African and Maya History
Study Guide #4
AGE OF IIRON IN AFRICA
-Africa was one of the first places on earth where iron and the use of iron was first discovered.
-Terracotta= skilfully modelled clay figurines
-The discovery and use of metals, especially iron, changed the way many West Africans lived (better tools).
-Bantu were the first to discover and use iron in West and Central Africa
-The introduction of iron transformed the African continent because it opened up potential for Agriculture. Agricultural surplus = specialization.
-People in parts of Western Africa and southwestern Asia were the
- first to realize that the dark silvery rocks poking out of the earth (Ore)
-could be worked into tools and weapons, sometime around 1500 B.C.,
- evidence shows. The metal was probably discovered there by accident
-Smelting= To melt ores in order to extract the metals they contain
THE BANTU MIGRATION
-Bantu=first to discover/use iron(West & Central Africa)
- expanded and colonized West, Central, East, South Africa
-Present day Nigeria and Cameroon, first to spread across Africa (iron)
-better quality of life, abundant food potentials for agriculture, specialization
-nomadism= move according totheseasonsfromplacetoplaceinsearchoffood,water,andgrazingland.
AGRICULTURE
-The history of agriculture records the domestication of plants and animals and the development and
dissemination of techniques for raising them productively. Agriculture began independently in different
parts of the globe, and included a diverse range of taxa.
-Domestication= tame (an animal) and keep it as a pet or for farm produce
-Sorghum was domesticated in the Sahel region of Africa by 5000 BC.
-Sahara- the largest desert in the world
CIVILIZATION
-A stage of human social development and organization that is considered most advanced
-8 characteristics of a civilization = cities, organized central governments, complex religion, social class, art and architecture, public works, writing, job specialization, and organized central governments,
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