Early West African Societies



Early West African Societies

Chapter 5, Section 1

“______________________________”

Main Ideas

1. The __________, _________, __________ and __________ affected history in West Africa.

2. West Africa’s resources included __________, __________, and _________.

LANDFORMS, WATER, CLIMATE & PLANT LIFE

Africa is the second-largest __________ in the world, second only to Asia.

The vast land is shaped like a __________ __________, ringed with mighty mountain chains.

In eastern Africa, mountains extend along __________, long deep valleys that were formed by movements of the earth’s crust.

There are large rivers that cross the plains of _____________ __________, the name for Africa south of the Sahara.

Great civilizations grew up along the __________ __________, one of the rivers flowing through these plains.

The Niger River starts close to the Atlantic Ocean and flows for about __________miles before ending in the Gulf of Guinea.

The Niger River’s middle section is called the __________ __________.

This part of the river has several low-lying __________ and __________. Many __________ and __________ flourish in this area.

Four different __________ make up the area around the Niger. The regions, running from __________ to __________, range from very dry and sandy to very wet and green.

The northern band is the southern part of the __________ desert, so it is hot and dry here.

Next is the __________, a strip of land that divides the desert from the wetter areas.

Then there is the __________, which has open grasslands. Both the Sahel and the savannah can support herds of animals for grazing.

The fourth region is __________ __________, dense, wet area with lots of trees and plants. The rain forests lie near the equator.

Define What does sub-Saharan Africa mean?

Summarize What did the Niger River provide people living in the region?

Predict Why might more people live in the savannah than in the Sahel?

Describe What make the Niger’s inland delta an unusual physical feature?

Predict How might the different climates in West Africa affect settlement patterns and the growth of towns?

WEST AFRICA’S RESOURCES

West Africa’s __________ is a major resource. Its different __________ help grow many different types of crops.

These crops include __________ from the desert and medicinal __________ nuts from the forest.

__________ are also an important resource.

The Sahara Desert has left many __________ deposits.

Salt was important for people who lived on mainly __________ __________, like many early Africans who needed to add salt to their diets.

Salt was also a necessary ingredient for __________ and preserving __________.

For centuries, __________ came from __________ riverbed mines in the forest region.

Even today, no one is sure which riverbeds __________ the valuable gold __________.

But gold was very important for __________.

Recall What crops were harvested in West Africa?

Explain Why was salt important to West Africans?

Analyze Why did gold become so valuable?

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Lesson Objective(s):_______________________________________________

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