Comprehensive Notes on African History, Culture, and Art Module 7 Done 1

Europeans' knowledge of West and Central Africa was often secondhand and inaccurate due to their confinement to coastal regions.
Access to the interior was restricted until the 19th century, preventing direct access to raw materials like gold, ivory, furs, pepper, and human beings.
Coastal merchants acted as middlemen and profited from their control of trade.
Europeans were initially unable to wrest control due to their small numbers, vulnerability on ships, and ineffective firearms compared to well-aimed arrows.

The repeating rifle and Maxim machine gun shifted the military advantage to Europeans.
Missionaries and commercial entities like the Royal Niger Company provided advance intelligence through diplomatic alliances, language acquisition, and observation of local power structures.

Some European powers had earlier footholds in Africa (e.g., Portuguese in Angola and Mozambique, Dutch at the Cape of Good Hope, French at St. Louis).
The late 19th century saw a surge in European determination to divide the continent into defined spheres of influence.
The Berlin Conference of 1884-85 established European borders for French, English, Belgian, German, Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish interests, leading to colonies.

Colonialism's duration was relatively short; most African nations gained independence by 1960/61.
Its impact varied, with some negligible effects and significant political and cultural consequences.
Europeans encountered diverse political systems, including empires, kingdoms, egalitarian city-states, and ethnic groups with varying degrees of unity.
The arbitrary borders from the Berlin Conference split old states and families.
Traditional rulers faced varied fates: some continued as cultural leaders, while others were dethroned or exiled.
Even those who remained lost military and legal authority and the ability to collect taxes.
Governments based on the home country's will were established.
Independence did not fully restore traditional rulers' previous powers.

New political and court systems were introduced.
Foreign religious and educational systems had significant lasting influences.
Christianity had an early presence in Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia (4th century), coinciding with its official recognition in Europe.
Islam spread into West Africa via North African trade after the Prophet Muhammed's death.
Christian missionization increased significantly in the 19th century.
Both Christianity and Islam have largely displaced older religions since the 1970s.
Advancement in civil service requires mastery of a foreign language, often the language of instruction in schools.
Curricula are based on European models and extend to university level, varying depending on the former colonial power.

Access to international media and travel has impacted African culture.
Foreign films, music videos, and clothing compete with local products.
Values have been adjusted, and cultures compete, with imported novelties gaining status.

Africa is often represented as a singular entity, but this overlooks its vast diversity.
Personal experiences and exposure greatly influence perceptions of Africa.
Stereotypes are prevalent due to limited education about Africa and a weak sense of geography.
The size of Europe is small in comparison to Africa.
Print maps have historically distorted the size relationships of land masses.
Africa is larger than the USA, China, India, Japan, and all of Europe combined.

There is a widespread lack of geographical knowledge, referred to as "immappancy."
Geographical estimates are often significantly inaccurate, partly due to distorted mapping projections like the Mercator projection.

Carving is a subtractive sculptural approach where material is removed.
Common carving materials: wood, stone, and ivory.
Stone is less common in sub-Saharan Africa but highly durable.
Ivory is a luxury material, often reserved for rulers or those of high status.
Wood is the most common carving material, but rarer in arid regions.
Carving is typically done exclusively by men.
Men are responsible for obtaining the wood, often with a prayer to honor the spirit within the tree.
The type of wood chosen may depend on the object. Lightweight woods for masquerades, denser woods for termite resistance.
Traditional tools include adzes and knives.
Artists work directly into the wood without preliminary drawings.
Objects are usually monoxyl, made from a single block of wood.
In areas with ivory or stone carving traditions, woodworkers continue to use the adze.
Soapstone is a common choice for stone carving, but quartz, granite, and other stones are also used.

Human life originated in East Africa.
Knowledge of early African history is limited to regions with early writing systems or extensive archaeological research.
Oral history provides information, but gaps remain.
Language families provide clues about population movements.
Many parts of Africa had direct or indirect contact with Europe and Asia.
Egypt and parts of North Africa were incorporated into the Roman Empire.
Arab-speaking chroniclers recorded information about parts of eastern, northern, and western Africa.
Ethiopians traveled to Byzantium, the Middle East, and India.
Persians and Arabs traded with East African coastal communities.
The 15th century marked the beginning of European direct contact with West, Central, South, and East Africa.

Metal arts are typically restricted to male artists.
Forging involves heating metal and hammering it into shape; often used for iron.
Forging limits the complexity of shapes produced.
Thin sheet metal (brass or copper) can be decorated by chasing, stippling, or repoussé, creating an embossed effect.
Molten metal poured into molds can produce more complex results.
Reusable molds create solid metal objects (e.g., coins).
The lost wax casting technique (cire-perdue) is used to create hollow sculptures, conserving valuable metals.

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