Section 3 THE WORLD OF THE WEST AFRICANS

Activating Prior Knowledge Look at the following pictures and write three sentences of what you think each picture represent. Look at the following pictures and write three sentences of what you think each picture represent.

Picture A

Picture B

Picture C

A Africa has the highest number of refugees and displaced people in the world - roughly 25 million. Africa has the highest number of refugees and displaced people in the world - roughly 25 million. For many, like these children living in an abandoned car in Rwanda, cities provide a welcome refuge. For many, like these children living in an abandoned car in Rwanda, cities provide a welcome refuge. Often fleeing ethnic violence, and with shelters and orphanages in short supply, refugees have little or no money and frequently end up in shanty towns with little prospects for change. Often fleeing ethnic violence, and with shelters and orphanages in short supply, refugees have little or no money and frequently end up in shanty towns with little prospects for change.

B Forget hydro-engineers or planes shooting high-powered rain pellets. To get water in Bushu, a region in Zimbabwe hard-hit by drought, schoolgirls put their faith in a traditional rain dance. Forget hydro-engineers or planes shooting high-powered rain pellets. To get water in Bushu, a region in Zimbabwe hard-hit by drought, schoolgirls put their faith in a traditional rain dance.

C A combination of doctor, psychiatrist and psychic, traditional healers hold positions of great respect in African communities. Many are women. A combination of doctor, psychiatrist and psychic, traditional healers hold positions of great respect in African communities. Many are women. Here, Mmatsepo, a Basotho traditional healer, or sangoma, prays to her ancestors in a sacred cave in Mautse, South Africa. Roughly 80 percent of South Africans are estimated to visit traditional healers for treatment of various complaints Here, Mmatsepo, a Basotho traditional healer, or sangoma, prays to her ancestors in a sacred cave in Mautse, South Africa. Roughly 80 percent of South Africans are estimated to visit traditional healers for treatment of various complaints

WEST AFRICANS & EUROPE MEET FIRST MET IN ANCIENT TIMES FIRST MET IN ANCIENT TIMES EUROPEANS TRADED CLOTH, METAL GOODS, & JEWERLY FROM NORTH AFRICAN MIDDLE MEN EUROPEANS TRADED CLOTH, METAL GOODS, & JEWERLY FROM NORTH AFRICAN MIDDLE MEN EUROPE WANTED TO GET RID OF THE MIDDLE MEN AND GO DIRECTLY FOR THE GOLD. EUROPE WANTED TO GET RID OF THE MIDDLE MEN AND GO DIRECTLY FOR THE GOLD.

WEST AFRICAN CULTURES ADAPTED THEIR CULTURE TO THEIR GEOGRAPHIC SURROUNDINGS. ADAPTED THEIR CULTURE TO THEIR GEOGRAPHIC SURROUNDINGS. GEOGRAPHY & LIVELIHOODS GEOGRAPHY & LIVELIHOODS –VEGETATION THREE MAIN TYPES OF VEGETATION THREE MAIN TYPES OF VEGETATION

RAIN FORESTS COVERED A LARGE BAND OF COASTAL LAND ALONG THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE REGION. COVERED A LARGE BAND OF COASTAL LAND ALONG THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE REGION. SUPPORTED A WIDE VARIETY OF PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE SUPPORTED A WIDE VARIETY OF PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE

SAVANNA A REGION NEAR THE EQUATOR WITH TROPICAL GRASSLANDS AND SCATTERED TREES. A REGION NEAR THE EQUATOR WITH TROPICAL GRASSLANDS AND SCATTERED TREES. HAS A DRY AND WET SEASON NOT HOT AND COLD. HAS A DRY AND WET SEASON NOT HOT AND COLD.

The Desert THE LARGEST DESERT, THE SAHARA, RAMAINED LARGELY UNINHABITED. THE LARGEST DESERT, THE SAHARA, RAMAINED LARGELY UNINHABITED. –SCATTERED TOWNS AROSE –The Sahara is one of the hottest places on Earth..

FAMILY LIFE FAMILY LIFE –ORGANIZED BY KINSHIP GROUPS –LINEAGE  Kinship groups that trace their origin to a common ancestor.  SUPPORT

RELIGION RELIGION –SUPREME BEING,MANY GODS, GODDESSES, & SPIRITS  SPIRITS WERE THOUGHT TO INHABIT EVERYTHING IN THE NATURAL WORLD

KINGDOMS AND TRADE BENIN BENIN Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, –country in West Africa. KING, OR OBA KING, OR OBA WEALTH CAME FROM TRADE WEALTH CAME FROM TRADE

Benin art was produced mainly for the court of the Oba – (a divine ruler) for whom the craftsmen produced a range of ceremonially significant objects. Benin art was produced mainly for the court of the Oba – (a divine ruler) for whom the craftsmen produced a range of ceremonially significant objects.Oba Aside from producing work to promote theological and religious, Benin Art includes a range of animal heads, figurines, plaques, and other artifacts. Aside from producing work to promote theological and religious, Benin Art includes a range of animal heads, figurines, plaques, and other artifacts.

SONGHAI STRETCHED ACROSS MUCH OF WEST AFRICA. STRETCHED ACROSS MUCH OF WEST AFRICA. EXISTED UNTIL 1591 EXISTED UNTIL 1591

SONGHAI ASKIA MOHAMMED ASKIA MOHAMMED –MADE SONGHAI A GREAT EMPIRE EXTENDED ITS CONTROL THROUGHOUT MUCH OF WEST AFTRICS EXTENDED ITS CONTROL THROUGHOUT MUCH OF WEST AFTRICS HIS SONS WERE CORRUPT HIS SONS WERE CORRUPT –EMPIRE WEAKENED WHEN THEY RULED..

SLAVERY IN AFRICA BELIEVED IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF GOODS & PROPERTY BELIEVED IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF GOODS & PROPERTY LAND -PLENTIFUL LAND -PLENTIFUL VALUED LABOR OVER LAND VALUED LABOR OVER LAND –LEADERS’ POWER RESTED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THEY RULED RATHER THEN LAND CONTROLLED  SLAVES-CAPTURED IN WAR, ORPHANS, CRIMINALS, & OTHERS REJECTED BY SOCIETY

Africans’ concept of slavery differed as it developed in the Americas. Africans’ concept of slavery differed as it developed in the Americas. –Africa-slaves became adopted members of the kinship group that enslaved them. –Children of slaves not presumed slaves.