Unit 3 - African Civilizations, Societies and Empires
(1500 B.C. - 1500 A.D.): Chapters 8 & 15
Unit 3: Essential Questions
1. Why and how did diverse cultures develop in Africa? Include examples that refer specifically to the influence of the geography of Africa, and referring to groups such as the Bantu and/or civilizations such as Aksum.
1. Why and how did diverse cultures develop in Africa? Include examples that refer specifically to the influence of the geography of Africa, and referring to groups such as the Bantu and/or civilizations such as Aksum.
The unique and challenging geography of Africa, the varied climates, presence of rich and varied natural resources such as salt, iron and gold, as well as the presence of certain creatures (e.g. tsetse flies, mosquitoes carrying malaria, etc.) all contributed to the growth and development of diverse cultures in Africa – or lack thereof. There are large areas in Africa that are partly or completely inhabitable, whereas other areas are the complete opposite, attracting farmers and traders and resulting in heavily populated areas.
One such community was ancient Aksum, today known as Ethiopia, an important trading center on the east coast of Africa. Its location allowed people from the Middle East to cross the Red Sea and intermingle with the people from Africa, sharing knowledge, expertise, culture and languages. This advantageous location and intermingling of people from various nations allowed for the development of a very powerful trading kingdom with a decidedly cosmopolitan (international) flavor to it. You will find information to answer the first part of the essential question on pp. 213 – 216, and information on the rise (and decline) of Aksum on pp. 225 – 229. |
2. What advantages would iron tools give a civilization?
Evidence was found of iron production dating to about 500 B.C. was in West Africa, providing the people who developed the technological process a major advantage. How does iron differ from the material used at that time such as copper and bronze, what were the advantages of it over the other materials, and how was it used? How did this help people to survive?
HINT: Dig a bit deeper than the obvious, and also consider the fact that iron tools would have helped to increase the food supply; what effect would that have had on society? How might the fact that iron could be traded have benefited these societies? Unfortunately there is not much in the textbook about the use of iron, so you may have to think a bit more about this matter and/or do additional research.
Evidence was found of iron production dating to about 500 B.C. was in West Africa, providing the people who developed the technological process a major advantage. How does iron differ from the material used at that time such as copper and bronze, what were the advantages of it over the other materials, and how was it used? How did this help people to survive?
HINT: Dig a bit deeper than the obvious, and also consider the fact that iron tools would have helped to increase the food supply; what effect would that have had on society? How might the fact that iron could be traded have benefited these societies? Unfortunately there is not much in the textbook about the use of iron, so you may have to think a bit more about this matter and/or do additional research.
3. What are push-pull factors? Explain how the Bantu are an example of this concept.
Push-pull factors is a common term when speaking about migration, or the movement of people from one area to another. Certain factors PUSH people out of an area, e.g. warfare in one’s country might convince one to pack up and move elsewhere.
Other factors PULL people to certain places, e.g. many students from other countries come to the USA so that they can benefit from the free education opportunities offered here. Study pp. 220 – 224 and then explain what push-pull factors influenced the migration of the Bantu people in Africa.
Other factors PULL people to certain places, e.g. many students from other countries come to the USA so that they can benefit from the free education opportunities offered here. Study pp. 220 – 224 and then explain what push-pull factors influenced the migration of the Bantu people in Africa.
4. What was the impact of gold-salt trade on Western Africa?
Trade networks developed in Africa because certain regions had products that people from other areas needed or wanted. City-states and empires that were able to control the taxing and trading of these items became very rich and powerful. Start out by considering the questions about trading posed in the scenario on p. 408, and then read pp. 413 – 415.
In spite of existing for many centuries before, trade across the Sahara between Timbuktu and West Africa only really flourished when the traders began to use camels to cross the desert. These trade routes crossed an area that belonged to the Soninke people, and their leader, or the ghana, taxed the goods that the traders carried through the area. What was traded, and how did trade help the Kingdom of Ghana to become a strong and powerful army? What eventually led to the decline of the empire?
The next important group to affect the gold trade in particular was the Kingdom of Mali under Mansa Munsa. He gave away huge amounts of gold on a trip to Mecca – what was the effect of this during his reign, as well as that of his successor, Ibn Battuta.
After Battuta's death, the gold trade shifted to the East under the Songai people. What happened to the gold trade at this point, and what effect did the gold trade in Mali have on Western Africa? (pp. 415 – 417)
Trade networks developed in Africa because certain regions had products that people from other areas needed or wanted. City-states and empires that were able to control the taxing and trading of these items became very rich and powerful. Start out by considering the questions about trading posed in the scenario on p. 408, and then read pp. 413 – 415.
In spite of existing for many centuries before, trade across the Sahara between Timbuktu and West Africa only really flourished when the traders began to use camels to cross the desert. These trade routes crossed an area that belonged to the Soninke people, and their leader, or the ghana, taxed the goods that the traders carried through the area. What was traded, and how did trade help the Kingdom of Ghana to become a strong and powerful army? What eventually led to the decline of the empire?
The next important group to affect the gold trade in particular was the Kingdom of Mali under Mansa Munsa. He gave away huge amounts of gold on a trip to Mecca – what was the effect of this during his reign, as well as that of his successor, Ibn Battuta.
After Battuta's death, the gold trade shifted to the East under the Songai people. What happened to the gold trade at this point, and what effect did the gold trade in Mali have on Western Africa? (pp. 415 – 417)
5. How did Islam arrive in Africa and what was its impact? Consider the northern, western and eastern regions of Africa.
The Muslims were just one of many groups of people living in Africa, but their history still impacts Africa, and even the rest of the world, in many ways. After Muhammad's death in 632, Muslims invaded large areas in northern Africa, conquering people living there forcefully at times, and peacefully at other times. By 670 the Muslims ruled Egypt as well as an area known as the Magrib (Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia). Read about these conquests on pp. 411 – 412, making sure that you understand the difference between the two main groups of Muslims, i.e. the Almoravids, and the Almohads.
During this time three powerful empires such as Ghana were also developing in the west of Africa, becoming rich and powerful through trade. (You looked at this in the previous essential question!) Trade also led to the spread of Islam in this part of Africa – a topic covered on p. 415. Did everyone convert to Islam? Who did and who didn’t?
After the decline of Ghana, trade moved towards Mali in the more southern areas of Africa. Some of Mali's leaders converted to Islam, including Mansa Musa and Ibn Battutu. What did these two leaders do that contributed to the expansion of Islam in this region? (pp. 415 – 416)
When answering this essential question, make sure that you describe how Islam arrived in all three of these areas as well as the impact it had on those regions. Also consider how this part of history affects us even today!
Additional Resources:
Aksum, Ethiopia
The Story of Africa - Islam
Time Map - Africa
TimeMap - North Africa
Time Map - Central Africa
Time Map - West Africa
The Muslims were just one of many groups of people living in Africa, but their history still impacts Africa, and even the rest of the world, in many ways. After Muhammad's death in 632, Muslims invaded large areas in northern Africa, conquering people living there forcefully at times, and peacefully at other times. By 670 the Muslims ruled Egypt as well as an area known as the Magrib (Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia). Read about these conquests on pp. 411 – 412, making sure that you understand the difference between the two main groups of Muslims, i.e. the Almoravids, and the Almohads.
During this time three powerful empires such as Ghana were also developing in the west of Africa, becoming rich and powerful through trade. (You looked at this in the previous essential question!) Trade also led to the spread of Islam in this part of Africa – a topic covered on p. 415. Did everyone convert to Islam? Who did and who didn’t?
After the decline of Ghana, trade moved towards Mali in the more southern areas of Africa. Some of Mali's leaders converted to Islam, including Mansa Musa and Ibn Battutu. What did these two leaders do that contributed to the expansion of Islam in this region? (pp. 415 – 416)
When answering this essential question, make sure that you describe how Islam arrived in all three of these areas as well as the impact it had on those regions. Also consider how this part of history affects us even today!
Additional Resources:
Aksum, Ethiopia
The Story of Africa - Islam
Time Map - Africa
TimeMap - North Africa
Time Map - Central Africa
Time Map - West Africa