Geography of Africa Geography of Africa Deserts Deserts –Sahara in the N  Sahel –Land south of the Sahara Desert –Kalahari in the S Rain forests Rain forests Savannas Savannas –Grassy plains  Includes Mountainous highlands, swamp –Cover 40% of the continent

Nomadic Lifestyle Earliest people lived as hunter-gatherers Earliest people lived as hunter-gatherers –Present-day San of the Kalahari Desert and BaMbuti of rain forests in Congo Congo Pastoral herders Pastoral herders –Followed herds of cattle, goats, sheep –Present-day example: Masai of Tanzania and Kenya Tanzania KenyaTanzania Kenya

Settled Lifestyles Agriculture begins about 6000 B.C. Agriculture begins about 6000 B.C. –Savannas have best land Grow grain and raise cattle Grow grain and raise cattle Permanent settlements begin Permanent settlements begin

Early societies in Africa Religion Religion –Belief in one creator, or god –Elements of animism  Spirits present in animals, plants, natural forces play a role in daily life Oral tradition Oral tradition –History and literature of cultures shared orally –W.Africa-griots, story tellers

Nok Culture West Africa’s earliest known culture West Africa’s earliest known culture Lived in present-day Nigeria between 500 B.C. and A.D. 200 Lived in present-day Nigeria between 500 B.C. and A.D. 200Nigeria 1 st W. African people to smelt iron 1 st W. African people to smelt iron

Djenne-Djeno Oldest known city in Africa S of the Sahara Oldest known city in Africa S of the Sahara – on tributary of Niger River in W. Africa Trading center linked by river and overland camel routes Trading center linked by river and overland camel routes