AFRICAN EMPIRES UNIT

Anticipation and Reaction Guide

Description: This is the document that we used at the beginning of it unit in order to upon ideas and background knowledge related to themes embedded in our Ancient Africa Unit. It is similar to a pre and post test, but it will serve primarily to reflect upon what we have learned. 

AKSUM 

Ancient Africa "The Cross and The Crescent" - Episode Two Notes

Description: This graphic organizer is designed for us to reflect upon the episode from the PBS series, Ancient Africa. Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. charts the ancient rise of Christianity and Islam, whose economic and cultural influence stretched from Egypt to Ethiopia. Learn about African religious figures like King Lalibela, and Ethiopian saint, and Menelik bringer of the Ark of the Covenant. Additionally, this episode explores the immense impact that the empire of Aksum had on world history. 

The link above will connect you to the graphic organizer that we used while viewing this episode. Unfortunately, it is not currently available without purchase. It may be available through Amazon Prime (?) If you missed out on this important episode, I am available to show it at lunch. 

GHANA

Text and Notes: Ghana Chapter

Description: The link above is for our chapter on the Empire of Ghana. Including a set of notes from one of our scholars. 

Additional Resources:


MALI  

TEXT: The Bling King - Mansa Musa and the Mali Empire

Description: This text will provide you with key information about the very powerful and wealthy empire of Mali (1235-1670 CE) and one of their most famous and consequential leaders, Mansa Musa. 
Instructions: 

Step 1: Preview the text (title, headings, subheadings, images, etc.). This will help you better understand what the author wants you to know.   
Step 2: Read and annotate the text. Specifically, you should be looking for details/evidence about Mansa Musa's impact on world history? 
Step 3: We know successful readers engage the text more than once. Read the text again, and begin providing the required information on the last page. 
Catalan Atlas 1375 CE. Mansa Musa's wealth, power, and generosity were so famous that he was included in the Catalan Atlas, at the center of the Tran-Saharan trade networks
Additional Resources:

African Empires Historian Practice 

African Empires - Document Based Question Set 


Bronze are from the Kingdom of Benin

Description: This Document* Based Question set will help you practice the same skills that historians employ in their profession, and it will provide you with important information that will assist you in writing a short essay about how the achievements and global impact of African Empires. 

*Document implies a primary (original) source of evidence

Instructions: 

Step 1: Read the question first. Why waste time diving into the reading without knowing what you want to find? Reading the question first allows you to establish the lens that you will use when you dive into the evidence. 
Step 2: Familiarize yourself with the context of the document. This will be helpful in determining what the document tells us. 
Step 3: Read and annotate the evidence. Be patient with yourself, historical evidence will often have characteristics that can be difficult for us to understand because they are from the past. 
Step 4: Answer your question using complete sentences.

Essay Preparation 


Description: Students gathered their supporting documents (articles, notes, etc.) and consolidated their information onto the above document to assist in structuring a five paragraph essay. 
Additional Resources: