AP African American Studies Resource Archive | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Water-color nautical chart of the African continent including a skyline of an ancient African empire flanked by palm trees.

The Discovery of the Americas and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

by Ira Berlin

Explore the origins of the transatlantic slave trade and the plantation system.

Essay

A shirtless Black African royal holding a staff with two spear heads, wearing a red and blue tiered hat with fur flowing down the headpiece, gold armlets, bracelets, and anklets, and a blue loincloth with a long train.

The Catholic Church in Kongo

by John K. Thornton

Explore the history of Catholic conversion and syncretic practices in the kingdom of Kongo.

Essay

Map of the Kongo River.

Afonso and the Slave Trade

by John K. Thornton

Explore the origins and evolution of the slave trade in Kongo and Portugal.

Essay

Map of Africa in tan, with arrows in black, red, green, and yellow showing the spread of Christianity and Islam, Bantu migrations, and trade routes within and beyond the continent

Migrations in Ancient African History

from Exploring Africa, African Studies Center

Explore the spread of Bantu languages, Christianity, and Islam and trade routes throughout African kingdoms.

Thematic Map

An ivory and metal mask of a woman, with a tiara and necklace

Queen Mother Pendant Mask: Iyoba

16th Century

View a mask that was a symbol of the wealth of Benin in this period.

Primary Source

A wooden crucifix sculpture with three crosses stacked vertically, each with a Christlike crucified figure

Triple Crucifix

1500s–1800s

View this example of syncretic religious practice in the kingdom of Kongo.

Primary Source

Queen Nzinga, at right, wearing a gold crown, pink bandeau, pink, blue, and red skirt, and holding a multicolored bow and arrow, followed by an entourage of shirtless men and women.

Queen Nzinga with Military Entourage

1665–1668

View this depiction of Queen Nzinga (also spelled Njinga) from the viewpoint of an Italian missionary in Matamba.

Primary Source

A map of the African continent with arrows referencing the migration of Bantu peoples and languages

“The Bantu Migration, 2000 BCE–1500 CE”

by Mark Cartwright

See the extensive migration of Bantu peoples on the African continent.

Thematic Map

Map of the African continent, with colored ovals recognizing approximate geographic locations and periods of kingdoms and empires.

“Ancient & Medieval Sub-Saharan African States”

by Mark Cartwright

Visualize the approximate locations of various kingdoms and empires, including Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.

Thematic Map

A jet of water in a tiled water fountain labeled 'Yemoja" [also known as Yemayá] in a body of water, topped with a white bust of a woman and, above the bust, a dark neon sign reading "The Surprise."

“Yemayá”

by Grupo Abbilona

View and listen to an Afro-Cuban example of syncretic religious practices.

Video

A Black woman wearing a gold, red, and blue crown, blue necklace, and a green checked royal robe.

Queen Njinga

1830s

Take a different look at Njinga in this portrait.

Primary Source

A map of the Indian Ocean world — Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia — with red lines representing trade routes from the east coast of Africa. Blue arrows indicate typical monsoon seasons (November-February for East Africa, April-September for South Asia).

Map Showing Indian Ocean Trade Routes

by Willie Ryan and Lisa Vann

Explore the connection between the Swahili Coast and the Indian Ocean World.

Thematic Map