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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Millet
In the Sahel region, millet is estimated to account for about percent of total cereal food consumption
The farmers to the right harvest and bundle pearl millet.

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

13. 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.

14. Family Compound with Fencing

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Farming Grains Sorghum often grown on the savanna
Used by humans to make flour; fermented for beer
Also used as poultry or cattle feed
Harvesting sorghum in Sudan

19. 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

20. 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)

21. 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

22. 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.

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

24. Bananas and Plantains

25. 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).

27. The End