Early African Civilizations and Geography

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Early humans in Africa lived as hunters and gatherers, moving from place to place. Around 3000 B.C., they began settling in villages, learning to tame animals and grow crops, leading to the development of civilizations like Egypt and Kush.

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How early people settled Africa.

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Africa's geographic zones include the rain forest, savannas, deserts, and Mediterranean areas.

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The four distinct geographic zones of Africa.

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Savannas are tropical grasslands with small trees and shrubs, covering about 40% of Africa's land. They have high temperatures and uneven rains, suitable for farming and herding.

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Description of the savannas in Africa.

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A plateau is a high and mostly flat land area. In Africa, plateaus are found in most regions, with significant ones in East Africa.

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Definition and location of plateaus in Africa.

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Different climate zones, like the rain forest and savannas, provided varying conditions for agriculture, influencing where and how people could farm.

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Impact of Africa's climate zones on agriculture.

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Trade developed as the Berber people of North Africa found ways to cross the Sahara to West Africa, leading to trade between the regions.

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Trade development in Africa

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The Berbers carried goods across the Sahara using donkeys and horses. The introduction of the camel around A.D. 200 greatly changed trade, allowing for long-distance travel across the desert.

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Sahara trade development

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Camels, with their ability to store fat and water, were essential for long-distance travel across the Sahara, facilitating trade.

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Role of camels in Sahara trade

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Caravans from North Africa traded cloth, weapons, horses, paper, and books for salt and gold from West Africa.

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West African kingdoms and trade

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Empires rose due to trade prosperity and fell due to invasions and internal disruptions.

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Reasons for the rise and fall of West African trading empires