Sub-Saharan Africa
By: Jonathan Morales
Political
- The country of Africa was mostly made up of tribes and hunting and gathering communities. There were not that many established governments and states.
- The Dutch colonized South Africa and set up the Dutch East India Company outpost in Cape Town.
- The Kingdom of Kongo at the time was the biggest and most powerful kingdom of Sub-Saharan Africa.
- The Kingdom was ruled by Mani-Kongos. The first ruler was Lukeni Nimi who founded the kingdom.
- When the king died a group of officials met to elect a new king. This group was made up of elders, provincial governors, and members of the aristocracy.
Map show some of the outposts of the Dutch East India Company
Economics
Economics
- The Dutch east India Company had a trading post in Cape Town so a lot of goods were shipped through this outpost and on to other parts of the world for sale.
- The Kongo kingdom also did a lot of trading. They had interaction with the Portuguese who traded with them European and Asian goods.
- Soon the Portuguese started to demand human slaves in return for their goods and soon the empire started to weaken due to the loss of so many people.
- An
estimated one million African Slaves were taken from the Kongo region by 1680.
Picture showing the amount of slaves packed into one ship and how they were placed.
Religion
Religion
- The Dutch introduced Christianity to the South American people which then spread to other parts of the world due to interaction through trade.
- The Portuguese introduced Christianity to the Kongo Kingdom and most of the people converted to the new religion. Some of the kings were soon even were baptized under the Christian church.
- Most of Africa was still in tribes or small communities and had their own little native religions.
- The introduction of a new religion didn’t completely stop people from practicing old rituals or incorporating them into the new religion.
A christian cross with African art influence
Society
Society
- The only ones that were truly safe of slavery were the Europeans.
- Slavery was a big part of the society and was the fear of any one that lived in Africa.
- The Europeans came in and just took people but mostly traded for them.
- The life of a slave was harsh and most of them did not survive to live for very long.
- The ships in which they transported them were terrible and many died being transported.
- Most of them were shipped to Latin America were they had to live hard cruel lives and died very quickly due to living conditions.
- Slaves were captured usually during times of war and their houses were burnt down and then taken to be sold or traded. They would separate them from their families and were forced to move apart.
A slave dealer leading slaves to the coast to be shipped
Innovation, Intellectual, Inventions
Innovation, Intellectual, Inventions
- Not many innovations or inventions were made in this region during this time.
- They were known for their ivory and the things they used for the ivory.
- They also built many buildings out of clay type material and decorated their houses with items they made or found.
Figurine with three men made from ivory
Arts and Architecture
Arts and Architecture
- Sub-Saharan Africa was not known for its Architecture.
- Most of the people lived in huts either made of straw or clay.
- The capital of the Kongo Kingdom on the other hand was made of stone and had a palace for the king surrounded by walls.
- Much of the art in region was in one way or another influenced by the European arrivals.
- The people would often make carvings into ivory and often were hired by the Europeans.
Seated male figure made from wood and glass during the time of the Kongo Kingdom.
Near Geography
Near Geography
- The Kongo Kingdom was located in what is now the democratic rep. of Congo.
- The rain forest was also used by the Africans to attain food and other resources needed.
- Africa has a few main rivers that the natives used like the Congo, Zimbabwe, and the white and blue Nile rivers.
- The major cities and trading locations were located near the Indian Ocean or Atlantic.
Map showing where the Kongo Kingdom was located.
http://www.sahistory.org.za/cape-town/dutch-settlement
http://www.mitchellteachers.org/WorldHistory/EmpiresSubSaharanAfrica/PDFs/comparingthree/InformationAboutKongo.pdf
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/321743/Kongo
http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch2en/conc2en/map_VOC_Trade_Network.html
http://www.wolvendaal.org/history/dutch-reformed-church/18/the-establishment-of-the-reformed-faith-in-ceylon
http://www.sahistory.org.za/cape-town/dutch-settlement
http://www.mitchellteachers.org/WorldHistory/EmpiresSubSaharanAfrica/PDFs/comparingthree/InformationAboutKongo.pdf
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/321743/Kongo
http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch2en/conc2en/map_VOC_Trade_Network.html
http://www.wolvendaal.org/history/dutch-reformed-church/18/the-establishment-of-the-reformed-faith-in-ceylon