Transcript Physiographic Map of Africa.Standard - RUSD

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.
Most West African
people live in the
grassland to farm.
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 Zone
 Semi
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
SA HEL
SAVANNAH-Flat, grassy,
with scattered trees.
•Used for farming.
•Most people live in this
region.
•Home to many wild
animals.
Tropical
Rain
Forest
covers the
Southern
part of
West
Africa
home to
people and
many
animals
Niger River
Over
2, 600 miles long
Key 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 TRADE
The empires of West Africa, Ghana and
Mali flourished from trade.
TRANS-SAHARAN TRADE
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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
SALT
TAXING
TRADE
WEALTH
GOLD
THE GROWTH OF GHANA’S EMPIRE
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
AFRICANS CONVERT TO ISLAM
A
N
D
Learn Arabic to
study the Quran
INFLUENCE OF ISLAMIC BELIEFS
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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.