1. 8.1 Diverse Societies in Africa

2. A Land of Geographic Contrasts
Geography of Africa
Large continent, but coastline has few ports, harbors, or inlets
Challenging Environments
Africa has many deserts, including huge Sahara
The southern edge of expanding Sahara is called the Sahel.
Rainforests are found near the central part of the continent.

3. A Land of Geographic Contrasts
Welcoming Lands
Northern Coast and southern tip of Africa have Mediterranean Climates
Savannas, or grasslands cover most of Africa

4. Early Humans Adapt to their Environments
Nomadic Lifestyle
Earliest peoples are nomadic hunter-gatherers.
Herders drive animals to find waters and graze pastures.
Transition to a Settled Lifestyle
Agriculture probably develops by 6,000 B.C.
As the Sahara dried up farmers move to West Africa or Nile Valley.
Agriculture allows permanent settlements and governments to develop

5. Early Societies in Africa
Societies organized by Family Groups
Extended families made up several generations
Families with common ancestors form groups known as clans
Local Religions
Early religions usually include elements of animism-belief in spirits inhabiting objects
Keeping a History
Few African societies have written languages
History, literature, culture passed on by story tellers called griots.
Cultures in West Africa are advanced long before outsiders arrive.

6. West African Iron Age Learning about the past Nok Culture
Artifacts reveal how people lived in the past.
Evidence of sub-Saharan cultures producing iron around 500 B.C.
Nok Culture
Nok—West Africa’s earliest known culture—made iron tools and weapons

7. West African Iron Age Djenne-Djeno
From B.C., cities began to develop near rivers and oases
Djenne-Djeno, Africa’s oldest known city, was discovered in 1977.
It was a bustling trade center that was linked to other West African towns through camel trade routes.