Africa! – 54 Countries – Over 1 billion people – Over 2100 languages – 18 of the 20 poorest countries on Earth – 50% of Africa’s population born after 1991 – Largest City: Lagos, Nigeria 21 million people

The Shape of Africa- Jared Diamond Please critically read the article from J-Dimes Label and Identify: Background information Comparison Thesis Evidence (facts, statistics, events...) Analysis and explanation Conclusion

The Shape of Africa- Jared Diamond Create your own simile for the shape of Africa Include: A statement An image A justification On the back: Write 2 thesis statements answering “How will the shape of Africa impact the development of African civilizations?” 1 3 Point 1 4 Point

Warm Up Predict: How will the shape of Africa impact the development of African societies? What challenges are presented by the shape of Africa?

Features of Africa Sahara Desert – The Sahel Kalahari Desert The African Rainforest – Tsetse Flies – Lack of edible vegetation The Savanna – Mediterranean Climates – Grassy plains – Great agriculture What problems does this cause?

Early Africa Humans emerges in Rift Valley Hunter-Gatherer societies Pastoral Nomads: Nomadic societies based around herds of livestock such as goats, sheep, and cattle Wealth measure by size of herd Millions of modern Africans are still pastoral herders in Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia

Early African Societies Societies first develop South of the Sahara Religion develops: Generally monotheistic Animism: A religion in which spirits play an important role in regulating daily life and are presents in plants/animals/nature Written languages are rare, stories passed orally Griots: African storytellers What are the advantages of this? What are the disadvantages?

The Iron Age Iron artifacts emerge from around 500 BCE Nok Culture: Modern day Nigera, earliest known African Civilization Smelted iron into tools and weapons

West African Civilizations 3 Empires emerge by dominating trade across the Sahara - Empire of Ghana - Empire of Mali - Empire of Songhai

Henry Louis “Skip” Gates, JR. Professor of African and African-American Studies at Harvard University Director of Hutchins Center for African/African-American Studies Emmy Award Winner Holds 53 Honorary Degrees National Humanities Award Winner Co-Founder of The Root Listed in Time Magazine’s “Top 25 Most Influential Americans” list of 1997

The Road to Timbuktu

What did you think? Did anything surprise you? Do you have any questions?

Mansa Musa King of West Africa

Mansa Musa!

Inflation: Mansa Musa’s hajj devalued gold for a decade in Cairo, Medina, and Mecca.

Griots What is a griot? What role do they play in West African civilizations?

Griots Assume the role of a griot! Pick someone from pop culture/history/film Write a short (no more than a page) narrative of your chosen person’s life/accomplishment/event Make it dramatic! Use evidence from the their life Exaggerate!

Warm Up What skills do you have? How did you get them?

Writing is a skill

Essays What are the key parts of an essay?

The Road to Thesisville An essay is a journey. Draw a map or another visual representation of an essay. Your map should include all of the pieces (aspects) that an essay should have in order to prove an argument. Each piece (location) should include: –Label –Function (what does this piece of the essay do?) Example: Hook: grabs the reader’s attention and makes an interesting connection.

Thesisville Bukaslavia Curdland Atlatlanta

Essay Components I.Hook II.Background III.Main Thesis IV.Supporting Arguments V.Evidence VI.Explanation and Analysis VII.Transitions VIII.Conclusion