Chapter 8 African Civilizati on

1. Chapter 8 African Civilization Section 1 Diverse Societies in Africa Preview:. How does adapting to different environments lead to the development of diverse cultures? Possible answer: Adapting to each environment requires different survival skills and leads people to develop unique ways of life. These different ways of life determine what people believe, how they expend their energy, and how they behave—in short, their culture.

2. A Land of Geographic Contrasts Africa is the second largest continent in the world - 4,600 miles from east to west and 5,000 miles from north to south - 11.7 million square miles - occupies about one-fifth of the earth’s surface

3. Deserts and rain forests in a third of Africa support few people. - 40% deserts: largest desert Sahara in north, Kalahari in the south - rain forest crosses about half of middle of Africa/west-central region; covers about 5% of Africa hot/humid/ a lot of rain Fertile coastal regions in the north and south are densely populated by farmers and herders. -summers sunny, dry, hot; winters mild; rainfall moderate Most Africans live further south on savannas, which cover two- fifths (40%) of Africa and support much agriculture - band of tropical savanna, open grassland which extends east from Central Africa, wraps back toward south - tall grasses, shrubs, trees grow there; variety of herd animals, majority of Africans live there - dry seasons alternate with rainy seasons - major crops are grains: sorghum, millet, rice, wheat, maize (corn)

5. - savannas include mountainous highlands, swampy tropical stretches, land at the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, the Sahel - south of Sahara, mighty rivers flow across plains, including Congo, Zambezi, Niger - region called the Sahel (“coastline” in Arabic), strip of land dividing desert, wetter areas - Sahel fairly dry, but has vegetation to support hardy grazing animals -desertification (steady process of drying of the soil)

8. Early Humans Adapt to Their Environments Nomadic Lifestyle Earliest people are nomadic hunter-gatherers (some still exist) Herders (pastoralists) drive animals to find water, graze pastures Transition to a Settled Lifestyle Agriculture probably develops by 10000 B.C. As the Sahara dried up again, farmers move to West Africa or Nile Valley settling on the savannas Agriculture allows permanent settlement, governments to develop (some settlements developed into great kingdoms) Although living in different environments, Africans share common elements, such as the importance of family and the creation of a belief system

9. Societies Organized by Family Groups Extended families made up of several generations Families with common ancestors form groups known as clans Local ReligionsEarly religions usually include elements of animism—belief in spirits (in animals, plants, natural forces, souls of ancestors) Keeping a History Few African societies have written languagesHistory, literature, culture passed on by storytellers called griotsCultures in West Africa are advanced long before outsiders arrive

10. Early Societies in West Africa Djenne-Djeno, from 600–200 B.C., cities begin to develop near rivers, oases Djenné-Djeno—Africa’s oldest known city (250 B.C.), discovered in 1977 - artifacts reveal how people lived in the past (pottery, copper hair ornaments, clay toys glass beads, stone bracelets, iron knives) - evidence of sub-Saharan cultures producing iron around 500 B.C. - bustling trade center; linked West African towns, camel trade routes

11. The Nok CultureEarliest known culture was Nok people – lived in present day Nigeria - farmers The Nok culture develops iron technology (tools and weapons) and creates an advanced society in West Africa