & Matamba were prominent political figures.
• African elites often travelled to Mediterranean ports to participate in educational and other pursuits.
• The Portuguese colonized islands such as Cabo Verde and São Tomé.