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Topic: Vegetation Zones of West Africa
EQ: What is the geography and climate of West Africa?
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Vegetation Zones
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A Satellite View
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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)
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Rainforests Rainforests have dense vegetation (plants) and heavy rainfall Home to several animals: panthers, snakes, many types of birds, and monkeys
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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
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The Sahara Desert: Second Largest Desert in the World
The Sahara Desert: Second Largest Desert in the World! (Antartica is the FIRST)
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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
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Summary Describe EACH of the three vegetation zones. Vegetation Zones
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Topic: Chapter 5.2: The Empire of Ghana
What led to the success of the Empire of Ghana?
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Niger River and Economy
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Niger River River runs across West Africa Key route for transportation
Also important to communication and trade Helps produce good soil for farm lands
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The Niger River Basin Covers 7.5% of the continent.
Extends over 10 countries. 2,600 miles long.
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Trade = =
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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
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Trans-Sahara Trade
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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
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Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
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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
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Ghana controls trade
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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.
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Q7: Salt and Gold
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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
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Berbers
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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
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Islam in West Africa +
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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
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Arabic in West Africa +
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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
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Summary Go through all your questions and write a summary by answering each in a bullet point .
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