Today’s Class We begin working with African Civilizations today in class We will start by discussing some aspects of African geography We will also begin by discussing the Jared Diamond article we read

The Impact of Geography Africa is the world’s second largest continent Two geographical zones divided by the Sahara Sahel, savannas Four distinct climate zones Landforms and climates of the African continent posed both challenges and opportunities to Africa’s early civilizations The African continent is vast – only Asia is larger – 5,000 miles from Mediterranean to the Cape of Good Hope Africa’s geography is diverse as it is vast Two distinct geographical zones – northern and southern zones separated by the Sahara South of the Sahara in the west – grasslands gradually give way to tropical jungles – Far to the east is a terrain is marked by snow-capped mountains, high plateaus, and lakes – also the Great Rift Valley where mountains loom over deep canyons Central Africa – Congo River Basin – tropical jungles – Kalahari Desert in the South 4 climate zones – mild climate zone in far north and south with moderate rainfall, warm temperatures and fertile land support large populations – desert which covers about 40% of Africa (Sahara and Kalahari are the world’s two largest deserts) – grasslands north of the Kalahari and south of the Sahara also cover about 40% of Africa and are dotted with shrubs and small trees, some farming and herding, but rainfall is unreliable – tropical rain forest along the equator where there is little farming or travel, home to tsetse fly that infects both animals and humans with sleeping sickness

The Impact of Geography 4 climate zones in Africa Mild climate zone in far north and south with moderate rainfall, warm temperatures and fertile land support large populations

The Impact of Geography Desert which covers about 40% of Africa Sahara and Kalahari are the world’s two largest deserts

The Impact of Geography Grasslands north of the Kalahari and south of the Sahara also cover about 40% of Africa Dotted with shrubs and small trees, some farming and herding, but rainfall is unreliable

The Impact of Geography Tropical rain forest along the equator where there is little farming or travel Home to tsetse fly that infects both animals and humans with sleeping sickness

Common Characteristics Extended family & clan Animism Language – usually not written Oral history, literature, and culture Griots The first humans appeared in the Great Rift Valley and moved outward to other parts of Africa, and later the world – initially nomadic hunter-gatherers – later agriculture developed and allowed for settled, permanent societies Basic social unit=family – usually an extended family Social ties often expanded to the clan – group descended from common ancestors Animism – religion in which spirits play an important role in daily life – believe spirits are present in animals, plants, and other natural forces and also take the form of the souls of their dead ancestors All African societies had language, most were not written down – oral history, culture, etc. Griots – storytellers in West Africa charged with preserving this history, culture, etc.