Early Africa

Kush and Axom
The Kush tribe existed in 2000 BC. The Kush were located along the upper Nile river and traded large amounts with the Egyptians. The two Major cities were Napata and Meroe. The Kush received gold, elephant tusks, and timber from the inner tribes of Africa and traded them with the Egyptians. Around 1000 BC Kush became independent and by 700 BC the Kush kings ruled both Egypt and Kush. Yet in 671 BC the Assyrians invaded Egypt and defeated the Kushites because Kush soldiers wielded bronze weapons and the Assyrians used Iron swords. The Kush learned from this and became a center of Iron production. The inhabitants of Kush traded Iron, and leopard skins for goods from the Mediterranean, they also modeled their homes and fine houses after the Romans.

Kush thrived for about 150 years, but then the Axum tribe invaded the Kushites. Axum traded with Egypt, Rome, Persia, and India. These nations brought cotton, brass, copper, and olive oil in exchange for ivory. The Axom also became Christian when two Christians from Syria were brought to King Enzana’s court. They convinced him to become Christian and the entire region became Christian in A.D. 330. Muslim Merchants from Arabia raided Axom’s ports and the nation was forced to retreat inward and begin the Christian Kingdom of Ethiopia.

The Nok developed in West Africa.
We know very little about the ancient Nok culture of West Africa.  We don't even know what they called themselves; Nok is a modern name. We do know, however, that they uncovered the mysteries of iron.

Iron is a metal found in rocks. The Nok discovered that by heating certain rocks, they were able to “smelt” iron. Iron is a very useful substance. Iron is very malleable (or moldable). It can be reshaped for many different purposes, including making weapons and plows. Iron conducts heat very well and can be used for cooking and heating. A civilization that had discovered iron would be more advanced than those that had not. The discovery of the uses of iron was a major technological achievement of the ancient Nok of sub-Saharan Africa. 

     Most ancient cultures discovered copper and bronze before iron, but the Nok apparently moved from the stone age to the iron age.  Did the Nok teach themselves these skills, or did they discover the secrets of iron from other cultures?  That question remains a mystery that archaeologists may someday understand.

The Nok were able to develop iron, but this lead to large scale cultivation of the land and an increase in population. The West Africans began to migrate when a shortage in food occurred.

These were called the Bantu migrations. Many Africans settled in different places along the rain forests and in the highlands and on the coastal plains. The villages of these tribes focused around families and traced lineage by the mothers of families (matrilineal). When a girl married she became part of her husband’s family, but the family of the husband gave the family of the wife some tools or goats in compensation. People were divided into age sets and given jobs according to these sets. Boys younger than 10 or 12 herded cattle, and girls of the same age helped their mothers plant.

Religion.

There was a supreme god who punished those who violated tradition with accidents and crop failures. This god also rewarded those who were faithful with harvests and children. There were also lesser deities that handled daily affairs and existed in storms, trees, and mountains. Most Africans followed the social orders they believed came form their supreme god. These tribes did adopt some traditions from the outside influences of their trade partners.

Ideas --- build a civilization…

----Picture discussion

----Role Play