1. Describe the Kush and the Axom Tribes:
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 Axum 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.
2. Describe the village life of African tribes:
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.
3. Explain what a Griot is and tell an African story (in
your own words).
A griot is a learned storyteller, entertainer, and historian.
The Two Frogs
Once two frogs fell
into a pot of cream. They could not get out of the pot. So they swam round and
round in the cream. "Oh, this is the end of my life," said one of
them. It stopped swimming and died.
But the second frog swam and swam and beat the cream with its little feet. The
cream became a ball of butter. The frog jumped on the ball of butter and got
out of the pot!
One day nine dogs
went out to hunt. They met a lion. He said:
"I am hunting too. I am very, very hungry. Let us hunt together."
So the dogs and the lion hunted together all day.
They caught ten antelopes.
The lion said: "Now we must divide this meat."
One of the dogs said: "Why, that is easy. We are ten, and we have ten
antelopes; so each of us will have one antelope."
The lion became very angry. He hit the poor dog and blinded him.
The other dogs did not say a word. But then one of the dogs said:
"Our brother was wrong. We must give nine antelopes to King Lion. Then
they will be ten together. And we dogs shall take one antelope, and we shall
also be ten together."
The lion liked his answer and asked the dog: "Who taught you to divide
like this? You are a wise dog."
The dog answered:
"Oh, King Lion, you hit our brother and blinded him. That blind brother
taught me, King Lion!"
4. Creatively Illustrate the colonization of South Africa or the Effects of Imperialism (p667)
This was from the activity where we set up and wrote
about the museum.
5. Describe Apartheid and explain how a character from The Power of One represented a part of this time.
Definition of Apartheid (p876)
Your movie notes should help with the character description.
6. Draw the Zulu fighting strategy that helped them to defeat other
tribes.
This was in the handout on the worksheet.