1. Early west african societies

2. Geography of africa

3. Landforms, water, climate and plant life
West Africa’s Great River
The Niger River is a source of water, food and transportation

4. Niger River It allows a lot of people to live in the area
The Niger River creates any lakes and marshes in its inland delta

5. West Africa’s Climate and Plants
There are four different climate regions that effect the Niger River
The Northern climate
The Semiarid sahara
The savannah region
The rain forests

6. The northern climate
The northern climate is the southern part of the Sahara
Made of gravel and sand with temperatures above 120
Little to no rain

7. Semiarid sahara the semiarid Sahara divides desert and wet areas
Dry but has enough vegetation to sustain animal life

8. The Savannah Farther south is the Savannah region
Its open grassland with some trees

9. The Rain Forests Furthest south is the rain forests
It’s along the equator
Densely wooded and moist

10. West african resources
Many different crops are produced is West Africa
Dates and nuts grow in oases

11. Water from the Niger River allows farming

12. Salt is collected from the Sahara

13. Gold is used to make jewelry and coins for trade

14. Early culture and trade

15. Families, religion and daily life
A typical West African family was an extended one
Society demanded loyalty to the family

16. Age-Sets Other people lived in groups known as age-sets
These were men born within the same two to three year period
It was a man’s duty to help the group

17. Women had age-set groups as well

18. Village life
Men
Women
Elders
Children

19. Men
Hunted and farmed

20. Women
Farmed
collected firewood
carried water
cared for the children

21. Elders
Taught family traditions to younger generations

22. Children
Began work as soon as they were able

23. Religion and culture
Some villages believed that spirits of their ancestors remained nearby
Sacred spaces were marked and reserved to share new and problems with them

24. Ancestors Food was offered to make them ancestors happy
It was believed the spirits would protect the village from harm

25. Animism Other villages believed in animism
Animism – belief that bodies of water, animals, trees and natural objects have spirits

26. Technology and change
The Nok lived in present day Nigeria

27. iron Around 500 BC they discovered iron and began the Iron Age
They used it to create farm tools, arrowheads, spears and blades

28. The nok
They were able to become the dominant tribe in the region

29. Trade and West Africa Trade in Gold and Salt
Gold and salt mines became a great source of wealth