The document summarizes the early origins and migrations of humans out of East Africa according to anthropological evidence. It then discusses several major West African empires such as the Bantu migrations, Nubia, Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. For Mali, it focuses on the great ruler Mansa Musa and how his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 spread Islamic learning and reflected Mali's vast wealth at the time. The civilizations traded goods, had various forms of governance, and some converted to Islam over time.

1. Africa 1. One of the reasons for the
diversity of cultures found in
Africa is the diversity of
geography. Identify and
describe the different
geographic regions found in
Africa.

2. African Beginnings
• Anthropologists and Archeologists
have found evidence that early life
began in East Africa.
• Mary and Louis Leakey and
Donald Johanson found evidence
that the earliest people migrated
from East Africa.
• http://www.bdlive.co.za/africa/africa
nnews/2013/05/15/ethiopia-
celebrates-return-of-its-iconic-fossil

3. The Bantu Migrations
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/socsci/ca/books/bkf3/imaps
/AC_06_206_bantu/AC_06_206_bantu.html
What is the significance of the Bantu migrations?

4. Nubia
• Also called Kush
• Traded gold, ivory, slaves, iron
• Economy depended and grew
• rich through trade

5. Ghana
 The land of Gold
 Islamic empire
 Walled cities
 Written language
 Eventually taken over by Mali

6. Mali Greatest ruler was Mansa Musa
 He insured peace and order throughout his kingdom
 Musa’s hajj facilitated trade and cultural diffusion
 His caravan was so elaborate it reflected the wealth of
Musa’s empire
 Under his leadership Timbuktu became a center for
learning and knowledge

7. Songhai
 They followed traditional polytheistic views until Askia
Muhammad converted the empire to Islam.
 Schools and Mosques were built throughout the
empire.
 The empire dissolved as a result of invaders with
advanced weapons and disagreement over
succession.

8. Mansa Musa Mansa Musa captured the attention of the Arab world when
he left his home in the West African kingdom of Mali to
make a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324. Unlike his
grandfather Sundiata, Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim.
A Muslim is a person who practices Islam. Islamic law
requires that all faithful Muslims make a hajj, or holy visit,
to the city on the Arabian Peninsula where Islam
developed.

9. Closure
 Think about the African civilizations examined in this
lesson. What do these civilizations have in common?
How do they differ? What was their economy
dependent upon and did they interact with each other?