African American
nibaba
ThepeoplingandearlyhistoryofAfrica-1.pptAfrica’s prehistory
The peopling and early history of Africa
The geography of Africa
- Topography and drainage
- Africa’s topography is dominated by areas of plateau
- Most of the eastern and southern parts of the continent are more than 1,000 meters a.s.l
- Lower lands (plains) predominate in the north and west
- The Rift Valley system
- Continent drained by the Nile, Niger, Congo (Zaire), Benue, Limpopo
Map of Africa (physical)
Geography of Africa cont.
- Climate and Vegetation
- Equitorial
- Tropical – north and south of the equator
- Desert and Semi-Desert
- Mediterranean
- Vegetation cover depends primarily on the mean annual rainfall
- Vegetation zones in latitudinal bands (exceptions in East Africa because of the Rift Valley system)
- Infinitely diverse and complex environment
History of Human Habitation
- Long history of human habitation
- Dynamic relationship between humans and environment
- What is the history of this occupation?
- Two theories
- Traditions/myths of origin
- Evolution
Traditions/myths of origin
- An account of a people of their origin
- Stories, folklores, drama
- Relate to creation and migration
- Creation stories relate to the mythical past
- Migration stories relate to later periods
Evolutionary theory
In 1871, Charles Darwin hypothesized Africa to be center of human origin
Archaeological and paleontological research in the last 80 years supported this
Genetics has contributed its 2 cents
In 2000, Human Genome Project completed – the sequence of 3.1 billion subunits of DNA in 23 pairs of chromosomes.
…Evolutionary theory
- Evolutionary history of primates extends to 70-80 mya
- 60 mya, early primates started to show several trends in N. America, S. America, Europe, Asia & Africa
- Early apes and Old World monkeys appeared in Africa 23 mya and spread to Eurasia
- Hominids evolved from this branch 4-8 mya
- Earliest evidence found in E/Africa
Origins of Humanity
1. Primate evolution began 70 - 80 million years ago
2. Evidence of first bipedal hominids 4 million years ago, East Africa
3. Cranial volume of earliest humans: 400-550 cubic centimeters
4. Homo erectus spread to other world regions (brain size: 850 – 1,100 cc)
5. Increasing brain size yields production of stone tools
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B. Earlier Stone Age
1. First stone tools primitive, but useful
2. Latter part of this period, tool-making became more deliberate
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C. Middle Stone Age (200, 000 years ago)
1. Tools became even more refined a. Spear shaft construction, effective hunting
2. Use of natural pigments for art
3. Controlled use of fire
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D. Later Stone Age (40,000 years ago)
1. Developed “microlithic technology”
a. Use of bow and arrow
2. Hunting, gathering for agriculture, herding
3. Naturalistic, as well as stylized, rock art
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E. Food Production in Africa
1. Originated During the Later Stone Age
a. Only certain plants and animals in specific regions
2. Sickle blades used to harvest grasses
3. Grinding stones used to process grain
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F. Iron Age Developments
1. Iron technology entered Africa from Middle East
2. Flourished in certain areas of the continent
3. Christianity with Romans, 4th century A.D.
4. Islam superseded in 7th century A.D.
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