The Geography of Africa

What are examples of physical features present on a map? How do geography and physical features affect society and the development of civilizations?

Congo Basin (rain forest) Mediterranean Sea Africa Atlas Mountains Sahara Desert Red Sea Sahel (semi-arid) Niger River Savannah (grassland) Nile River Congo Basin (rain forest) Indian Ocean Lake Victoria Atlantic Ocean

http://www.classzone.com/webquest/MC_interactives/M T_03_traroutes/MT_03_087_traroutes.html

What are the major physical features that influenced the rise of the Western African kingdoms? How did rivers or bodies of water impact or sustain life? How did deserts, mountains or water create obstacles for trade or human interaction? How do you think people adapted (to a specific region)? In what ways did people of a specific region depend on their environment for survival? Which regions have the longest growing seasons or most likely have the highest amount of vegetation? Which regions are less likely to be inhabited? Why? How did Ghana become a thriving trade center? Why was the location of Timbuktu important to trade?