1. West and Central Africa
CHAPTER 22
West and Central Africa
Section 1: Natural Environments
Section 2: History and Culture
Section 3: The Region Today

2. SECTION 1
Natural Environments
Question:
What are the region’s landforms, rivers, climate, vegetation, and resources?

3. Climates and Vegetation
SECTION 1
Natural Environments
Landforms and Rivers
plains and low hills,
some highland areas, broad depressions around Lake Chad and Congo Basin
El Djouf
Congo River
Niger River
West and Central Africa
Climates and Vegetation
Natural Resources
tropical timber, good soils, and many minerals;
oil, particularly in Nigeria;
minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
cacao, coconuts, and peanuts in West Africa
zonal climate, mostly tropical;
warm throughout the year;
arid/semiarid to north with some trees, shrubs, grasses;
tropical wet and dry to south with open grasslands, shrubs, and small trees

4. SECTION 2
History and Culture
Question:
What are the important events and eras in the history of West and Central Africa?

5. History and Culture SECTION 2 Early History:
Great kingdoms, including Ghana and Mali, ruled the region.
Tombouctou served as a trade and education center.
European Contact:
Explorers reached area by late 1400s.
Slave trade of 1500s to 1800s brought at least 10 million Africans to Americas.
Colonial Era:
European countries wanted African resources.
Many Africans began to work for wages.
Postcolonial Era:
All of West and Central Africa was independent by 1976.
Some countries enjoy modern technology but also face many challenges.

6. SECTION 3
The Region Today
Question:
To what extent are West and Central African countries economically developed?

7. Subsistence Activities
SECTION 3
The Region Today
Economic Development of West and Central Africa
Subsistence Activities
• Sahel grasslands used for herding
• many crops planted in tropical rain forest
• many crops planted in one field
Market Activities
• primary goods exported
• heavy dependence on a few main exports
• small amount of manufacturing
• plantation agriculture, ranching

8. Chapter Wrap-Up CHAPTER 22
1. In which latitude are the countries of West and Central Africa located? How does this affect the region’s climates?
2. What is the environment of the Sahel like?
3. How did Islam spread into West and Central Africa?
4. In which part of West and Central Africa is Arabic spoken?
5. How has rapid population growth affected cities in West and Central Africa?