west africa chapter 5.1. geography of africa main idea 1:main idea 1: –the landforms, water,...

WEST AFRICAWEST AFRICA

Chapter 5.1 Chapter 5.1

Geography of AfricaGeography of Africa

• Main Idea 1:Main Idea 1:– The landforms, water, climate, and plant life The landforms, water, climate, and plant life

affected history in West Africaaffected history in West Africa

• Africa is the Africa is the second largest continentsecond largest continent in in the world and is shaped like a soup bowl the world and is shaped like a soup bowl with mountains on the rim.with mountains on the rim.

Geography of AfricaGeography of Africa

• The The Niger RiverNiger River became a source of became a source of water, food, and water, food, and transportation that transportation that allowed many people to allowed many people to live in the live in the sub-Saharan sub-Saharan plains, plains,

– The sub-Saharan plains The sub-Saharan plains are the areas in Africa are the areas in Africa south of the equator.south of the equator.

Geography of AfricaGeography of Africa

Niger Niger RiverRiver

Africa’s Four RegionsAfrica’s Four Regions

• The northern part of The northern part of West Africa is the West Africa is the Sahara desertSahara desert..

– The Sahara Desert is The Sahara Desert is the world’s largest the world’s largest desert.desert.

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Sahara DesertSahara Desert

Sahara DesertSahara Desert

Africa’s Four RegionsAfrica’s Four Regions

• The The SahelSahel is a is a semiarid area that semiarid area that divides the desert divides the desert from wetter areas.from wetter areas.– The Sahel has The Sahel has

enough vegetation enough vegetation to support hardy to support hardy grazing animals.grazing animals. 22

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SahelSahel

SahelSahel

Africa’s Four RegionsAfrica’s Four Regions

• Farther south is the Farther south is the savannahsavannah, which is , which is an open grass area an open grass area with scattered trees.with scattered trees.– Grazing animals Grazing animals

are common there.are common there.

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SavannahSavannah

SavannahSavannah

SavannahSavannah

Africa’s Four RegionsAfrica’s Four Regions

• Rain forestsRain forests are are moist, densely moist, densely wooded areas that wooded areas that are near the are near the equator.equator.– They contain a They contain a

variety of plants variety of plants and animals.and animals. 44

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RainforestRainforest

1. Which of the following is 1. Which of the following is the Niger River?the Niger River?

B.

C.

D.

A.

D.D. AA..

B.B.

CC..

2. Which of the following is 2. Which of the following is the Sahara?the Sahara?

C.

D.

B.

A.

BB

AA

CC

DD

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3. The picture below shows 3. The picture below shows which region of Africa?which region of Africa?

C. Sahel

A. Sahara

B. Rain forest

D. Savannah

BB

AA

CC

DD

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4. Which of the following is 4. Which of the following is the Sahel?the Sahel?

C.

A.

B.

D.

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5. Which statement correctly 5. Which statement correctly describes the sahel region of describes the sahel region of

Africa?Africa?

B. A desert area.

C. The region between the desert and wetter areas where there is barely enough vegetation for animals.

D. A region of grasslands with many grazing animals.

A. A forest area full of different animals and plants which receives a lot rainfall.

Resources in West Resources in West AfricaAfrica

• Main Idea 2:Main Idea 2:– West Africa’s West Africa’s resourcesresources included farmland, included farmland,

gold, and salt.gold, and salt.

Resources in West AfricaResources in West Africa

• West Africa’s land produced many crops, West Africa’s land produced many crops, such as dates and kola nuts. such as dates and kola nuts. – Kola nuts could be used for medicine. Kola nuts could be used for medicine.

Kola Nuts

Dates

Resources in West AfricaResources in West Africa

• Gold could be used for jewelry or coins.Gold could be used for jewelry or coins.

Resources in West AfricaResources in West Africa

• Salt Salt was a scarce resource that was found was a scarce resource that was found deep in the earth, from lakes that had dried up.deep in the earth, from lakes that had dried up.– In most of West Africa salt was considered to be In most of West Africa salt was considered to be

of equal value with gold because it was so scarceof equal value with gold because it was so scarce

Regional Commerce in Regional Commerce in West AfricaWest Africa

• Salt was used to preserve and flavor food. Salt was used to preserve and flavor food. – It was essential to good health. It helped It was essential to good health. It helped

people replace what was lost through people replace what was lost through perspiration.perspiration.

6. Which of the following was 6. Which of the following was not a resource that was not a resource that was

frequently traded in Africa?frequently traded in Africa?

C. salt

D. gold

A. kola nuts

B. ivory

7. Why were kola nuts 7. Why were kola nuts important? important?

B. Kola nuts were often traded for gold

C. Kola nuts were used for medicine

D. Kola nuts were Planters number one snack for making Saturday nights a party.

A. Kola nuts preserved and flavored food

8. Which statement is 8. Which statement is not true about salt?not true about salt?

B. It was very scarce in West Africa.

C. It was often traded for gold.

D. It helped preserve and flavor food.

A. It was often used for medicine.