1. African Culture and Geography

2. Landforms Two major types are lowlands and highlands
Highest point is Mt. Kilimanjaro
Much of African continent made of plateaus: raised area of level land
Rifts form from separation of tectonic plates

3. Mt. Kilimanjaro

4. Waterways Lake Victoria Nile River Congo River
Zambezi River & Victoria Falls
Why would Western names like “Victoria” be given to some waterways?

6. Victoria Falls

7. Climate
Four major climate regions: desert, semi-arid, tropical, equatorial
Desert and semi arid regions are experiencing desertification and drought
Savannas: flat grasslands (think Lion King)
Tropical and Equatorial regions have rainy and dry seasons

8. Deserts Sahara: -Huge desert in North Africa
-Largest desert in the world
-Arabic for the greatest desert
Kalahari: -Found in southern portion of Africa
-Covers much of Botswana and Namibia

9. The Sahara

10. Kalahari Desert

11. African Savanna

12. What happened here? Was it Scar?

15. Resources
Renewable: Can be replaced (wood, coffee, sugar, etc.)
Non-Renewable: Can not be replaced (diamonds, copper, oil)

16. Earliest known human ancestors Found in Africa
Africa’s Origins
Say hello to Lucy
Earliest known human ancestors
Found in Africa

17. The Bantu
Early African tribe
Early hunter-gatherers in Cameroon
Developed farming
Bantu Migration: Population grows and spreads across continent

18. Bantu Migration

19. Salt trade is very important. Why? Preservative!!! Traded by caravans
Camels very important

22. Ghana (700-1230 CE): Known for trading gold and salt
African Trade Empires
Ghana ( CE): Known for trading gold and salt
Muslims from the North exchanged salt for gold
Controlled trade routes and supply of gold (ancient OGEC HA!)
Disappeared as North Africans attack trade routes

24. The Mali
Also gained power by controlling trade routes
Larger than the Empire of Ghana
Sundiata was the first ruler:
Improved salt/gold trade
Timbuktu becomes a major trade center for caravans
Converts to Islam
Changes title to Mansa or Emperor

26. Mansa Musa Controlled Mali from 1312 to 1337 C.E.
PEAK of Mali Power, controlled trade routes and HE WAS RICH!!!
Devout Muslim, Made to Mecca (Hajj)
Built Mosque in Timbuktu
Opens trade routes between Africa and Middle East

28. The Songhai Come to power around 1400 C.E. after the Mali fall
King Sunni Ali Ber expands Songhai Empire into West Africa (includes former Mali Empire)
What does this King’s name tell you about the religion of the Songhai?
Also involved in gold/salt trade
Griots pass down history through oral tradition

29. PREDICT What will lead to the fall of these African Empires?
What will happen to their history?