Intro to ancient Africa “The birthplace of the human race”

Oldest human remains have been found in Africa

Africa’s Beginning… 5000 BCE—Sahara was a grassland site for HUNTING, FISHING, and FARMING COMMUNITIES

4000 BCE—Africa’s climate became drier. This caused people to move SOUTHWARD to look for water The dry air caused the Sahara area to become a DESERT

1350 BCE—Aksum defeated Kush

Controlled TRADING ROUTES that connected Africa and Europe The Aksum Empire was influenced by trade with the ROMAN EMPIRE— so they embraced Christianity

WEST AFRICA Traders crossed the Sahara to exchange SALT and COPPER for west Africa’s GOLD and KOLA NUTS In West Africa—GHANA, MALI, SONGHAI grew wealthy kingdoms These kingdoms were located just SOUTH of the TRANS-SAHARA route and became major trade centers

salt copper Copper and salt moved WEST gold Kola nuts Gold and kola nuts moved EAST

Africa’s 5 Regions Africa is the 2 nd largest continent next to Asia Lies in every HEMISPHERE HAS A VARIETY OF CLIMATE ZONES HAS A WIDE VARIETY OF MINERAL SOURCES

AFRICA IS DIVIDED INTO 5 PHYSICAL REGIONS AFRICA HAS A SERIES OF 8 PLATEAUS NORTH: Sahara desert, Nile River delta, Atlas Mts. --excellent farmland

WEST: Sahel---semi dry area --rich in mineral resources-oil and mining

CENTRAL: rainforest—tropical jungles rainforest animals Most endangered animals

EAST: Rift Valley—a sunken valley Serengeti—tall grass lands were animals inhabit Lake Victoria—2 nd largest fresh water lake

SOUTH: –Desert lands—Kalahari and Namid –Swamp lands—Okavango Delta Namid sand dune Okavango Delta