Unit 7 - African Civilizations
Unit 7 covers a variety of aspects of African Civilizations. For this assessment, you will create a Tree Thinking Map and choose one of the provided projects to complete.
Check out the rubric to see a breakdown of how your project will be graded.
Step 1: Textbook Review and Thinking Map - Tree Map
Review the information in Unit 7. While reviewing, make note of the geographic, economic, religious and cultural traditions of both West and East Africa. You will use these readings to help you fill out the Thinking Map below.
West Africa: (Pages 589-602 or Topic 14 Lesson 1, 2 & 4 of your online textbook).
East Africa: (Pages 603-606 or Topic 14 Lesson 3 of your online.)
You are to only use your textbook, no outside sources.
Click HERE for directions for the online textbook
For the thinking map, you can choose either West Africa or East Africa. Not Both!
You will create a Tree Thinking Map that covers the information for 4 categories for the region you choose. The categories and information that you will need to include are geography, economy, religion and cultural traditions.
This thinking map is part of this assignment and must be turned in with the final project
Click here for Thinking Map Template
Step 2: Picking a Project
Now that you have reviewed the lesson and created the Thinking Map you will have two choices for your final project. You have two choices for your project but YOU ONLY NEED TO DO ONE!
Take a look at the following options…
Option 1 - Griot Narrative
African culture had strong oral traditions and griots were professional storytellers and oral historians who were the keepers of African history. For this option you will create a Narrative Essay from the perspective of a griot and include the requirements and topics below.You are to only use your textbook, no outside sources.
Narrative Requirements:
You will create a one paragraph essay that is 8-10 sentences. You will use the information from your Unit 7 textbook review and your thinking map to write a story about East or West Africa. In your essay you must address the four categories from your Thinking Map (geography, economy, religion and culture). You will use the format below.
1 Catchy Introduction Sentence: a sentence that expresses the main idea of your story.
2 sentences addressing the geography
2 sentences addressing trade
2 sentences addressing religion
2 sentences addressing traditions/culture
1 Concluding Sentence: summarize the main idea of the story
Griot Narrative Example (Example is not from this unit. It’s just to show the correct style and format)
Once upon a time in East Africa, nestled between the vast savannah and the stunning Rift Valley, there existed a flourishing civilization. The rich geography of this region provided a diverse range of resources, from fertile farmland to lush forests, allowing the people to thrive. The bountiful trade networks connected East Africa to the rest of the world, with merchants traveling across the Indian Ocean to exchange goods. Religion played a significant role in the lives of the people, with a deep belief in the interconnectedness of all beings and a reverence for the spirits of their ancestors. The traditions and culture of East Africa were vibrant and colorful, with music and dance bringing communities together in celebration. As the griot of this ancient land, it is my duty to preserve the history and pass on the stories of our people for generations to come.
Option 2 - Cultural Artifact Presentation
African civilizations produced stunning cultural artifacts that continue to captivate and inspire people today. For this option, you will choose one cultural artifact from either West or East Africa, research it using only your textbook, and create a presentation showcasing its significance. Your presentation should include the following information:
- Description of the artifact: Provide a detailed description of the cultural artifact, including its size, materials used, and any unique features.
- Historical context: Explore the historical context in which the artifact was created, including the time period and the civilization that produced it.
- Cultural significance: Discuss the cultural significance of the artifact, including any religious, social, or artistic purposes it served within the society.
- Impact on African civilizations: Analyze the impact of the artifact on the development and identity of the African civilization that produced it.
- Reflection: Share your personal thoughts and reflections on the artifact, including its beauty, craftsmanship, and the emotions it evokes in you.
Your presentation can take the form of a PowerPoint, Prezi, video, or any other format that allows you to effectively convey the information. Be sure to include visuals of the artifact and cite your sources using MLA format.
Remember, you only need to choose one of these options for your final project. Good luck and have fun exploring the rich and fascinating African civilizations!
Textbook info: Africa’s unique geography shaped the growth of African civilizations.Early kingdoms earned great wealth and power by adapting to a rich but challenging environment.
Watch the video, How Ghana Became a Wealthy Empire
GET READY TO READ
Start up
1. Study the photograph of the people riding camels, and list several ways modern traders can cross the Sahara today.
Notebook
The African Landscape
The interior of Africa is like a plate turned upside down. This raised but flat region is called a plateau. The rivers flowing across the plateau fall as waterfalls at the edge. Here, the plateau meets a thin strip of coastal plain.Africa’s coastline, with its lack of natural harbors and many waterfalls, discouraged seagoing trade. Africa is the world’s second-largest continent. It has many climates, types of vegetation, and types of land. Its geography encouraged trade. As a result, goods and ideas moved throughout Africa, Europe, and Asia. Several great West African empires, including Mali and Ghana, developed. Rain is critical to life in Africa. People tend to live where rain falls the most.Africa consists of several vegetation zones, or bands of plant life. Each zone has its own climate. At the northern tip of Africa is the Mediterranean zone.Here summers are warm and dry, and winters are rainy. The world’s largest desert, the Sahara, covers most of northern Africa. Today, the Sahara measures about 3.5 million square miles.In ancient times, however, the desert was not so large. Thousands of years ago, rivers, trees, and grasslands covered much of the region. Then, about 6,000 years ago, the climate began to get drier. Travel across the Sahara grew more difficult as the years passed. About 2,000 years ago traders began to use camels, rather than horses, for the long, dry trip. Camels made it possible for trade to occur between West Africa and the Mediterranean world. Camels can travel much farther than horses on much less water. They can also cross sandy areas more easily. The Sahel and Savanna: Just south of the Sahara is the Sahel zone, a slightly dry region that extends from the Atlantic Ocean through northern Senegal to Sudan in the east. The Sahel separates the very dry climate of the north from the tropical grasslands, the savanna, to the south. Farmers and cattle and camel herders did well in the Sahel. The rainfall in the savanna supported crops such as rice, sorghum, and millet. People were able to keep herds of animals, such as cattle, sheep, and horses. Agriculture and herding, and the transportation provided by the Niger River, led to the growth of trade. The Rain Forest. Rain in Africa is most common along the equator. This is the rain forest zone. It is hot and wet year round. Thousands of different insects, plants, and animals live here. Some of the rain forest has been cut down to make way for towns and cities. In other places, the land has been cleared for farming. In this vegetation zone, life has often depended on the cultivation of root crops and fruits. Some variations can be found within these seemingly similar zones. The oceans affect local climates, as do cooler highland regions.The Niger River flows along the shores of Bamako, in the present-day country of Mali. The Niger and Senegal Rivers. The two largest rivers of West Africa are the Niger (ny jur) and the Senegal. Early civilizations formed near these rivers. Rivers provided people with a reliable source of water in a dry region. They let farmers grow crops even in years with little rainfall. Boats could travel rivers most of the year. People used both the Niger and the Senegal rivers to travel and trade across West Africa. A natural material that people can use to meet their needs is called a natural resource.Some of these materials include land used for farming or grazing; trees that provide fuel or building material; and minerals such as gold, copper, and salt. Some natural resources made valuable trade items. Prized items like gold, along with agricultural wealth, gave rise to powerful trading empires. Trade brought Africans into contact with one another and with people and ideas from other parts of the world.What let to the rise of Ghana? Learning to work with metals was an important step in the development of West African civilizations and empires. Metal tools and weapons were stronger than those made of stone, wood, or bone. People with metalworking skills had an advantage over their neighbors.Ironworking Technology. By 350 bce, West Africans began making iron tools in a place called Nok in present-day Nigeria. Iron was much harder than other materials used. With the help of iron tools, the people of West Africa could grow more food. As food supplies increased, so did the population. Ironworking technology then spread throughout West and Central Africa. In the 200s bce, people established a settlement at Jenne-Jeno (also spelled Djenné-Jeno) in present-day Mali. By 800 ce, the city had become a thriving metropolis where artisans produced iron tools, gold jewelry, and fine painted pottery. Ancient Ghana: As the population of West Africa grew, governments were formed to keep order. Around 300 ce, the Soninke people founded the kingdom of Ghana between the Niger and Senegal rivers. (The modern African nation of Ghana is named after this ancient empire, but it is in a different part of West Africa.) As food supplies grew, not everyone had to grow food. Some could become experts in things like government or crafts. The division of jobs and skills in a society is called labor specialization. Families were very important in Ghana. Each clan, or group of related families, specialized in a craft or trade. The Sisse clan, for example, formed the ruling class. Its members became Ghana’s kings and officials. Other clans specialized in trades such as fishing, cloth making, or cattle raising. The Soninke benefited from the use of iron. They had iron swords and spears, while their enemies still used wooden clubs. Over time, they used their superior weapons to control others. The kingdom grew into an empire. Like many ancient empires—including Greece and Rome—Ghana enslaved people in its wars of conquest. Ghana traded slaves for salt and other goods offered by Berber merchants. The Growth of the Ghana Empire. By the 700s, Arab and Berber traders of northern Africa regularly traveled across the Sahara. Traders would walk and ride their camels in a caravan, which is a group that travels together. They traded salt, horses, cloth, swords, and books for gold and ivory. Ghana was located across trade routes. It acted as a go-between for the North African traders and the producers of gold and ivory in the south. Gold–Salt Trade. Trans-Saharan trade (trade across the Sahara) relied heavily on gold and salt. North Africans wanted gold to make into coins, since most states in the area based their currency on gold. This gold flowed into Europe and Asia, as well, in smaller quantities. West Africans were rich in gold, but they needed salt—a mineral necessary for good health. Miners removed slabs of salt from ancient seabed’s in the Sahara. North African traders loaded salt onto camels and crossed the desert to West Africa to trade the salt for gold. Wealthy Rulers: Kings of Ghana grew rich from the gold–salt trade. They taxed gold producers and every load of goods that entered or left Ghana. Ghana’s rulers also controlled the gold supply. They knew that if the supply grew too large, its price would fall. Gold taken from the ground became the king’s property. This law removed much gold from the market, keeping the price high. It also made the kings rich. It was said that one king had a gold nugget weighing 30 pounds! In 1067, a Spanish Muslim scholar described a king’s court: Primary Source
“He sits in a pavilion around which stand ten horses with gold-embroidered trappings. Behind the king stand ten pages holding shields and gold-mounted swords; on his right are the sons of princes of his empire, splendidly clad and with gold plaited [braided] in their hair. . . . The door of the pavilion is guarded by dogs of an excellent breed . . . who wear collars of gold and silver.. . . The king of Ghana, when he calls up his army, can put 200,000 men into the field, more than 40,000 of them archers.” Why did Ghana Decline? For centuries Ghana prospered. Its rulers welcomed North African traders, who brought Islam to West Africa. Ghana kept its traditional religions. However, Ghana was known for its religious tolerance and welcomed Muslims. Ghana’s leaders borrowed and used Islamic administrative and legal practices to run the government. However, Ghana eventually began to decline. Among the reasons are overpopulation, food shortages, and an over-dependence on trade. To make matters worse, around 1060 the Almoravids, a group of Berbers from northwest Africa, expanded their empire into Ghana. They were religious reformers who wanted to purify the Islamic practices of Muslims in Ghana and spread their own interpretation of Islam. They also wanted greater control of the gold trade. Although the Almoravid invasion failed in the end, it disrupted trade and weakened the monarchy. The Almoravids brought with them large flocks of animals that took over much farmland. Soon, Ghana had trouble supporting its population. Ghana never returned to its prosperity after the Almoravid invasion.
In the ancient kingdom of Ghana, nestled between the Niger and Senegal rivers, a thriving civilization emerged. The geography of the region played a crucial role in the growth and development of Ghana. The interior of Africa, with its raised but flat plateau, provided ample resources and fertile farmland for the people to thrive. The rivers flowing across the plateau, such as the Niger and Senegal rivers, not only provided a reliable source of water but also served as trade routes, allowing the kingdom to connect with other parts of Africa.
Trade was a vital aspect of Ghana's economy. The kingdom acted as a go-between for North African traders and the producers of gold and ivory in the south. The gold-salt trade was particularly significant. North Africans desired gold for coinage, while West Africans needed salt for good health. Traders crossed the Sahara with caravans of camels, exchanging salt for gold, sustaining a prosperous trade network.
Religion held an important place in Ghanaian society. While the kingdom maintained its traditional religions, it also welcomed Islam, which was brought by North African traders. Ghana's leaders embraced some Islamic administrative and legal practices to govern the kingdom effectively. Religious tolerance and the incorporation of Islamic principles contributed to the social and cultural fabric of Ghana.
The traditions and culture of the Ghanaian people were vibrant and diverse. Families held significant importance, with each clan specializing in a particular craft or trade. The ruling class, known as the Sisse clan, wielded power and authority, while other clans focused on trades such as fishing, clothmaking, or cattle raising. The use of iron tools, which were stronger than those made of stone or wood, allowed for increased food production and population growth.
Despite its earlier prosperity, Ghana eventually began to decline due to various factors. Overpopulation, food shortages, and an overdependence on trade strained the kingdom. The invasion of the Almoravids, a group of Berbers from northwest Africa, further weakened Ghana. Although the invasion ultimately failed, it disrupted trade and undermined the monarchy. Ghana never fully recovered its former prosperity.
As a griot of the kingdom of Ghana, it is my duty to pass on the stories and history of our civilization. Through my narrative, I bring to life the vibrant geography, economy, religion, and cultural traditions that shaped Ghana's rise and fall.
make it in 7th grade writing please
Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a kingdom called Ghana in West Africa. The people who lived there had to adapt to the unique geography of the region. The land was like a flat plateau, with rivers flowing across it. These rivers provided water for the people and served as trading routes.
Trade was very important in Ghana's economy. The people would trade gold and ivory for salt and other goods from North Africa. The trade routes crossed the Sahara Desert, and traders would travel in caravans with camels. The camels were able to travel long distances with less water, which made trade possible.
Religion played a big role in Ghana. The people followed their traditional religions, but they also welcomed Islam, which was brought by traders from North Africa. They even adopted some Islamic practices in their government.
In Ghana, families were important, and each family had a specific job or craft. Some families were rulers, while others were fishermen, clothmakers, or herders. Iron tools were important for farming, and they helped the population grow.
Unfortunately, Ghana eventually started to decline. There were too many people, and not enough food. The invasion of the Almoravids, a group from North Africa, also weakened the kingdom. Trade was disrupted, and the kingdom couldn't recover.
As a storyteller of Ghana, I pass on the history of our civilization. Through my story, you can learn about our geography, economy, religion, and culture.