Blog Post #9 - Chapter 6

This chapter focuses on other seconds wave civilizations in other parts of the world, such as Africa. Civilizations in Africa relied on the heavy but unpredictable rainfall, that was followed by a dry season. One civilianization focused on in this chapter is Meroë. A Kingdom ruled by a monarch, which often time were women. Meroë was a wealthy kingdom with access to gold, ivory, tortoiseshell etc. It also made iron weapons and cotton cloth. This made long distance trading common. By the kingdom fell due to deforestation and the trading routes changing from the Nile Valley to the Red Sea. The civilianization was overthrown by a neighboring kingdom, Axum. Axum was an agricultural civilization that farmed using a plow. Farming great amounts of wheat, barley, millet and teff. Axum took advantage of trade with Rome and other civilizations. Axum was also a Christian Kingdom with the coins having the cross on them. The Axum kingdom fell due to deforestation, soil exhaustion and erosion from extensive framing. Another civilization developed along the Niger River. But this civilization function without a government, organizing themselves in groups based on special skills. Relied on trade to get things they did not have access to around the river. Two more civilizations were Mesoamerica and Andes. Most things in these civilizations occurred without many domesticated animals and iron tools. Although Andes did have access to alpacas and llamas. They grew maize, beans, chili peppers etc. Had their own 260 day calendar. Other civilizations discussed were the Maya best known for their mathematics and use of the solar calendar and one of the most extensive writing systems.