African Civilizations, 1500 African Civilizations, 1500 BC-700 ADBC-700 AD

African cultures adapt to harsh African cultures adapt to harsh environments, spread through environments, spread through

major migrations, and establish major migrations, and establish powerful kingdoms.powerful kingdoms.

Diverse Societies in AfricaDiverse Societies in Africa

African peoples develop African peoples develop diverse societies as they diverse societies as they

adapt to varied environmentsadapt to varied environments

Africa TodayAfrica Today

Population: 900 million (14% of world’s total)Population: 900 million (14% of world’s total) Percent of population under age 25: 71%Percent of population under age 25: 71% Most populated nation: NigeriaMost populated nation: Nigeria Number of spoken languages: 2,000Number of spoken languages: 2,000 Number of Muslims: 358 millionNumber of Muslims: 358 million Number of Christians: 410 millionNumber of Christians: 410 million Percent of population dependent on agriculture for a Percent of population dependent on agriculture for a

living: 66%living: 66% Average income: 50% live on less than $1 a dayAverage income: 50% live on less than $1 a day Average life expectancy: 46 in Sub-Saharan Africa; 67 in Average life expectancy: 46 in Sub-Saharan Africa; 67 in

North AfricaNorth Africa Most common cause of death: AidsMost common cause of death: Aids Literacy rates (15 years and older): 60%Literacy rates (15 years and older): 60%

A Land of Geographic A Land of Geographic ContrastsContrasts

Geography of AfricaGeography of Africa 1. 21. 2ndnd Largest continent Largest continent 2. 1/52. 1/5thth of Earth’s land surface of Earth’s land surface 3. 4,600 miles from east to west and 3. 4,600 miles from east to west and

5,000 miles from north to south5,000 miles from north to south 4. 1/34. 1/3rdrd of Africa is desert of Africa is desert 5. Few harbors or ports or inlets5. Few harbors or ports or inlets 6. Mostly a plateau6. Mostly a plateau

Geography contGeography cont

Tallest mountain: Tallest mountain: KilimanjaroKilimanjaro

Largest lake: VictoriaLargest lake: Victoria

Mountains to the Mountains to the northwest: Atlasnorthwest: Atlas

Rivers: Congo, Niger, Nile, Rivers: Congo, Niger, Nile, ZambeziZambezi

Borders: Atlantic Ocean, Borders: Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea

Waterfalls and RapidsWaterfalls and Rapids

Because Africa is mostly a plateau, Because Africa is mostly a plateau, there are many waterfalls on the there are many waterfalls on the escarpments. escarpments.

What is the effect on Africans?What is the effect on Africans? Navigation is impossible to and from Navigation is impossible to and from

the coast; isolated groups the coast; isolated groups

inlandinland

DesertsDeserts

Sahara to the Sahara to the north; size of north; size of United StatesUnited States

SahelSahel

Definition: The African region along the Definition: The African region along the southern border of the Sahara (in the southern border of the Sahara (in the Savanna)Savanna)

The area is quickly becoming part of the The area is quickly becoming part of the desert (desertification)desert (desertification)

What problems might the expansion of the What problems might the expansion of the Sahara cause?Sahara cause?

Push people off the land, crowd people into Push people off the land, crowd people into smaller livable areas, limit food productionsmaller livable areas, limit food production

ClimateClimate

Deserts contDeserts cont

Kalahari to the southKalahari to the south

What is the effect of the What is the effect of the deserts on Africans?deserts on Africans?

Too hostile for people to liveToo hostile for people to live Hampered movementHampered movement

RainforestsRainforests

Found near central part of continent; Found near central part of continent; Covers about 5% of AfricaCovers about 5% of Africa

Mahogany and Teak treesMahogany and Teak trees

Mediterranean coastal areasMediterranean coastal areas

Located along NW coastal area of Located along NW coastal area of Africa and the southern tip of the Africa and the southern tip of the continentcontinent

Effect on Africans:Effect on Africans: Mild climate/fertile land/supported Mild climate/fertile land/supported

large populationlarge population

Tsetse flyTsetse fly

Found in rain forestFound in rain forest Effect on Africans:Effect on Africans: Caused sleeping sicknessCaused sleeping sickness Prevented use of draft animals in farming Prevented use of draft animals in farming

near rainforests; prevented invaders from near rainforests; prevented invaders from colonizing fly infected areascolonizing fly infected areas

Other DiseasesOther Diseases

Malaria caused by the mosquitoMalaria caused by the mosquito Ebola: Ebola: Found only in Africa; Kills people within a week of Found only in Africa; Kills people within a week of

contracting the virus; no cure; internal and external contracting the virus; no cure; internal and external bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea; can be spread through bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea; can be spread through touching blood or secretions of an infected persontouching blood or secretions of an infected person

First emerged in 1976 and 17 outbreaks since thenFirst emerged in 1976 and 17 outbreaks since then ““Because of its lethality, the virus has been Because of its lethality, the virus has been

considered a potential bio-weapon threat.”considered a potential bio-weapon threat.” In 2005 Ebola virus traced to fruit batsIn 2005 Ebola virus traced to fruit bats

SavannasSavannas

Grassy plains; Most of the Grassy plains; Most of the people of Africa today live people of Africa today live in the savanna areasin the savanna areas

Effect on Africans:Effect on Africans: Supported abundant Supported abundant

farming and herders; led to farming and herders; led to permanent settlements; permanent settlements; healthier lives and healthier lives and increased birthratesincreased birthrates

Savannas cont.Savannas cont.

Welcoming LandsWelcoming Lands

Northern coast and southern tip of Northern coast and southern tip of Africa have Mediterranean climatesAfrica have Mediterranean climates

Savannas, or grasslands, cover Savannas, or grasslands, cover almost half of Africaalmost half of Africa

Early Humans Adapt to Their Early Humans Adapt to Their EnvironmentsEnvironments

Nomadic LifestyleNomadic Lifestyle Earliest people are nomadic Earliest people are nomadic

hunter-gatherers; then hunter-gatherers; then domesticated animalsdomesticated animals

Herders drive animals to find Herders drive animals to find water, graze pastureswater, graze pastures

Agriculture develops by 6000 Agriculture develops by 6000 BCBC

People settle down in People settle down in permanent settlements; more permanent settlements; more food from farming; people live food from farming; people live longer; increased birthrate; longer; increased birthrate; specialization of workers; specialization of workers; governments develop governments develop

As the Sahara dried up, As the Sahara dried up, farmers move to West Africa farmers move to West Africa or Nile Valleyor Nile Valley

Early Societies in AfricaEarly Societies in Africa

Three similarities:Three similarities: 1. Societies organized by family groups1. Societies organized by family groups Extended familiesExtended families Clans-families with common ancestorsClans-families with common ancestors 2. Local Religions2. Local Religions

Animism-belief in spiritsAnimism-belief in spirits 3. Keeping a History3. Keeping a History History, literature, culture passed on by History, literature, culture passed on by storytellers, called griots (Few African storytellers, called griots (Few African

societies have written languagessocieties have written languages

West and South AfricaWest and South Africa

San of the Kalahari Desert:San of the Kalahari Desert: Hunter-gatherersHunter-gatherers Use resources of natural Use resources of natural

environmentenvironment

People of Djenne-DjenoPeople of Djenne-Djeno

Oldest known city south of the Oldest known city south of the SaharaSahara

250 BC-1400 AD (abandoned)250 BC-1400 AD (abandoned) 50,000 people on tributary of 50,000 people on tributary of

Niger RiverNiger River Fishermen, grew rice, herded Fishermen, grew rice, herded

cattlecattle Reed huts at first; then mud Reed huts at first; then mud

bricksbricks Prosperous through trade on Prosperous through trade on

Niger and camel routesNiger and camel routes

What are some possible What are some possible reasons that Djenne-Djeno was reasons that Djenne-Djeno was

abandoned?abandoned? DroughtDrought FamineFamine WarWar

NokNok

500 BC-200 AD500 BC-200 AD West Africa earliest known cultureWest Africa earliest known culture Made iron tools and weapons (First in West Africa Made iron tools and weapons (First in West Africa

to smelt iron)to smelt iron) Present day NigeriaPresent day Nigeria More than 150 Nok figurinesMore than 150 Nok figurines have been excavated have been excavated Clay heads; many areClay heads; many are 4’ tall; human figures are4’ tall; human figures are abstract; hairstyles still commonabstract; hairstyles still common in Nigeriain Nigeria

Nok Cont.Nok Cont.