1. AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS, 1500 BC-700 AD

2. AFRICA TODAY – Population: One billion (14% of world’s total) – Percent of population under age 25: 71% – Most populated nation: Nigeria – Number of spoken languages: 2,000 – Number of Muslims: 358 million – Number of Christians: 410 million – Percent of population dependent on agriculture for a living: 66% – Average income: 50% live on less than $1 a day – Average life expectancy: 46 in Sub-Saharan Africa; 67 in North Africa – Most common cause of death: Aids – Literacy rates (15 years and older): 60%

3. GEOGRAPHY OF AFRICA 2 nd Largest continent 1/5 th of Earth’s land surface 4,600 miles from east to west and 5,000 miles from north to south 1/3 rd of Africa is desert Few harbors or ports or inlets Mostly a plateau

4. GEOGRAPHY OF AFRICA Tallest mountain: Kilimanjaro Largest lake: Victoria Mountains to the northwest: Atlas Rivers: Congo, Niger, Nile, Zambezi Borders: Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea

5. Because Africa is mostly a plateau, there are many waterfalls on the escarpments. Navigation is impossible to and from the coast and there are isolated groups inland WATERFALLS AND RAPIDS

6. DESERTS Sahara to the north – size of United States Kalahari to the South – Not the size of the United States – Problems with deserts? Too harsh to live

7. Definition: The African region along the southern border of the Sahara (in the Savanna) The area is quickly becoming part of the desert (desertification) What problems might the expansion of the Sahara cause? Push people off the land, crowd people into smaller livable areas, limit food production SAHEL

8. CLIMATE Many

9. Found near central part of continent; Covers about 5% of Africa Mahogany and Teak trees RAINFORESTS

10. Located along NW coastal area of Africa and the southern tip of the continent Mild climate/fertile land/supported large population MEDITERRANEAN COASTAL AREAS

11. Found in rain forest Effect on Africans: Caused sleeping sickness Prevented use of draft animals in farming near rainforests; prevented invaders from colonizing fly infected areas TSETSE FLY

12. OTHER DISEASES Malaria caused by the mosquito Ebola Found only in Africa Kills people within a week of contracting the virus No cure; internal and external bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea; can be spread through touching blood or secretions of an infected person First emerged in 1976 and 17 outbreaks since then “Because of its lethality, the virus has been considered a potential bio- weapon threat.” In 2005 Ebola virus traced to fruit bats

13. SAVANNAS Grassy plains; Most of the people of Africa today live in the savanna areas Supported abundant farming and herders; led to permanent settlements; healthier lives and increased birthrates

14. Northern coast and southern tip of Africa have Mediterranean climates Savannas, or grasslands, cover almost half of Africa SO, WHERE DO MOST AFRICANS LIVE?

15. EARLY HUMANS ADAPT TO THEIR ENVIRONMENTS Earliest people are nomadic hunter- gatherers, then they domesticate animals Agriculture develops by 6000 BC and leads to permanent settlements – More food, increased birthrate, specialization of workers, governments develop

16. Three similarities: 1. Societies organized by family groups – Extended families – Clans-families with common ancestors 2. Local Religions – Animism-belief in spirits 3. Keeping a History – Griots EARLY SOCIETIES IN AFRICA

17. http://www.npr.org/2013/01/08/16 8882594/despite-censorship- malis-musicians-play-on http://www.npr.org/2013/01/08/16 8882594/despite-censorship- malis-musicians-play-on Rapper Amkoullel had one of his songs banned by Mali's government, which controls the southern part of the country. It's even worse in the north, where militants linked to al-Qaida have outlawed virtually all music.

18. San people of the Kalahari Desert – Hunter-gatherers – Use resources of natural environment FIRST PEOPLE OF WEST AND SOUTH AFRICA

19. PEOPLE OF DJENNE-DJENO Oldest known city south of the Sahara 250 BC-1400 AD (abandoned) 50,000 people on tributary of Niger River in West Africa Fishermen, grew rice, herded cattle Reed huts at first; then mud bricks Pottery, copper hair ornaments, clay toys, glass beads, stone bracelets, iron knives Prosperous through trade on Niger and camel routes

20. Drought Famine War WHAT ARE SOME POSSIBLE REASONS THAT DJENNE- DJENO WAS ABANDONED?

21. 500 BC-200 AD West Africa earliest known culture Made iron tools and weapons (First in West Africa to smelt iron) Present day Nigeria More than 150 Nok figurines have been excavated Clay heads; many are 4’ tall; human figures are abstract; hairstyles still common in Nigeria NOK