1. Today’s Class
We begin working with African Civilizations today in class
We will start by discussing some aspects of African geography
We will also begin by discussing the Jared Diamond article we read

2. The Impact of Geography
Africa is the world’s second largest continent
Two geographical zones divided by the Sahara
Sahel, savannas
Four distinct climate zones
Landforms and climates of the African continent posed both challenges and opportunities to Africa’s early civilizations
The African continent is vast – only Asia is larger – 5,000 miles from Mediterranean to the Cape of Good Hope
Africa’s geography is diverse as it is vast
Two distinct geographical zones – northern and southern zones separated by the Sahara
South of the Sahara in the west – grasslands gradually give way to tropical jungles – Far to the east is a terrain is marked by snow-capped mountains, high plateaus, and lakes – also the Great Rift Valley where mountains loom over deep canyons
Central Africa – Congo River Basin – tropical jungles – Kalahari Desert in the South
4 climate zones – mild climate zone in far north and south with moderate rainfall, warm temperatures and fertile land support large populations – desert which covers about 40% of Africa (Sahara and Kalahari are the world’s two largest deserts) – grasslands north of the Kalahari and south of the Sahara also cover about 40% of Africa and are dotted with shrubs and small trees, some farming and herding, but rainfall is unreliable – tropical rain forest along the equator where there is little farming or travel, home to tsetse fly that infects both animals and humans with sleeping sickness

3. The Impact of Geography
4 climate zones in Africa
Mild climate zone in far north and south with moderate rainfall, warm temperatures and fertile land support large populations

4. The Impact of Geography
Desert which covers about 40% of Africa
Sahara and Kalahari are the world’s two largest deserts

5. The Impact of Geography
Grasslands north of the Kalahari and south of the Sahara also cover about 40% of Africa
Dotted with shrubs and small trees, some farming and herding, but rainfall is unreliable

6. The Impact of Geography
Tropical rain forest along the equator where there is little farming or travel
Home to tsetse fly that infects both animals and humans with sleeping sickness

7. Common Characteristics
Extended family & clan
Animism
Language – usually not written
Oral history, literature, and culture
Griots
The first humans appeared in the Great Rift Valley and moved outward to other parts of Africa, and later the world – initially nomadic hunter-gatherers – later agriculture developed and allowed for settled, permanent societies
Basic social unit=family – usually an extended family
Social ties often expanded to the clan – group descended from common ancestors
Animism – religion in which spirits play an important role in daily life – believe spirits are present in animals, plants, and other natural forces and also take the form of the souls of their dead ancestors
All African societies had language, most were not written down – oral history, culture, etc.
Griots – storytellers in West Africa charged with preserving this history, culture, etc.