1. Topic: Vegetation Zones of West Africa
EQ:
What is the geography and climate of West Africa?

2. Vegetation Zones

3. A Satellite View

4. West Africa has 3 main types of Vegetation Zones
Vegetation Zone = region, or area, that has certain types of plants
3 main vegetation zones:
Rain Forest
Desert (in North Africa this desert is named the Sahara)
Savannah (also called grasslands)

5. Rainforests
Rainforests have dense vegetation (plants) and heavy rainfall
Home to several animals: panthers, snakes, many types of birds, and monkeys

6. Desert Vegetation zone of North Africa is mostly desert
Desert known as Sahara
One of the most famous deserts in the world, because of the trade routes that pass through the Sahara

7. The Sahara Desert: Second Largest Desert in the World
The Sahara Desert: Second Largest Desert in the World! (Antartica is the FIRST)

8. Savannah Grasslands that contain a variety of animals
Little vegetation because it only rains a few times a year
Many animals: Lions, zebras, Hippos, gazelles, and Cheetahs

9. Summary
Describe EACH of the three vegetation zones.
Vegetation Zones

10. Topic: Chapter 5.2: The Empire of Ghana
What led to the success of the Empire of Ghana?

11. Niger River and Economy

12. Niger River River runs across West Africa Key route for transportation
Also important to communication and trade
Helps produce good soil for farm lands

13. The Niger River Basin Covers 7.5% of the continent.
Extends over 10 countries.
2,600 miles long.

14. Trade = =

15. Trade Different areas of West Africa had different resources
**Southern Forests of West Africa had Gold, slaves, & crops
**Sahara Desert in North Africa had Salt
Savannah Regions had cattle and crops

16. Trans-Sahara Trade

17. Trans-Sahara Trade West Africa had gold but wanted salt
North Africa had salt but wanted gold
As a result, the Trans-Saharan trade developed
Trans-Saharan Trade = Trade across the Sahara Desert
Trade included salt, gold, slaves, food/crops, cloth, spices, and more
Trade across the desert was VERY difficult, camel caravans helped to increase trans-Saharan trade

18. Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

19. GHANA Ghana, Mali, and Songhai Mali Songhai
GHANA was the FIRST of the three kingdoms to develop
Ghana played important role in the trade of gold and salt
It developed around 500 AD

20. Ghana controls trade

21. Ghana controls trade
Ghana’s location (between North and Southwest Africa) allowed it to control all Trans-Saharan trade
All traders passing through paid HEAVY taxes
These taxes made Ghana rich.

22. Q7: Salt and Gold

23. salt and gold Gold and Salt most important trading items
North Africans wanted gold
Valuable
Pretty/Decorative
Could trade for other goods
Southwestern Africans wanted salt
Important for diet and key mineral in the body
Kept food from spoiling
Liked the taste

24. Berbers

25. Berbers Most traders of gold and salt across Sahara
Established trade routes in Trans-Saharan trade to get to West Africa
Introduced written language of Arabic, and Islam to West Africa

26. Islam in West Africa +

27. Islam in West Africa
Some kept their traditional religious beliefs while others decided to convert to Islam
Many kings of Ghana and “upper class” converted to Islam, and looked to the Qur’an in creating new laws for West Africa

28. Arabic in West Africa +

29. Arabic language Used Arabic language in governments
Many West Africans began to learn to read and write Arabic so they could study the Qur’an
Many West African Muslims were able to get jobs within the government because they were now able to read and write

30. Summary
Go through all your questions and write a summary by answering each in a bullet point .