chapter 6

Civilizations of Africa

Africa had no common cultural identity in the premodern era

1. great environmental variation within the continent
2. enormous size of the continent
3. most distinctive: Africa is the most tropical of world’s supercontinents
• climate means poorer soils and less productive agriculture
• more disease-carrying insects and parasites

A. Meroë: Continuing a Nile Valley Civilization

1. Nubian civilization was almost as old as Egyptian civilization

a. constant interaction

b. remained a distinct civilization

2. with decline of Egypt, Nubian civilization came to focus on Meroë
3. ruled by an all-powerful sacred monarch (sometimes female)
4. city of Meroë had craft specialization
5. rural areas had combination of herding and farming
• paid tribute to the ruler
• farming was based on rainfall, not
• irrigation
• therefore, population was less
• concentrated on the Nile, less directly controlled by the capital
6. major long-distance trade was the source
7. of much of wealth and military power
• had contact with the Mediterranean
• also traded to east and west by means
• of camel caravans
• less Egyptian influence than earlier
• times

Civilizations of Mesoamerica

There was a lack of interaction with other major cultures, including with other cultures in the Americas.

1. rugged mountainous terrain gave rise to enormous range of micro-climates and cultural diversity
2. development without large domesticated animals or ironworking
3. important civilizations developed in Mesoamerica and the Andes long before Aztec and Inca empires
4. extraordinary diversity of Mesoamerican civilizations
• shared an intensive agricultural technology
• shared economies based on market exchange
• similar religions
• frequent interaction
  Teotihuacán: The Americas’ Greatest City
  1. city was begun ca. 150 B.C.E.
  2. by 550 C.E., population was 100,000– 200,000
  3. much about Teotihuacán is unknown
  4. city was centrally planned on a gridlike pattern
  5. specialized artisans
  6. little evidence of rulers or of tradition of public inscriptions
  7. deep influence on Mesoamerica, especially in 300–600 C.E.
  • directly administered perhaps 10,000 square miles
  • influence of Teotihuacán armies spread as far as Mayan lands
  • apparently also had diplomatic connections with other areas
  • trade
  • copying of Teotihuacán art and
  • architecture
  8. mysterious collapse ca. 650 C.E. Aztecs named the place Teotihuacán: “city of the gods”
  Teotihuacan was one of the most remarkable cities of the ancient world. It is considered to be one of the world's great archaeological sites. In its day, it was massive, heavily populated, and well organized. It was an important city for hundreds of years, and remained important to the Aztecs, though for different reasons than in earlier times. To this day it is visited because it is an ancient cite that is outstanding. Many go out of their way to Mexico to see the beautiful the city of Teotihuacan, its architecture and art.  
  Teotihuacan is well-known for its colorful murals painted on smooth walls.