2.2 African Civilisations in South and Central Africa

• What a civilisation is and why early civilisations are studied
• The location and origins of the Sao civilisation near Lake Chad
• The growth, economy and culture of the Sao civilisation
• The rise of the Zulu kingdom under Shaka in southern Africa
• The political, social and military organisation of the Zulu kingdom
• Factors for the growth and expansion of early civilisations
• A comparison of ancient civilisations with modern society
• The importance and legacy of the Sao and Zulu civilisations

• identify the location, growth and development of selected early civilisations in South and Central Africa up to the 19th century
• evaluate how factors for growth, development and expansion have shaped modern day states in Africa
• distinguish between the characteristics of ancient civilisations in South and Central Africa and those of modern society
• explore the importance of early civilisations in South and Central Africa in relation to modern society
• recognise how factors for growth, development and expansion shape modern day states in Africa

“Which factors contributed to the growth of the early civilisations?”

“How have the modern African states borrowed from early Sao and Zulu civilisations?”

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1. Early civilisations of South and Central Africa
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Introduce early civilisations in South and Central Africa and the two key inquiry questions.
2. The Sao civilisation: location and origins
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Locate the Sao civilisation and describe its origins near the Chari River and Lake Chad.
3. The Sao civilisation: growth and culture
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Describe the economy, crafts and society of the Sao civilisation.
4. The Zulu kingdom: rise under Shaka
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Describe the rise of the Zulu kingdom under Shaka and its expansion.
5. The Zulu kingdom: political and social organisation
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Describe how the Zulu kingdom was governed and organised in society and war.
6. Factors for growth and expansion
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Compare the factors that helped the Sao and Zulu civilisations to grow and expand.
7. Ancient civilisations and modern society
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Compare the characteristics of ancient civilisations in South and Central Africa with modern society.
8. The importance and legacy of the civilisations
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Explain the importance of the Sao and Zulu civilisations and how modern African states borrowed from them.