Introduce students to the spiritual frameworks of African civilizations with this deep-dive into traditional African religions and their lasting legacies. Lesson 1.7 explores core themes such as cosmology, ancestor veneration, the role of divination, and the sacred rituals that shaped African communities before and during contact with Islam and Christianity. Students then examine how African spirituality adapted and persisted through processes of religious syncretism during the transatlantic slave trade and colonial encounters. This lesson includes both guided note-taking slides and an editable learning packet to support critical thinking and vocabulary development.