African Geography

Early Societies in West Africa-

Geography and Trade

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As they did in the past, people still use canoes to travel along the Niger River. This portion of the river is in the forest zone in the southern part of West Africa.

Geography offers many clues about why people settle where they do and how they live.  It also helps explain patterns of trade.  As you will see throughout this lesson, trade played a critical role in the growth and advancement of West African societies.  Let's examine the geography of West Africa and its influence on trade.

Geography

In the north, West Africa begins in the Sahara. To the west and south, the region is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. To the east, it is bordered by the mountains of the present-day country of Cameroon. West Africa includes varied vegetation zones of desert, semidesert, savanna, and forest.

[Sahara: a large, hot desert in North Africa that covers about 3.5 million square miles ] 

Geography

The Sahara spreads across approximately 3.5 million square miles in North Africa and the northern part of West Africa.  Although sand dunes cover one-quarter of the Sahara, this desert also has bare, rocky plains, and even mountains.  The Sahara is very dry except for some scattered oases, or water sources with some vegetation, so it was not a suitable location for large settlements.

Geography

South of the Sahara is a zone of semidesert called the Sahel. The Sahel is not as dry as the Sahara, and it has enough water for short grasses, some small bushes, and trees to survive.

[Sahel: a zone of semidesert, south of the Sahara, where short grasses, small bushes, and a few trees grow] . 

Geography

The southern part of the Sahel merges into the savanna, an area of tall grasses and scattered trees. The savanna has a long rainy season, so grains such as millet, sorghum, and rice can thrive there. Grasses provide food for cattle, camels, goats, and sheep. Rivers, such as the long Niger River, help fertilize nearby land and also provide fish for eating.

[savanna: a vegetation zone of tall grasses and scattered trees, with a long rainy season ] 

[Niger River: the longest river in West Africa, and a kind of trading highway in early times] 

Geography

The Niger River extends into the forest zone, a much wetter area than the savanna, located in the southern part of West Africa.  Its northern part is a woodland forest of trees and shrubs.  Oil palms, yams, and kola trees grow here.  The southern part of the zone is lush rainforest, where rain falls year-round.  In the rainforest, tall trees—such as mahogany and teak—rise above swamps and lagoons.

Multiple Choice

a large, hot desert in North Africa that covers about 3.5 million square miles

• savanna

• Niger River

• Sahel

• Sahara

Multiple Choice

the longest river in West Africa, and a kind of trading highway in early times

• savanna

• Niger River

• Sahel

• Sahara

Multiple Choice

a zone of semidesert, south of the Sahara, where short grasses, small bushes, and a few trees grow]

• savanna

• Niger River

• Sahel

• Sahara

Multiple Choice

a vegetation zone of tall grasses and scattered trees, with a long rainy season

• savanna

• Niger River

• Sahel

• Sahara

Trade

 The geography of West Africa influenced the patterns of trade that developed there. Different resources are found in each of the vegetation zones. As a result, people living in different zones had to trade to acquire items they could not provide for themselves. For example, people on the savanna may have traded grains for yams or mahogany from forest dwellers.

Trade

While several major rivers served as trading routes in West Africa, the region's longest river, the Niger, became a kind of trading highway. People in ancient times traveled the Niger and other rivers by canoe to trade goods. Some traders also crossed the Sahara from North Africa, but most early trade was among West African settlements.

Multiple Choice

How did geography affect trade in West Africa?

• people had to trade to get things they could not produce themselves.

• Because of Geography people had everything they needed

Early Societies in West Africa

2. Early Communities and Villages

By about 4000 B.C.E., some people had settled to farm south of the Sahara. The earliest farming communities were comprised of extended families, which included close relatives, such as grandparents, as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins.

An extended-family community might have had about 15 to 20 members. Each community produced most of the things it required. Family members worked together to clear the fields, plant seeds, and harvest crops. These small communities traded with one another for additional goods. Very likely, one of the male elders made decisions for the family community.

Multiple Choice

An extended-family community might have had about ____to _____ members

• 50 to 100

• 25-45

• 15 to 20

Multiple Choice

The earliest farming communities were comprised of extended families, which included close relatives, such as grandparents, as well as aunts, uncles, and ________.

• cousins

• dogs

• teachers

Eventually, family-based communities joined together to form villages that might contain one- to two-hundred people. The village leader was probably selected for his wisdom and strength.

Multiple Choice

The village leader was probably selected for his ______ and _______.

• age and genes

• wisdom and strength

Extended families usually banded together in villages to get needed help. For example, people might need to collaborate to control a flooding river or to mine for iron or gold. They may also have united for protection. Archaeologists have discovered ruins of high walls and gates at the ancient West African village of Dhar Tichitt, in the present-day country of Mauritania. These structures suggest that the villagers united to defend themselves from outside attacks.

Multiple Choice

Villages had to work together to survive

• true

• false

Africa’s

Geography

AFRICA

•Africa is the world’s second largest
continent (11,700,000 miles).

•It is home to 54 countries, 1,000
different languages, and 800 million
people.

•10% of the world’s population
lives in Africa.

•The vast African continent has almost
every type of landform and climate.

•Africa can be divided into several
regions, including the Sahara, the
Sahel, the savannahs, and the
tropical rain forests.

The Sahara

• The Sahara is the world’s largest hot

desert (3,500,000 miles).

• It runs across the width of

northern Africa and covers 1/3rd
of the continent.

• It divides the continent into two

distinct regions – North Africa and
sub-Saharan Africa.

• The Sahara is covered with sand

dunes, rocky hills, and stretches of
gravel that continue for miles and
miles.

The Sahara

• Very few people live in the desert

because it is considered one of the
harshest places to live in the world.

• The people who do live here are

called nomads.

• They move from place to place,

usually traveling by camel, looking
for food & water.

​You will need to write down two facts after the video.

Open Ended

What are two things you learned about the Sahara from the video?

The Sahel

• The Sahel is a strip of dry grassland

that is located south of the Sahara
and north of the equator that
separates the desert from tropical
rainforests.

• The word “Sahel” means “border” or

“margin”.

• It is a dry, semi-arid region that is

slowly turning into desert.

• It gets more rainfall than the desert,

but still receives very little (ranging
from 6-20 inches).

The Sahel

• The Sahel is relatively flat with few

mountains and hills.

• People have tried to live here but

generations of overgrazing and
desertification have caused soil
erosion.

• Vegetation is sparse here—grasses

and shrubs are unevenly distributed.

Multiple Choice

Which one is NOT true about the Sahel?

• Overgrazing and desertification have caused soil erosion.

• It is a dry, semi-arid region.

• Vegetation is unevenly distributed.

• It receives 20-30 inches of rain each year.

Savanna

• The African savannas are hot, dry

grasslands that are located near the
Equator and cover almost half of Africa.

• They cover the regions just north and

south of the rainforests that lie along the
equator.

• The African savanna is the largest in the

world (over 4.5 million square miles).

Savanna

• There is a large variety of wildlife in

the African savannas, including lions,
zebras, & elephants.

• Farming is good here, but only if

there is good rainfall.

• Grasses and grains like wheat,

oats, and sorghum grow in the
region.

• The area receives enough rain to

support drought resistant
undergrowth, but not enough to
support forest-type vegetation.

• Grasses are tall and thick, while

trees are short and scattered.

Tropical Rainforest

• Africa’s tropical rain forest is located

along the central coast of Africa,
near the Equator, and lies in the
Congo River Basin.

• The rain forest covers 1/5th of the land

surface of Africa and touches 37
countries.

• The rain forest has a hot, humid

climate with an annual rainfall of over
17 feet.

Tropical Rainforest

• Africa’s tropical rain forest is home to

a large variety of animals.

• Trees are so thick and tall that

sunlight never reaches the forest
floor!

• The trees grow hundreds of

feet tall.

• It’s the second largest rainforest in

the world; the Amazon rainforest in
Brazil is the largest.

• Unfortunately, about 90% of this rain

forest has shrunk due to
deforestation.

Multiple Choice

How much has this rainforest shrunk due to deforestation?

• 50%

• 60%

• 75%

• 90%

Congo River

• The Congo River is in west central Africa.

• It begins in central Africa, near Lake

Tanganyika, and flows west.

• It crosses the equator twice and is

surrounded by rainforest.

Congo River

•The Congo River is the second
longest river in Africa and the fifth
longest in the world.

•It’s over 3,000 miles long.

​As you watch, pay attention to why there has been so much conflict in this area. You will need be specific.

Open Ended

Why has there been so much conflict in this region? BE SPECIFIC.

Niger River

• The Niger River is in western Africa.

• It flows through Guinea, Mali, Niger,

Benin, & Nigeria.

•The Niger River is the third largest
river in Africa.

•It runs over 2,600 miles.

• The mouth of the Niger River flows

through a large delta, often referred to
as the “Oil Delta” because of the
petroleum industry that’s centered
here.

Multiple Choice

The Niger River is also known as

• The River with No End

• The Oil Delta

• Petroleum Valley

• Alligator Delta

Lake Victoria

•Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa
and the second largest freshwater lake in
the world. (Lake Superior is the largest.)

•It is in central Africa and extends into three
countries: Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.

•Lake Victoria is a headwaters reservoir for
the Nile River.

Lake Victoria

•Even though it is shallow, Lake Victoria is vital in supporting the millions of
people that live nearby.

•It provides a living for many fishermen and attracts millions of tourists each
year.

•The Great Rift Valley is a giant dip in the Earth’s
surface.

•It was created about 35 million years ago when
the African and Eurasian tectonic plates
separated.

•The valley runs north to south for over 3000
miles, from Syria in Southwest Asia to
Mozambique in east Africa.

Great Rift Valley

Great Rift Valley
•The Great Rift Valley varies in width from about 20 to 60 miles.

•The valley is surrounded by highlands.

•It contains three of Africa’s most important lakes: Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika,
and Lake Malawi.

Mt. Kilimanjaro

•Mt. Kilimanjaro is the tallest
mountain in Africa.

•It is in Tanzania and rises
approximately 16,100 feet at its
base to 19,340 feet above sea level.

•The mountain is a dormant
volcano.

Mt. Kilimanjaro

•Mt. Kilimanjaro is part of the Kilimanjaro National Park and is a major climbing
destination.

•The first climbers proven to have reached the summit of the mountain were Hans
Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller in 1889.

Kalahari Desert
•The Kalahari Desert is a large arid to
semi-arid sandy area that’s located
in southwestern Africa.

•It covers parts of Botswana,
Namibia, and South Africa.

•Its dunes range from 20 to 200 feet
high and can be 50 miles long.

•The region is surrounded by
semi-arid areas that are slowly
becoming drier due to
desertification.

Kalahari Desert
•The Kalahari Desert is not a “true”
desert because it receives 3-10
inches of rain per year.

•Because of the precipitation and
underground water supplies,
grass, shrubs, and wild animals
manage to live in the Kalahari
desert.

Multiple Choice

Why is the Kalahari Desert not a "True" desert?

• It gets 3-10 inches of rain.

• It can support wildlife, like lions.

• It gets less rain than the Sahara desert.

• Nothing can survive there.

​You will need to write down two facts after the video.

Open Ended

What are two thing you learned about the Kalahari desert from the video?

West Africa: Geography and Impact of Geography

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Multiple Choice

Which of these does NOT describe how the Trans-Saharan trade impacted West Africa?

• the population decreased

• West Africa became wealthy

• kingdoms formed

• Islam was introduced

Multiple Choice

What characteristic best reflects the influence of Islam on West African kingdoms?

• an emphasis on early African religious practices

• the development of the gold and salt trade network

• using camels as a method of Trans-Saharan transportation

• the adoption of the Arabic language

Multiple Choice

How did the growth of trade impact Islam?

• Islam spread as people from the Middle East refused to trade.

• Islam lost supporters as West African kingdoms conquered the Middle East.

• Islam spread as trading networks grew.

• Islam lost supporters as religion lost cultural importance.

Multiple Choice

How did the Sahara Desert have a positive impact on trade in Northern Africa?

• It provided salt, a valuable trading resource.

• It provided a safe and easy route to East Africa.

• It provided water routes to the Middle East.

• It provided silt, a rich soil that could grow cash crops.

Multiple Choice

How did the increase of trade in West Africa impact the kingdoms of Mali and Songhai?

• These kingdoms were destroyed as trade brought disease.

• These kingdoms became disconnected from the region.

• These kingdoms developed into centers of learning.

• These kingdoms lost jobs as traders left.

Multiple Choice

Why did cities like Jenne and Timbuktu form in West Africa?

• They were Islamic holy sites.

• They were located in strategic defense points.

• They were located along important trade routes.

• They were isolated from the outside world.

Multiple Choice

How did the kingdoms of West Africa maintain control over the wealth brought through trade?

• They decreased the costs of mining by using slave labor.

• They taxed all trade that came in and out of the region.

• They conquered all neighboring civilizations to take complete control of the resources.

• They depended on donations and tributes given to the government.

Multiple Choice

The kingdoms of Africa all thrived on the trade of what two goods?

• diamonds and silk

• salt and gold

• silver and gold

• silk and salt

Multiple Choice

What are groups of merchants and camels that travel together called?

• trains

• bands

• caravans

• troops

Multiple Choice

What did the Romans introduce to North Africa that improved trade and transportation?

• chariots

• camels

• aqueducts

• antelopes

Multiple Choice

Which of these deserts is located in West Africa?

• Gobi

• Nevada

• Sahara

• Red Velvet

Multiple Choice

Which is the name of the major river in West Africa?

• Niger

• Nile

• Yellow

• Tigris

Multiple Choice

Which ocean is located off the coast of West Africa?

• Arctic

• Atlantic

• Indian

• Pacific

Physical Geography of North Africa

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Multiple Choice

How has the Aswān High Dam had an adverse effect on human health?

• It contaminated underground water sources by drawing in salt water from the sea.

• It caused a build up of soil contaminated by raw sewage and oil by-products.

• It created new ecosystems in which diseases such as malaria flourished.

• It discharged raw sewage and other wastes into Lake Nasser.

Multiple Choice

What do Tunisia, Morocco, and Libya have in common?

• They average less than 10 inches of rain a year.

• They average less than 14 inches of rain a year.

• They have both an arid and semi-arid climate.

• They have a mild Mediterranean climate along the coast.

Physical Geography of West Africa

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Multiple Choice

________ has been shrinking due to drought, desertification, climate change, and the damming of rivers.

• Lake Volta

• Lake Tanganyika

• Lake Chad

• Lake Malawi

Multiple Choice

The ________ River is the main river of West Africa and an important commercial shipping route.

• Benue

• Niger

• Zambezi

• Nile

Multiple Choice

In the savanna of West Africa,

• there is frequent rain year-round.

• there is a dry climate year-round.

• there is little plant or animal life.

• there is a wet season and a dry season.

Physical Geography of Southern Africa

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Multiple Choice

What type of boundaries did you notice on the map of Southern Africa?

• geometric

• natural

• normal

• oblong

Multiple Choice

Most of South Africa’s land sits at a high ________, or distance above sea level.

• altitude

• escarpment

• delta

• climate zone

Multiple Choice

Much of Southern Africa’s coastal plain along the Atlantic coast is a ________ biome.

• forest

• savanna

• desert

• grassland

Multiple Choice

Which of the following rivers runs southeast from central Angola to northern Botswana and ends inland?

• Orange

• Okavango

• Zambezi

• Limpopo

Open Ended

What other part of Africa would you compare Botswana to?

Physical Geography of East Africa

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Multiple Choice

How are escarpments and cataracts related?

• They are both features of the savanna and Sahel that runs along the Great Rift Valley.

• Both are common to the many volcanic regions in East Africa, especially along fault lines where tectonic

  plates shift deep underground.

• Rivers flowing over the many plateaus of East Africa plunge over steep cliffs to form large waterfalls.

• Rainwater flooding into the many rift valleys of East Africa forms deep freshwater lakes.

Open Ended

How might the geography around Lake Turkana make it a good site for generating hydroelectric power?