A09_ch08: African Civilizations

Purpose: Along with class lessons and activities, this assignment will help us address this essential question: How

did ancient African cultures adapt to their harsh environments and establish powerful kingdoms?
INTERACTION WITH ENVIRONMENT The varied climates and natural resources of Africa offered opportunities for developing different lifestyles. By 500 BCE, the Nok people of West Africa had pioneered iron-making technology. POWER AND AUTHORITY The kingdom of Aksum became a major trading center for Indian Ocean and Arabian trade. It also became the center of Christianity in East Africa. CULTURAL INTERACTION Massive migrations of Bantu-speaking people changed the culture of eastern and southern Africa. The migrating people brought new skills and ideas about society to people in the south and east. Given:

Task: A.

Use the World History: Patterns of Interaction (POI) textbook to complete the assignment below. Refer to the to the course calendar to acquire due dates and other instructions.

Diverse Societies in Africa Read pages 213 219. On page 219 TERMS & NAMES: For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance. Sahara Sahel savanna animism griot Nok Djenn-Djeno MAIN IDEAS 3. What are four general vegetation types found in Africa? 4. What is the main source of information about early African cultures? 5. How is the African Iron Age different from that in other regions?

B.

Migration Read pages 220 224. On page 224 TERMS & NAMES: For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance. push-pull factors Bantu-speaking peoples MAIN IDEAS 3. What are push-pull factors in migration? 4. What are three effects of migration? 5. Into which regions of Africa did the Bantu-speaking migration move? CRITICAL THINKING & WRITING MAKING INFERENCES How can the effects of one migration become a cause of another migration?

C.

The Kingdom of Aksum Read pages 225 229. On page 229 TERMS & NAMES: For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance. Aksum Adulis Ezana terraces MAIN IDEAS 3. How did Aksums location help make it a trade city? 4. Why did the people of Aksum become Christians? 5. Why did Aksums leaders move their capital? CRITICAL THINKING & WRITING ANALYZING CAUSES Why did the kingdom of Aksum decline?