Chapter 8 Sec 1 Notes
I. Diverse Societies in Africa
A. Geography
1. 2nd largest continent in world
2. Narrow coastlines
3. Variety of climates
a. Deserts make up 40%, Sahara
b. Rainforests cover 5%
c. Northern and Southern coasts provide fertile soil
d. Savannas cover 40%
1. Desertification is process of drying of the soil
B. Humans adapt to African Environment
1. Nomadic hunters-gathers settled first
a. Domesticated animals, measured wealth by size of their herds
2. Built permanent settlements
a. Allowed people to practice other activities
1. metal working
2. pottery
3. crafting jewelry
3. Governing bodies develop
a. Consisted of a village chief or council of leaders
1. Extended their land
2. Conquered weaker settlements
C. Western Africa Societies
1. City of Djenne-Djeno
a. Settled on tributary of Niger River
b. Have found thousands of artifacts
1. 50,000 residents
2. Farmed, herded, and traded
2. Nok culture
a. 1st African people to smelt iron around 500 B.C.
b. Made tools and weapons out of iron
c. Nok people may have been the direct ancestors of modern Africans
Chapter 8 Section 2 Notes
I. Rise of Aksum Kingdom
A. Early Beginnings
1. Located in current day Eritrea and Ethiopia
2. Zoskales was first king
3. Conquered lands along Red Sea, Blue Nile, and Southwest Arabian Peninsula
B. Became international trading power
1. Caravan routes passed through
2. Sea trade expanded
a. Miles of coastline and ports
C. Expanded Kingdom
1. Ezana occupied throne 325-360 AD
2. Conquered land of current day Yemen and the Kushites
II. Diverse Culture Develops
A. Trading lead to diverse culture
1. Attracted people from all over the world
2. Greek stood out as international language
B. Spread of Christianity
1. Believed in on god, king was a direct descendent from him
2. Split between Egyptian and Ethiopian Churches
A. Coptic Church of Egypt
B. Ethiopian Orthodox Church
1. Membership of 22 million
C. Aksum Architecture
1. Used stone
A. Built huge stone pillars called stelae
1. 60 feet tall, tallest structure in ancient world
D. Language and Agriculture
1. Developed earliest written language of African kingdoms
2. Minted coins
3. Terrace farming – steplike ridges constructed on mountain slopes
4. Built dams and cisterns- holding tanks to store water
E. Fall of Aksum
1. Kingdom lasted 800 years
2. Invaders practiced Islam
3. Conquered major ports – trading declined
4. Moved capital to northern Ethiopia