Humanities 2111, Unit 6: African Civilization
5000 - 1000 B.C. > The Neolithic Revolution, Ancient Egypt
1000 - 500 B.C. > The Kingdom of Kush, The Napatan Period
500 - 1000 A.D. > Spread of Islam across North Africa
1000 - 1500 A.D. > Portuguese explorations in Africa;
transatlantic slave trade; rise of African states
African culture is richly diverse. Erroneously dismissed as primitive
by Europeans and Americans for centuries, traditional African art has
recently become more appreciated for its complexity and symbolism.
African art is utilitarian art, often resulting in anonymity for the
artist. Wood sculpture, in the form of masks or figurines, is perhaps
the most characteristic art form, though wood typically doesn't endure
well in humid climates, so very little African wood art exists from the
time period prior to 1800. Some African artists worked in metals,
stone, textiles, and ivory, and ceremonial pieces in those forms do
exist. The vast majority of African art centers around ancestor and
spirit worship, with artistic practices varying from tribe to tribe.
Tribal Art Forms Handout
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