#AP Art History: Unit 6 - Art of Africa 🌍

Hey there, future art historian! Let's dive into the fascinating world of African art. Remember, this unit is all about diversity and the unique ways different cultures express themselves. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource, especially as you're reviewing the night before the exam. Let's make sure you're feeling confident and ready to ace it!

#Contextualization (Historical Background)

#Geographical and Cultural Diversity

• Africa's diverse geography (deserts, oceans, mountains) acted as natural barriers, limiting the spread of artistic traditions. This led to highly localized art styles.
• Unlike Europe, where art styles often vary by nation, African art can differ dramatically even between neighboring villages due to varied religious, ethnic, and linguistic factors.

#Pre-Colonial Kingdoms and Religious Syncretism

• Before the Scramble for Africa, the continent was home to powerful kingdoms with traditional African religions.
• Some kingdoms blended traditional beliefs with Christianity and Islam (syncretism).
• Even with the spread of Abrahamic religions, many still practice traditional religions or their syncretic forms. Religion is a HUGE theme in this unit!

#Colonial Impact

• The Berlin Conference of 1884–1885 led to European colonization, which lasted until the mid-to-late 20th century.

Understanding the historical context – especially the impact of geography, religion, and colonialism – is crucial for analyzing African art. These topics often appear in both MCQs and FRQs.

#Architecture

#Great Zimbabwe

• Function: Capital, royal residence, trading center, and granary 🌾 (grain storage).
• Material: Ashlar masonry (precisely cut stones held together without mortar). This is a big deal because most African architecture uses mud or adobe.
• Significance: Largest building in early African history, with walls 800 feet long.

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