Vegetation Zones Vegetation Zones of West Africa
Empire of Ghana
CH.5.2 THE EMPIRE OF GHANA What you must know:1.Study the Niger River .2.Study the relationship of vegetation zones (desert, savannah and forest) to trade in gold and salt, food and slaves.3.Growth of Ghana Empire.4.Influence of Islamic beliefs, ethics and laws.
DESERT
SAVANNAH/GRASSLAND
Most West African people live in the
grassland to farm.
Dense Forest
Sahara Desert•Largest desert in the world •3,500,000 sq. miles. •15% sand dunes, rest stone deserts, oases, mountains, sparse vegetation.•High wind.•Few animals, mostly nocturnal. •Deposits of salt.
Scenes from the Sahara Desert
Sahel-Transition ZoneSemi arid- between Sahara
Desert and savannas to the south.
Forms a belt across Africa.Low growing grasses and tall
trees.4 to 8 inches of rain per year
HELSA
SAVANNAH-Flat, grassy, SAVANNAH-Flat, grassy, with scattered trees. with scattered trees. •Used for farming. Used for farming. •Most people live in this Most people live in this region.region.•Home to many wild Home to many wild animals.animals.
Tropical Rain
Forest covers the Southern part of West Africa
home to people
and many animals
Niger RiverOver 2, 600 miles longKey route for transportation, helped with communication and trade.Floods produced fertile soil for farming.
Sunset on the Niger
River!
Niger River a source of food.
TRANS-SAHARAN TRADEThe empires of West Africa, Ghana
and Mali flourished from trade.
TRANS-SAHARAN TRADE Berbers from North Africa introduced
the camel to West Africa. Caravans were used to cross the
Sahara Desert, establishing trade routes between the North and West Africa.
Gold from West Africa was exchanged for something the West Africans prized even more salt.
Salt was used as a flavoring, a food preservative, and for retaining body moisture.
THE GROWTH OF GHANA’S EMPIRE
THE GROWTH OF GHANA’S EMPIRE
SALT
GOLD
TAXING TRADE
WEALTH
WHAT DID GHANA DO WITH ITS WEALTH?
• Became an empire.•Conquered surrounding lands.•Conquered people had to pay a tax or tribute.•Koumbi Saleh the capital became a thriving center of trade and culture.
Trading Berbers from North Africa brought ISLAM and ARABIC to
West Africans
MOSQUE
•AFRICANS CONVERT TO ISLAM AND
Learn Arabic to study the Quran
INFLUENCE OF ISLAMIC BELIEFS
Kings practiced Islam and traditional beliefs to keep the throne.
Muslims held positions in government because they could read and write in Arabic.
Upper class converted to Islam and learned Arabic.
WHAT LED TO GHANA’S DECLINE?
•Almoravids attacked Ghana and occupied the capital.•The war weakened Ghana’s trade network.