Lesson 2 - Ancient African Civilizations

Lesson 2 - Ancient African Civilizations

Ancient Akshum

• Modern-day Ethiopia is a country located in the Horn of Africa. As a diverse country, Ethiopia is populated by many ethnic groups. The diverse population reflects the rich history of Ethiopia. In ancient times, Ethiopia was called Abyssinia and its most prominent kingdom was called Aksum.

• The kingdom of Aksum was established in 400 BCE. As a powerful empire, Aksum served as a major hub between the African, Arab, European, and Indian trade communities. The people of Aksum had their own written language called Geez and printed their own coins to use as currency.

• Today, the remains of the Kingdom of Aksum are still visible in Northern Ethiopia. With a population of over 50,000 people, the city of Aksum is considered one of the old continuously inhabited cities in Africa.

• Archaeologists have discovered large structures called obelisks, which were erected by Negus Ezana in ancient times. These obelisks serve as a reminder to the power that ancient Aksum once had.

Multiple Choice

Short Quiz

Ethiopia was called as:

• Abyssinia

• Geez

• Akshum

Ancient Harar Jugol

• Another powerful kingdom from Ancient Abyssinia is called Harar Jugol. The city was founded as early as the 10th century as the capital of the Harari Kingdom.The Harari kingdom was an important trading society that connected merchants from the Ethiopian coast to those in theEthiopian highlands.

  
  

  
  

• Ancient Harar Jugol had five walled gates

  that surrounded the city. These gates served as protective barriers for the city. They divided Harar Jugol into five separate neighbourhoods and corresponded with main roads and walkways throughout walking through Harar Walls the city.

Multiple Choice

The city Hurar Jugol was found in which century?

• 21 century

• 18 century

• 7 century

• 10 century

Multiple Choice

Ancient Hara Jugol had ___ walled gates that surrounded the city

• 20

• 10

• 5

• 8

The Kingdom Of Zimbabwe

• Located in southern Africa, the Kingdom of Zimbabwe was established about 1,000 CE by the Kalanga people of present-day Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa. The name comes from the stone architecture that was present throughout the kingdom. The structures included stone houses and massive walls surrounding the entire kingdom as a means of artistic design and protection. The kingdom lasted till about 1500 CE. Present-day Zimbabwe took its name from the original Kingdom of Zimbabwe after independence the British in 1980.

• The kingdom rose to become an important regional power through trade with kingdoms in other areas. One of Great Zimbabwe's major trading partnerships was with the civilization called the Kingdom of Mapungubwe, located in the present-day Limpopo area of South Africa.

• The relationship between the Kingdom of Great Zimbabwe and the Kingdom of Mapungubwe contributed to both kingdoms being prosperous. Through this relationship Great Zimbabwe was able to control the ivory and gold trade that crossed from the interior of the African continent to its south eastern coasts. Additionally, Great Zimbabwe established its own gold, copper, and iron mines for production and trade.

Ancient Ghana

• The Kingdom of Ancient Ghana, or Wagadou as it was called, was a large and powerful West African kingdom located in present-day Mauritania and Mali. Its influence was spread throughout the West African coast and across the Sahara Desert.

• Like the Great Zimbabwe, the present-day West African country of Ghana took its name from its ancient predecessor. The Kingdom of Ancient Ghana has a very long history dating back to times before writing. Ancient Ghana appears in written records of travellers in 830 CE. Ghana is mentioned again in an 11" century book entitled "The Book of Routes and Kingdoms."

• Ancient Ghana was known along trade routes and in distant kingdoms as the Land of Gold. Travellers told stories of gold-embroidered caps, golden saddles shields and swords decorated with gold, and other items they saw people using made of gold.

• Ancient Ghana rose to power as a dominant force in ancient international trade. Occupying important areas in present-day Mauritania and Mali, Ancient Ghana stood at the gates of the Sahara Desert. This strategically placed the Kingdom at the best place for Trans-Sahara trade.

  
  

• Ancient Ghana profited from of the ability to trade resources to countries across the Sahara and into Arabian, Asian, European, and Indian trading markets. The merchants of Ancient Ghana traded gold, copper, iron, ivory, salts, cola nuts, and other resources with merchants from other regions.

• Since Ghana was known as the Land of Gold, the gold mined within the kingdom was of high importance. There was a common rule that all gold nuggets belonged directly to the king, while the miners and other citizens can freely collect the gold dust. This made the kingdom very wealthy since both the king and subjects had access to tradable gold.

• Early travellers described Ancient Ghana as a complex civilization with a heavy Islamic and traditional West African culture. Islam was introduced to Ghana through trans- Sahara trade as West African and Arab merchants traded resources and culture

• Ghanaian scholars began to write their oral stories. The writers sometimes wrote in their native Wolof language, but used Arabic script. This mixture of Wolof words in Arabic script was called Ajami, which refers to the use of Arabic script to write in different languages.

Multiple Choice

Ghana is known as

• King of Diamonds

• Land of gold

• Land of minerals

• King of textiles