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2.6 Africa & Medieval Ages - Coggle Diagram
2.6 Africa & Medieval Ages
Africa Prior to Medieval Ages
1st evidence of humans found in Africa
Hunter-Gatherers -> farming communities
Advancements in transportation, trade, etc.
Three most important commodities: Gold, Salt, and
Four Common Elements of Communities
Family
Government
Religion
Art
Family Patterns
Family = basic unit of African society
Women valued as wives/mothers & wisdom
Serve in various roles (farmers, rulers, etc.)
Children valued for work
Education = customs, skills, & ways of societies
Patrilineal & Matrilineal societies
GOVERNMENT & POWER
Political patterns varied
Farming communities = shared power
Chief = most influential
Elders = decision makers
Consensus must be obtained through open discussions
Religion
Traditional Beliefs = Animism
Supreme being & ancestral spirits
Every object on Earth has a living spirit
Christianity, Islam, & Judaism
Islam = more dominant
Art & Literature
Art = closely tied to religion
Visual -> gold, ivory, bronze, wood, & cloth
Strengthened community bonds
Literature
Preserved orally & eventually written down
Sense of community & common values
Mansa musa
King of Mali (1312 - 1337)
Considered richest man to have ever lived
Known for pilgrimage to Mecca
Built Timbuktu as capital of Mali
Center of trading & education
Trading
Africa = plethora of resources
Most valuable resources = gold, salt, and slaves
Development of major trade networks
Kingdoms & Trading States develop
Examples
West Africa - Ghana, Mali, Songhai
East Africa - Axum, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe