Geography of Africa
A long, deep valley formed by the movement of Earth’s crust.
What is rift?
This major river was the center of life in early West Africa, providing water, food, and transportation.
What is the Niger River?
A family group that includes parents, children, and close relatives.
What is an extended family?
Farming improved around 500 BC because people learned to make these.
What are iron tools?
People south of the Sahara traded their gold for this essential mineral.
What is salt?
Africa south of the Sahara Desert.
What is sub-Saharan Africa?
A moist, densely wooded area containing many plants and animals.
What is a rain forest?
The belief that natural objects—like rivers or trees—have spirits.
What is animism?
These travelers guided caravans through the Sahara Desert.
Who are the Berbers?
This animal was especially important for carrying goods across the Sahara because it could survive long distances without water.
What is the camel?
A partly dry region separating the Sahara from wetter areas.
What is the Sahel?
This region provided farming land for early West African societies.
What is the Sahel?
Leaders who guided religious practices and helped settle village disputes.
Who are the elders?
These two uses of iron were the most important for early West Africans.
What is clearing land and making weapons?
This resource brought wealth to early West African kingdoms.
What is gold?
5,000 years ago, West Africa’s climate changed in this way.
What is becoming drier?
These massive formations in eastern Africa formed from tectonic activity.
What are rifts?
Traders crossing the Sahara had to travel in these groups for safety and support during long journeys.
What are caravans?
This skill allowed the Nok to farm better and create detailed artwork.
What is ironworking?
This city began as a camp for African traders.
What is Timbuktu?
All regions of West Africa that run east–west share this climate feature.
What is warm weather?
Climate zones in West Africa run primarily in this direction.
What is east to west?
This early West African group was known as hunters, warriors, farmers, and artists.
Who were the Nok?
Before learning to use iron, early West Africans made their tools from these materials.
What are stone and wood?
These people connected West Africa to North African trade networks.
Who are the Berbers?