West African Civilizations 500 – 1600 CE Regions of West Africa West African Civilizations 500 – 1600 CE

Desert Regions 30 % of Africa is desert 100-140 o F Sparsely populated Few plants and animals Few oases Size of the Sahara limited the influence of Africans on Europe and vice versa

Ships of the Desert Too vast to cross by foot Extremely harsh conditions Few natural landmarks Camels used as essential resource Strong Long eyelashes Wide feet

Tuareg People The Tuareg are experts at crossing the Sahara Wear loose cotton or linen clothing to cover head, face, arms Nomadic lifestyle Live in temporary tent-like shelters

Semiarid Regions Harsh, barren grasslands Sparse rainfall 10”-20” per year Unpredictable droughts Hearty plants Small, thorny bushes Waxy leaves Tufts of scattered, stumpy grass

Sahel In the north, the edge of the Sahara is called the sahel. Sahel means “shore of the desert”

Baobob Tree Cork-like bark is fire resistant Can reach 100 feet Can survive droughts Mature trees hollow out to provide shelter animals or people Produces fruit, called “monkey bread” which is rich in vitamin C Monkey Bread

Pastoralists = Shepherds Most people in the region herd goats, sheep, or camels Rely on ancient wells, waterholes, rivers, streams, and lakes for water Water sacks made of animal bladders & leather

Living Near Bodies of Water Two permanent bodies of water in semiarid region are: Niger River Lake Chad Villages are often constructed along the banks of the Niger

Fishing and Farming Along the Niger River or beside Lake Chad, Fishing and small-scale farming are the basis of the economy Millet and rice are staple crops

Millet In the Sahel region, millet is estimated to account for about 35-65 percent of total cereal food consumption The farmers to the right harvest and bundle pearl millet. http://hope.icrisat.org/?tag=issfm

Housing In the Sudan, family compounds may be connected by walls made of mud, clay, and dung.

Building a Hut/Room A wooden frame is constructed Insulation is added Wet adobe is applied to the structure Structure allowed to dry Thatched roof is constructed and attached This photograph was taken by a Western anthropologist in Nigeria between 1920 and 1947.

Family Compound with Fencing

Savanna Region Most diverse climate zone in Africa One predictable wet season Densely populated Diverse human adaptations Acacia trees dot the savanna’s horizon at intervals between the tall grass.

Herding Cattle Most people herd livestock because they produce: Milk Meat Hides To a lesser extent some hunters follow the wild herds of zebra, gazelle, etc.

Farming Grains Sorghum often grown on the savanna Used by humans to make flour; fermented for beer Also used as poultry or cattle feed http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/newrels/africa-needs-jobs.html Harvesting sorghum in Sudan

Storing Grains Each village has at least one granary Granaries are storehouse for grains Typically elevated to keep grains dry Saved and used during the dry season

Housing Dwellings are varied on the savanna People use the materials that are readily available: Woodland Savanna (forest mixed with grasses) Acacia Savanna (smaller trees mixed with grasses) Bushveld Savanna (baobob trees with mixed shrubs and succulents)

Rain Forest Regions Cover 8% of Africa Rainfall 60” or more per year Average temperature 70-90o F Diverse plant life Very limited cultivation due to top soil erosion from rain

Tubers Root, or tuber, crops can be raised Cassava Yams In the Niger River basin, yams are a popular tuber plant and a staple food. The starch from the cassava (manioc) root is used to make bread and tapioca.

Kola Nut The kola nut supplements the diet of rain forest dwellers. It produces caffeine. It’s used to flavor beverages (drinks)

Bananas and Plantains

Tse-tse Fly The bite of the tse-tse fly causes sleeping sickness in humans It is fatal for domestic animals, like cattle and horses (ungulates).

The End