HISTORY OF AFRICA OR ANCIENT AFRICA

Scientists believe that Africa was the birthplace of mankind. By 100,000 BC

modern humans lived by hunting and gathering with stone tools. From Africa they
spread to Europe.

By 5,000 farming had spread to North Africa. People herded cattle and they grew
crops. At that time the Sahara Desert was not a desert. It was a green and fertile
area. Gradually it grew drier and became a desert.

Meanwhile about 3,200 BC writing was invented in Egypt. The Egyptians made
tools and weapons of bronze. However by the time Egyptian civilization arose
most of Africa was cut off from Egypt and other early civilizations by the Sahara
Desert. Sub-Saharan Africa was also hampered by its lack of good harbors,
which made transport by sea difficult.

Farmers in Africa continued to use stone tools and weapons however about 600
BC the use of iron spread in North Africa. It gradually spread south and by 500
AD iron tools and weapons had reached what is now South Africa.

About 480 BC the Phoenicians from what is now Lebanon founded the city of
Carthage in Tunisia. Carthage later fought wars with Rome and in 202 BC the
Romans defeated the Carthaginians at the battle of Zama. In 146 BC Rome
destroyed the city of Carthage and made its territory part of their empire.

Meanwhile Egyptian influence spread along the Nile and the kingdoms of Nubia
and Kush arose in what is now Sudan. By 100 AD the kingdom of Axum in
Ethiopia was highly civilized. Axum traded with Rome, Arabia and India. Axum
became Christian in the 4th century AD.

Meanwhile the Roman Empire continued to expand. In 30 BC Egypt became a

province of Rome. Morocco was absorbed in 42 AD. However the rest of Africa
was cut off from Rome by the Sahara Desert.

AFRICAN CULTURE

The rich and diverse African culture varies not only from one country to another,
but within each country as well. The culture of each ethnic group centres on
family and can be found in each group’s art, music and oral literature.

Throughout Africa, the people speak a variety of languages, practice numerous

religions and reside in various types of dwellings.

The vast majority of people living in Africa are indigenous; however, people from
all over the world have migrated to Africa for hundreds of years. Arabs began
 crossing into North Africa from the Middle East in the 7th century, A.D., bringing
with them the religion of Islam. Europeans began settling in the southern portion
of the continent in the mid-17th century, as did South Asians, who settled in the
areas of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. Over the centuries, African
culture has meshed with cultures from around the world, although much of
traditional African customs have remained throughout.
Ethnic groups and African tribes have customs that are unique to their culture.
The customs and traditions of each group have been woven into a tapestry as
colourful and diverse as the people of Africa themselves.
CLOTHING

type of clothing worn across Africa varies from north to south, and by religious
beliefs and traditional customs. Some cultures wear colourful attire, while others
wear less colour but include shiny threads in their dressing with minimal jewelry.
AFRICAN FOOD
The environment plays a huge part in what kinds of foods are consumed in
different parts of the African continent. Most cuisines include fruit, grain,
vegetables, milk and meat products. Quite a number of cultural groups have very
similar foods in their cuisines. For example, a very common maize/corn-based
dish is pap, also named ugali, sadza, nsima, nchima, chima, poshto, tuozafi,
ubgali, bugali, sokoro, sokora, depending on which part of the continent you are
eating it.
MUSIC OF AFRICA
African music is as diverse as the people, and has also been influenced by music
from the western world. Traditional music in southern Africa usually involves
drums and singing, and such instruments as the thumb piano accompanied by
rattles made from some dried fruit or vegetable with seeds inside.

Africa is considered by many scientists to be the origin of mankind, Africa is a

continent of 54 independent countries and a rich mix of native peoples, cultures,
economies and history. The scenic beauty and variety is quite stunning, it is home to
vast deserts, tropical rain forests, rugged mountains and fertile grasslands. It is
abundant in flora and fauna unsurpassed by any other continent. An ever-increasing
number of tourists from around the globe are drawn to this incredible continent every
year to experience its wonders.

Yet despite its natural wealth and beauty, Africa includes the fifteen least developed
nations in the world, 70% of its population survives on less than $2 a day, disease and
famine continue to kill millions of its people each year, and even the most basic
education is denied to a large percentage of its children.

Africa is considered as second largest continent in the world with a total area of around
11 million square miles that account for 5.7% of the earth’s surface as well as 20% of
the total surface of land on our planet.

It has a rich geography as well as an interesting history thus making it a continent with
such biodiversity that is awe inspiring. Africa has much more to it than poverty and
apartheid, for which it is well known the world over.

There are 54 countries as well as quite a few disputed territories. Sudan used to be the
largest country in Africa until it was split into Sudan and South Sudan. Algeria is now
the largest African country by geographical area. Cairo is the capital city of Egypt and
is also the largest city.

As far as the size is concerned along with the population Africa is the second largest
continent. Africa is filled with some of nature’s greatest wonders, there are a few facts
about Africa given below that will help you to understand more about this beautiful
continent.

References:

http://www.localhistories.org/africanhistory.html

https://www.victoriafalls-guide.net/facts-about-africa.html