1、Africas large sizemore than three times the size of the United Statesand its location have led to a wide variety of climates and vegetation. As a result, distinct cultures and ways of life developed.,The Geography of Africa,Africas climate also quite varied Northern Africa dominated by Sahara, large
2、st desert in world Stretches 3,000 miles between Atlantic Ocean, Red Sea Barren landscape includes mountains, plateaus, plains, sand dunes Temperatures in desert climb above 120F, rain rare Number of oases scattered throughout desert, some support villages,Climate and Vegetation,The Equator and fart
3、her South,By about 2500 BC many people in these regions practiced herding and mixed farming.,Anthropologists think that the first humans lived in East Africa. Over thousands of years, people spread out over the continent, forming distinct cultures and societies.,Early African Societies,Common Featur
4、es Many societies developed village-based cultures At heart, extended family living in one household Families with common ancestors formed clans to which all members loyal,Specific Duties Loyalty to family, age-sets helped village members work together Men hunted, farmed; women cared for children, f
5、armed, did domestic chores Even very old, very young had own tasks; elders often taught traditions to younger generations,Age-Sets In some areas, people took part in type of group called age-sets Men who had been born within same two, three years formed special bonds Men in same age-set had duty to
6、help each other,Social Structures,Many early Africans shared similar religious beliefs and shared common features in the arts as well.,Religion and Culture,Music and Dance In many societies, music, dance central to many celebrations, rituals Carving, wearing of elaborate masks part of these rituals
7、as well Early Africans excelled in sculpture, bronze as well as terra cotta Traditional music performed with variety of wind, stringed instruments,Griots Many early societies did not develop systems of writing Maintained sense of identity, continuity through oral traditions Included stories, songs,
8、poems, proverbs Task of remembering, passing on entrusted to storytellers, griots,The spread of iron technology after the 500s BC changed farming practices in sub-Saharan Africa. As a result, African society changed.,Africas Iron Age,The Bantu Migrations,Agriculture, ironworking technology spread th
9、roughout Africa because of migration Number of groups in Africa spoke related languages Originated from language called Proto-Bantu Developed in what is now Cameroon, Nigeria Over time more than 2,000 Bantu languages developed,Bantu-speaking Peoples,Pastoralists,Specialized adaptation to environment
10、s that cannot support a human population through agriculture (hilly terrain, dry climate, or unsuitable soil) but produces grass (which humans cannot eat). Six most popular species around the world: sheep, goats, cattle, horses, donkeys, and camels Main source of food is meat and milk; grains and ma
11、nufactured items are traded,Pastoralism,Key to pastoralist economy is herd growth Animals are the form of wealth Risky because of drought, disease, theft Pastoralists need to know the carrying capacity of the land as well as how many animals needed to support a family,Pastoralists,Pastoralist societ
12、ies tend to be based on patrilineal kinship. Why do you think this is?,Horticulturalists,Production of domesticated plants using handheld tools Rain as the source of moisture Major crops: yams, corns, beans, grains such as millet and sorghum, and root crops Cultivated fields not used permanently, ye
13、ar after year, but remain fallow,Horticulturalists,Lower yield per acre than intensive agriculture but less human labor also Average plot size are less than an acre; 2.5 acres can support 5-8 people a year. Population densities are low, but villages may be large (100-1,000 people),Slash-and-Burn Far
14、ming,A field is cleared by felling the trees and burning the brush The burned vegetation is left on the land, preventing drying out of the soil Ash serves as fertilizer Very little weeding required because of the ash cover Fields used for a few years and then allowed to lie fallow (up to 20 years) s
15、o that the forest cover can be rebuilt and soil fertility restored,Horticulture and the Environment,So long as the land is allowed to remain fallow until it rejuvenates, the system is sustainable. However, access to land by ranchers, miners, tourists, and farmers; horticulturalists desire to increas
16、e production for cash; and population growth can mean that the land becomes degraded.,African pastoralists,Maasai of east Africa Cattle, sheep, goats 19th century warriors,Territory Today,Cattle are not eatenUse milk various formsBlood cattle are bled,Modern Maasai,Reduced territory, less grazing land Conflict with farmers sedentism, = poor diet Access to seasonal wetlands Have to migrate with cattlePolitically marginalized Forced to adopt non-pastoralist economic activities,
