APAAS Review Note Sheet

Unit 1: Foundations of African American Studies

Key Concepts
➔ African Heritage: Understand the diverse cultures and societies of Africa before the
transatlantic slave trade.
➔ Transatlantic Slave Trade: Key facts about how and why Africans were brought to the
Americas.
➔ Middle Passage: The brutal sea journey from Africa to the Americas.

Important Figures
❖ Carter G. Woodson - He is the founder of the Association of “Negro Life” and History.
He also introduced Black History Week.
❖ W.E.B Du Bois - The First black man who got a PhD from Harvard. He also advocated
for civil rights.
❖ Sundiata Keira - He was the founder of the Mali Empire. He was also known as the Lion
Prince.
❖ Suni Ali - He was the founder of the Songhai Empire. He conquered parts of Mali during
its decline.
❖ Mansa Musa - He was a king of the Mali Empire. He was said to be the richest man to
ever walk the earth.
❖ Queen Idia Of Benin -
❖ Queen Nzinga Of Ndongo and Matamba -

(A) Identify either a climatological or geographic element of significance to one early African
society. (1 Point) A geographic element of an early African Society is the Nile River. It runs
through Egypt and Sudan, it has tributaries the Blue Nile and the White Nile. Located in South
Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia. Its significance was for travel and trading. Egypt was mainly
supported by the Nile River.
(B) Describe one way in which trade significantly impacted a particular early African society.
(1Point) Trade impacted Nubia/Kush because of their rich resources like copper, ivory, ebony,
gold, and panther skins led them to most of their wealth. Nubia emerged along the Nile and that
was critical for transporting goods.
(C) Choose one early African society and explain using specific examples of how trade and
cross-cultural exchange included more than just tangible items, but could include political
ideology, religion, or intellectual endeavors. (3 Points) The Mali Empire housed centers for
learning and intellectual growth. Timbuktu was the center for education and trading. Its strategic
location allowed for traders to pass by to gain knowledge. The trans-Saharan trade routes
encouraged the exchange of knowledge and ideas, making it more attractive to students, traders,
and scholars. Timbuktu had Universities, libraries, Madrasas (Religious schools built by Mansa
Musa blending in traditional West African designs with Islamic Designs), and Mosques (The
building of the mosques was meant to reflect Timbuktu’s cultural heritage.)
(D) Explain one example of a benefit to a particular society from trade or cross-cultural
interaction and one example of negative long-term consequences from trade or cross-cultural
interaction. You may use two separate societies, or you may use one society to highlight a benefit
and a second society to highlight negative consequences. (3 Points) Mali’s wealth and wide
influence attracted further trade and investments, especially from the Europeans. Also, having
strong Islamic beliefs and influence allowed for diplomatic ties to be created with other Islamic
states. Since Congo and Portugal had a strong relationship, it influenced Congo into taking part
in the Transatlantic slave trade. In the beginning, they both were benefiting then Congo became
too reliant on Portugal's goods which led to Portugal beginning to only accept people as
currency.

Sections:

1.1: What Is African American Studies?

Key Terms:
★ Diaspora - People of African descent.
★ Interdisciplinary Studies - Is studying more than one thing in a field (for this class it
would be history, literature, and art of African Descent.
★ Complex Societies -

Key Concept:
➔ Describe the features that characterize African American Studies.
- It’s an interdisciplinary class. Over the year, we will study history, literature, art,
music, traditions, cultures, and other disciplines that provides a better
understanding of the experiences of African descendants.

➔ Describe the developments that led to the incorporation of African American

Studies into United States colleges and universities in the 1960s and 1970s.
- The Black Campus Movement of 1965-1972 led to the establishment of
African-American study departments in colleges. This movement advocated for
diversity in colleges for minority groups. (like offering African American Studies,
studying black politics, culture, and literature. Also, hiring more black staff.) The
first college to establish a black studies department was San Francisco State in
 1968. This movement also inspired other minority groups to fight for their history
to be known and taught.

➔ Explain how African American Studies enriches the study of early Africa and its
relationship to communities of the African diaspora.
- The examination of African history enriches people by gaining a deeper
understanding of the identities and experiences of African Americans. In early
societies, the development of arts, technology politics, religion, and music helped
people gain a better understanding of African history. It also refutes the claims
that Africa was an ahistorical place.

1.2: The African Continent: A Varied Landscape

Key Terms:
★ Geographically diverse:
★ Sahel/Semi-Arid: unpredictable (prone to droughts and irregular rainfall) It was very hot
summers and cool winters.
★ Mediterranean: It had hot and dry summers but mild and moist winters. It receives
seasonal rainfall. Located in northern parts of Africa like Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, and
Libya.
★ Tropical Rainforest: Humid and warm. Temp. 70s-90s. It receives 60 to 200in of rain per
year.
★ Savanna Grasslands: Located in the Serengeti of Eastern Africa (Tunisia, Egypt, and
Libya.)
★ Niger River: Goes through Niger, Nigeria, Mali, and Guinea.
★ Congo River: Goes through the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of
Congo.
★ Zambezi River: Begins in the center of Sub-Suraran Africa and goes through Zambia,
Angola, and Mozambique.
★ Orange River: Goes through Namibia, Lesotho, and South Africa.
★ Nile River: Goes through Egypt and Sudan.

Key Concept:
➔ Describe the geographic features of the African continent.
-
 ➔ Explain how Africa’s varied landscape affected patterns of settlement and trade
between diverse cultural regions.
- In Egypt, the Nile River played a critical role in trade and travel.
- In the Aksum Empire, the Red Sea and Indian Ocean were used for trading.
- Each landscape requires different agricultural practices along with containing
different resources which lead to cultural and economic success and interactions.
With that being said climate zones affect the type of trade that occurs in a region
and the economic activities engaged in.

1.3: Population Growth and Ethnolinguistic Diversity

Key Terms:
★ Bantu
★ Bantu people
★ Bantu Migration: This is important because this migration shaped most of Africa into
what it is today.

Key Concept:
➔ Describe the causes of Bantu expansion across the African continent.
- The occurrence of the Bantu migration was because there was an increase in
population in central and West Africa. The development of technological and
agricultural innovations led to a population increase, causing resources to be
exhausted and forcing people to migrate. Two critical groups that played a big
role in this expansion were the Nok and Bantu people. The expansion led to the
Bantu languages and agricultural technology to spread throughout Sub-Saharan
Africa.

➔ Explain how the Bantu expansion affected the linguistic (langue) diversity of West
and Central Africa and the genetic heritage of African Americans.
- As a result of the Bantu expansion, there was the formation of about 500 new
languages and because of that, it caused an alteration in the way people look and
sounded like. Another result of the Bantu expansion was the formation of about
400 new ethnic groups but still strongly tied to Bantu origins leading to the
domination of Southern Africa. However, some eathic groups don’t have ties to
 Bantu origin indicating that they were not a part of the Bantu expansion and they
didn’t interact with them.

1.4: Africa’s Ancient Societies

Key Terms:
★ Egypt
★ Nubia/Kush
★ Aksum
★ Nok

Key Concept:
➔ Describe the features of, and goods produced by, complex societies that emerged in
ancient East and West Africa.
- Complex societies consist of a writing system, a government system, a
division of labor, and some sort of religious system. Some complex
societies include Egypt, Nubia or Kush, The Aksum Empire, and Nok
Societies.

- The Ancient Egyptian Civilization emerged along the Nile in 3150 BCE
and they established 30 dynasties. Egypt had 3 important periods, the Old
Kingdom, the Middle Period, and the New Kingdom. The Old Period was
when the pyramids were built. The Middle Period was when they had
decentralized city-states and the Pharaohs had some control. The New
Kingdom was the Egypt Expanded led by Ahmose the First (1570-1544
BCE) Nubia/Kush was the source of Egypt's wealth because they obtained
gold and other luxury trade Items. Due to Egypt taking Nubia/Kush’s
resources, it led to conflicts between the 2 societies. Eventually,
Nubia/Kush conquered Egypt and ruled for the next century.

- Nubia/Kush also emerged along the Nile they had access to copper, ivory,
ebony, and panther skins. They developed a writing system called the
Meroitic script. Nubia took over Egypt around 750 BCE establishing the
25th dynasty.
- The Aksume Empire emerged in eastern Africa around 100 BCE. They
were intermediaries (Link) for trade between the Mediterranean and the
Indian Ocean. They controlled the port of Adulis which was on the Red
Sea. They established a currency and a written language known as Gez.
They obtained a strong navy to maintain control over the Indian Ocean.
 The Aksum empire was particularly known for its impressive tall stone
monuments. They were also the first to adopt Christianity.

- The Nok Societies emerged in West Africa around 500 BCE. They were
1st ironworking society in the region. They were known for their terracotta
sculptures. It gives insight into gender roles. Men primarily worked in
ironmaking while the Women worked on pottery.

➔ Explain why Africa’s ancient societies are culturally and historically significant to
Black communities.
- Ancient African Societies hold significance to black communities today they
convey the contributions and complexities of African societies. It also refutes
racial stereotypes that claimed Africa contained no culture nor government.

1.5: The Sudanic Empires: Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

Key Terms:
★ Sudanic Empires
★ Ghana
★ Mali
★ Songhai
★ Gold Salt Trade
★ Trans-Saharan Trade
★ Hajj

Key Concept:
➔ Explain how the influence of gold and trade shaped the political, economic, and
religious development of the ancient West African empires of Ghana, Mali, and
Songhai.
- All of these empires were prosperous in Gold mines and because they all had
strategic locations for trade routes (Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa) allowed the
empires to control the flow of goods leading to most of their wealth. Trading led
to the adoption of different religions allowing the Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
empires to be more diversified.
- The Ghana Empire was the first of the Sudanic Empires. They controlled trade
between the Sahara Desert and the Sudanic Savannah. They had a strong military
and they had a taxation system to control trade which led to their economy being
successful. The people who lived in the capital adopted Islam (It was not too
 widely accepted in the rest of the empire). They were known for their structures
and urban centers.
- The Mali empire was the second and the wealthiest of the Sudanic empires. One
of the most memorable Kings, Mansa Musa was known for his enormous wealth
and pilgrimage to Hajj in Meca. The Mali empire was known for trading,
learning, and cultural exchange. They were able to obtain steel weapons which
assisted them in expanding their power to neighboring groups. Islamic culture was
incorporated into the empire through the implementation of Islamic schools, and
mosques, and incorporating it into their landscape.
- The last and the largest of the Sudanic Empires was the Songhai Empire. It had a
autocratic and centralized government. They controlled important trading cities
like Goe and Timbucktu. Morocco conquered the Songhai Empire in 1591 but the
Songhai Empire was experiencing civil wars before Morocco.

➔ Explain how Mali’s wealth and power created opportunities for the empire to
expand its reach to other societies within Africa and across the Mediterranean.
- Mali’s wealth and wide influence attracted further trade and investments,
especially from the Europeans. Also, having strong Islamic beliefs and influence
allowed for diplomatic ties to be created with other Islamic states.

➔ Explain the connection between the Sudanic empires and early generations of
African Americans.
- The Sudanic Empires were in West and Central Africa, which is where
most of the slaves that came to the Americas were transported. They are
descendants of these empires.

1.6: Learning Traditions

Key Terms:
★ Timbuktu: Trading City
★ Griot: Is oral Storytelling.
★ Epic of Sundiata: Example of griot storytelling. It tells the story of how Sundiata Keita
rose to power. It provided inspiration and moral guidance to the people it was told to.

Key Concept:
➔ Describe the institutional and community-based models of education present in
early West African societies.
 - The Mali Empire housed centers for learning and intellectual growth. Timbuktu
was the center for education. Its strategic location allowed for traders to pass by to
gain knowledge. The trans-Saharan trade routes encouraged the exchange of
knowledge and ideas, making it more attractive to students, traders, and scholars.
Timbuktu had Universities, libraries, Madrasas (Religious schools built by Mansa
Musa blending in traditional West African designs with Islamic Designs), and
Mosques (The building of the mosques was meant to reflect Timbuktu’s cultural
heritage.)

1.7: Indigenous Cosmologies and Religious Syncretism

Key Terms:
★ Religious Syncretism: Blending different cultures, RELIGIONS, or ideas.
★ Syncretic practices
★ Indigenous beliefs
★ Voodoo

Key Concept:
➔ Explain how syncretic practices in early West and West Central African societies
developed and were carried forward in African-descended communities in the
Americas.
- Syncretic practices are the practices of blending different cultures, religions, or ideas. An
example of syncretic practices in early West and West Central African societies is the
Mali empire. When it was adopted mosque designs had a combination of West African
and Islamic designs. The Blending of Islam with traditional beliefs in West Africa led to
Islamic schools and courts being built. As well as Islamic architecture and art on
landscaping.
- The adoption of Christianity in the Aksum and Congo Empire led to the blending of
traditional spiritual concepts like honoring their ancestors with Christian practices. When
Slaves were brought to America most of them were Christian leading to unique versions
of Christianity being practiced. In Louisiana, vodou was practiced and in North America,
hoodoo was practiced.
 1.8: Culture and Trade in Southern and East Africa
Key Terms:
★ Great Zimbabwe
★ Swahili Coast
★ The Great Enclosure

Key Concept:
➔ Describe the function and importance of Great Zimbabwe’s stone architecture.
- The Hill complex is believed to be the royal residence. The valley complex was a
hub for long-distance trading. The Great Enclosure was built to have an inner wall
with structures in it then a younger outer wall. It was said to be used for religious
and administrative activities. It also had conical towers that were used as
granaries.

➔ Explain how geographic, cultural, and political factors contributed to the rise and
fall of the city-states on the Swahili Coast.
- The Swahili coast was located on the eastern side of Africa. The city-states were
intensional about their location to control the flow of ivory, gold, and slaves. The
Swahili coast was united by language because most people were from the Bantu
expansion. Bantu speakers blended Arabic with their language creating Swahili.
The city-states were characterized by their coral stone architecture (Found in:
Great Mosque of Kilwa and in the Husunnikuba Palace.) The Portugues
established settlements along the Swahili coast by gaining control over
Mozambique, Sofala, and Quilua.

1.9: West Central Africa: The Kingdom of Kongo

Key Terms:
★ Kongo
★ Enslaved People
★ Nobles
★ Transatlantic slave trade
Key Concept:
➔ Explain how the adoption of Christianity affected the economic and religious
aspects of the Kingdom of Kongo.
- After Congo had contact with the Portuguese they voluntarily converted to
Christianity. The conversion led to a strong relationship between Congo and
Portugal. They both benefited from this by gaining wealth through trade. Due to
Congo not being forced to convert to Christianity, it led to mass acceptance and
syncretism through incorporating Christianity with Congo's traditional Beliefs and
practices.

➔ Explain how the Kingdom of Kongo’s political relations with Portugal affected the
kingdom’s participation in the transatlantic slave trade.
- Since Congo and Portugal had a strong relationship, it influenced Congo into
taking part in the Transatlantic slave trade. Portugal began to only accept people
as currency.

➔ Explain how the Kingdom of Kongo’s Christian culture influenced early generations
of African Americans.
- After people got to America they continued to practice Christianity. They also
took part in naming their children after saints according to the day of the week
when they were born. Congo’s religious practices have been seen to be practiced
in the Caribbean like Palo and Cuba. It also influenced African American Gospel
music.

1.10: Kinship and Political Leadership

Key Terms:
★ Kinship:
★ Political Alliance

Key Concept:
➔ Describe the function of kinship along with the varied roles women played in early
West and Central African societies.
- In early Western African societies, they didn’t have a centralized government.
Most societies governed themselves and had a council of elders. They were bound
 to each other through language and culture. These early societies were matrilineal
meaning that family heritage was traced through the mother. Women were
advisors, spiritual leaders, market traders, and agriculturalists.

➔ Compare the political and military leadership of Queen Idia of Benin and Queen
Njinga of Ndongo-Matamba.
- Queen Idia was a political advisor for her son (the king). She was was also played
an important role in the Agala Benin War of 1515-1516. Queen Nzinga was a
Diplomatic strategist. She used her converting to Christianity and getting baptized
as a diplomatic strategy to negotiate with the Portugues. She also had
administrative reforms to build up Kingdon’s internal strength and structure. She
fought against the Portuguese and used guerrilla warfare tactics.

➔ Describe the legacy of Queen Idia of Benin’s and Queen Njinga of

Ndongo-Matamba’s leadership.
- Queen Idia became a symbol of black women's leadership. She received the lyoba
title which is still significant to the Benin culture and political system. Also, she
was known for her art and cultural achievements. Queen Nzinga was known for
being a strong political and military leader. She set up the next 80 years of ruling
to be by women. She inspired future generations to not conform to colonial
domination.

1.11: Global Africans

Key Terms:
★ Trade
★ African Elites

Key Concept:
➔ Explain the reasons why Africans went to Europe and Europeans went to Africa
before the onset of the transatlantic slave trade
- The Europeans (Portuguese) had a desire to go to Africa in search of gold because
they were astonished by the tales of Mansa Musa’s wealth and the Catalan Atlas
(map). Prince Harry managed to bypass the Trans-Saharan trade routes leading to
 him gaining access to gold from the Sudanic empires. Africans went to Europe to
have a higher place in society and pursue their passions.

➔ Explain how early forms of enslaved labor by the Portuguese shaped slave-based
economies in the Americas.

- The Portuguese made Sugar plantations which acted as a model for what slave labor
would be like in the Americas. The plantation system used 500 enslaved people, Then
they w would be divided according to labor within the factories. The enslaved people
worked every stage of the Sugar plantation. These plantations demonstrated how
profitable slave-based agriculture was, therefore being more attractive to the Caribbean
and Americas to expand their agriculture.