Transcript CHAPTER13-AFRICAx

MEDIEVAL
CHAPTER 13
Africa is the second-largest continent
on Earth, with an area of 11.7 million
square miles. Not surprisingly for such
a huge land mass, it is home to an
incredible variety of climates, cultures,
animals and plants. There are 53
countries in Africa and approximately
1 billion people. Africa is widely
considered to be where human beings
first evolved.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT AFRICA!
The deserts, jungles, and plains of
Africa are home to some of Earth's
most extraordinary animals. The
African elephant is the world's largest
land animal. The giraffe is the world's
tallest animal. The cheetah is the
world's fastest land animal. The gorilla
is the world's largest primate.
1) How did geography
affect the
development of
African kingdoms?
* Geography varies in
Africa- land in
Africa is divided
into the
tropics(rainforest),
the desert, the
Mediterranean, and
the savannas
(plateau)
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MORES INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT AFRICA! Soccer is the most
The highest mountain in
Africa is Mt. Kilimanjaro,
which is 19,340 ft high.
Even though it sits almost
on the equator, Kilimanjaro
is so tall that glaciers form
at its summit. The Sahara is
the world's largest desert,
at 3.5 million square miles,
nearly the size of the
United States. The largest
city in Africa is Cairo, the
capital of Egypt. The total
urban area around Cairo
has a population of 17
million. The Nile is the
longest river in the world,
at 4,132 miles.
popular sport in
Africa. Many African
players are superstars
in the European
soccer leagues.
Cameroon, Nigeria,
Senegal and Ghana
have all performed
well in recent FIFA
World Cups. Cricket
is popular in some
African countries,
notably those with
former colonial ties
to Great Britain.
South Africa,
Zimbabwe and Kenya
are the most notable
cricket-playing
African nations.
South Africa is also
one of the world’s
leading rugby union
nations
GHANA EMPIRE
•Skilled iron workers
•Had a HUGE army
•Controlled people who
owned gold and salt mines
•Taxed traders as they
passed through the
kingdom- this made Ghana
VERY rich!
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MALI EMPIRE
•Seized capital of
Ghana
• Won control of
land from Atlantic
coast to Timbuktu
•Now, controlled
gold-mining areas,
allowing them to
rebuild the gold
and salt trade
SONGHAY (SONGHAI)
•Drove out the Berbers
•Seized control of river
trade (Niger River)
•Took over Berbers salt
mines
•Built largest empire in
West Africa
ISLAM IN AFRICA
What is Islamic Culture?
Islamic culture has to do with behavior – it is a way of behaving so that you stay
on the path of righteousness as defined by the prophet Muhammad. If you stay
on the path of righteousness, you assure your place in heaven.
Rise of Islam
Most of the traders who traveled the Trans-Sahara Trade Route were Muslims.
Their caravans carried silk and iron and spices across the vast desert, to trade
for gold. The traders brought with them more than goods. They also brought
their belief in Allah and their Islamic culture.
Muslim Traders: The Muslin traders assisted in the cultural and intellectual
development of the people by introducing a written language, a written record
of history, Muslim laws, books, a system of formal education and study, and a
unifying administrative structure.
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