The unofficial African American history review

unfinished

How large is the continent of Africa?

It’s the second largest continent (over eleven million miles) containing 54 countries and 16% of the world’s population (1.4 billion)

Name the eight major physical regions of Africa

The Sahara, the Sahel, the Ethiopian Highlands, the savanna, the Swahili Coast, the rainforest, the African Great Lakes, and Southern Africa

Africa is rich in..

natural resources like gold, salt, iron, and copper

Describe the Sahel

A strip of dry grassland south of the Sahara, dry and semi-arid, slowly turning into desert, has soil erosion and overgrazing which makes it hard to live there, sparse vegetation, relatively flat

Axum/Aksum

A powerful, ancient East African kingdom from 350-600. It converted to Christianity, then to Islam. Controlled trade among Africa, India, and the Mediterranean. Used sailing ships (dhows) to expand trade in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. Traded ivory, tortoise shells, gold, emeralds, silk, and spices.

Which kingdom was the main producer of gold?

Ghana

Ghana

Thrived from 800 to 1100 CE, Islam was introduced by Muslim merchants, the King collected taxes from controlling the Gold and Salt Trade.

Mali

Thrived from 800 to 1100, it took control of the Trans-Saharan trade routes, was visited by Ibn Battuta, was led by Mansa Musa (the richest person in history) who went on a pilgrimage to Mecca (he gave away gold along the way and brought back scholars and artists). It contained the city of Timbuktu which was a major learning and trade center and forbidden to foreigners.

Songhai

Reached its height from 1450-1600, conquered the Mali Empire, continued the Gold-Salt Trade, kept Timbuktu as a learning center but made Gao the capital, its succession problems brought civil war and invaders. Founded by Sunni Ali who created an organized government system. Askia Muhammad (Askia the Great) took over when he died, he expanded the kingdom, increased trade, and made Songhai the largest kingdom in West Africa