1. CHAPTER 13 MEDIEVAL

2. Africa is the second-largest continent on Earth, with an area of 11.7 million square miles. Not surprisingly for such a huge land mass, it is home to an incredible variety of climates, cultures, animals and plants. There are 53 countries in Africa and approximately 1 billion people. Africa is widely considered to be where human beings first evolved. The deserts, jungles, and plains of Africa are home to some of Earth's most extraordinary animals. The African elephant is the world's largest land animal. The giraffe is the world's tallest animal. The cheetah is the world's fastest land animal. The gorilla is the world's largest primate. INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT AFRICA!

4. 1) How did geography affect the development of African kingdoms? * Geography varies in Africa- land in Africa is divided into the tropics(rainforest), the desert, the Mediterranean, and the savannas (plateau) http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=3875E6A1-7893-4DC9-B7F0- 476A4A11B0AF&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

5. The highest mountain in Africa is Mt. Kilimanjaro, which is 19,340 ft high. Even though it sits almost on the equator, Kilimanjaro is so tall that glaciers form at its summit. The Sahara is the world's largest desert, at 3.5 million square miles, nearly the size of the United States. The largest city in Africa is Cairo, the capital of Egypt. The total urban area around Cairo has a population of 17 million. The Nile is the longest river in the world, at 4,132 miles. Soccer is the most popular sport in Africa. Many African players are superstars in the European soccer leagues. Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana have all performed well in recent FIFA World Cups. Cricket is popular in some African countries, notably those with former colonial ties to Great Britain. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya are the most notable cricket-playing African nations. South Africa is also one of the world’s leading rugby union nations MORES INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT AFRICA!

7. GHANA EMPIRE http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/30300-assignment-discovery-the-ghana-empire-video.htm Skilled iron workers Had a HUGE army Controlled people who owned gold and salt mines Taxed traders as they passed through the kingdom- this made Ghana VERY rich!

8. MALI EMPIRE Seized capital of Ghana Won control of land from Atlantic coast to Timbuktu Now, controlled gold-mining areas, allowing them to rebuild the gold and salt trade

9. SONGHAY (SONGHAI) Drove out the Berbers Seized control of river trade (Niger River) Took over Berbers salt mines Built largest empire in West Africa

11. ISLAM IN AFRICA http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=7551D786-BB05-45F1-BC16- 02ED647F5210&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US What is Islamic Culture? Islamic culture has to do with behavior – it is a way of behaving so that you stay on the path of righteousness as defined by the prophet Muhammad. If you stay on the path of righteousness, you assure your place in heaven. Rise of Islam Most of the traders who traveled the Trans-Sahara Trade Route were Muslims. Their caravans carried silk and iron and spices across the vast desert, to trade for gold. The traders brought with them more than goods. They also brought their belief in Allah and their Islamic culture. Muslim Traders: The Muslin traders assisted in the cultural and intellectual development of the people by introducing a written language, a written record of history, Muslim laws, books, a system of formal education and study, and a unifying administrative structure.