Ch. 8 Diverse
Societies in Africa
• Ch. 8 section 1 Objectives:
• 1. Identify the different geographic regions of Africa
• 2. Explain how early Africans adapted to their environments
• 3. Summarize the achievements of early West
Early Humans Adapt to Their
Environments• Nomadic Lifestyle• •hunter-gatherers/herders
Transition to a Settled Lifestyle• •Agriculture develops- 6000 B.C.
• •permanent settlement, governments to develop, with a village chief or council
Early Societies in Africa
• Societies Organized by Family Groups• •Extended families and clans
• Local Religions• •Early religions usually include elements of animism—belief in
spirits
• Keeping a History• •Few African societies have written languages• •History, literature, culture passed on by storytellers called
griots• •Cultures in West Africa are advanced long before outsiders
arrive
West African Iron Age• Learning About the Past• •Artifacts • Nok—West Africa’s earliest known culture—made smelted iron
tools, weapons, and excelled at farming
• Djenné-Djeno
• From 600–200 B.C., cities begin to develop near rivers, oases
• Djenné-Djeno—Africa’s oldest known city (250 B.C.), discovered in 1977
• Bustling trade center; linked West African towns, camel trade routes
Achievements of Djenne-Djenno-1400
C.E.• *50,000 residents• Mud Brick homes
-Fished, cultivated rice, herded cattle-Traded goods for copper, gold and salt
Section 2-The Kingdom of Aksum
• Objectives:• 1. Explain how maritime trade led to
Aksum’s growth• 2. Give examples of Aksum’s
achievements• 3. Explain the effects of the Muslim
invasion of Aksum
The Rise…• Aksum’s Geography• •Horn of Africa-Ethiopia and Eritrea• •surrounded by bodies of water
The Rise…cont.• Aksum Controls International Trade
through water and caravan routes• Adulis-main port city
• Leadership-King Ezana,strong ruler of Aksum from A.D. 325 to360
• conquers part of Arabian peninsula
International Culture…
• Aksum Culture• •Blends -Egyptian, Arabian, Greek, Roman, Persian, Indian • •Greek-language
• Written language: Ge’ez
• Aksumite Religion• •Believe in one god, Mahrem, and that king descended
from him• •animist• Ezana declares Christianity official religion
International Culture…
• Aksumite Innovations• Written language, minted coins, irrigation
canals and dams• Aksumites invent terrace farming
The Fall…• Islam-introduced by invaders
• Attack Adulis, causing Aksum’s decline
• Isolation, soil erosion, deforestation cause loss of remaining power
Section 3• Objectives:
• 1.Summarize the causes and effects of Human Migration
• 2.Describe the Bantu migrations into the southern half of Africa
Migration of Bantu-speaking Peoples
• Causes of Migration• Push-pull factors
• Effects of Migration• Brings diverse cultures into contact; changes
life in the new land
• Tracing Migration Through Language
• Bantu -speaking Peoples• Migration Begins• Live by slash-and-burn farming, nomadic
herding• Share skills, learn new customs, adapt to
environment
• Causes of Migration• to find farmland, flee growing Sahara• Need iron ore resources and hardwood forests
• Effects of the Migration• Bantu speakers drive out some inhabitants;
intermix with others • Language helps unify the continent