West Africa. Physical Geography The Big Idea West Africa, which is mostly a region of plains, has climates ranging from arid to tropical and has important.

West AfricaWest Africa

Physical GeographyPhysical GeographyThe Big Idea

West Africa, which is mostly a region of plains, has climates ranging from arid to tropical and has important resources.

Main Ideas

• West Africa’s key physical features include plains and the Niger River.

• West Africa has distinct climate and vegetation zones that go from arid in the north to tropical in the south.

• West Africa has good agricultural and mineral resources that may one day help the economies in the region.

Plains and Highlands

The Niger River

• Plains cover most of the region.

• Most cities are on coastal plains.

• A few areas of highlands are scattered around the region. The only high mountains are the Tibesti Mountains.

• The Niger River is the largest river in West Africa.

• The Niger provides fish, water for farming, and an easy transportation route for people in the region.

• In Mali, the Niger breaks into a network of channels, marshes, and lakes called the inland delta.

Main Idea 1:Main Idea 1:West Africa’s key physical features West Africa’s key physical features include plains and the Niger River.include plains and the Niger River.

Main Idea 2:Main Idea 2:West Africa has distinct climate and West Africa has distinct climate and vegetation zones that go from arid in vegetation zones that go from arid in the north to tropical in the south.the north to tropical in the south.

SaharaSahara West Africa’s climates are West Africa’s climates are

zonalzonal, or organized by , or organized by zone.zone.

The northern part of the The northern part of the region lies in the Sahara, region lies in the Sahara, the world’s largest desert.the world’s largest desert.

Almost no vegetation grows Almost no vegetation grows there.there.

Dry, so few people live in Dry, so few people live in many areasmany areas

SahelSahel

• The semiarid The semiarid SahelSahel is south of is south of the Sahara.the Sahara.

• The area has a steppe climate, The area has a steppe climate, and rainfall varies from year to and rainfall varies from year to year.year.

• It has enough vegetation to It has enough vegetation to support livestock.support livestock.

• DesertificationDesertification, the spread of , the spread of desert like conditions, is desert like conditions, is making the Sahel more like the making the Sahel more like the Sahara every year.Sahara every year.

Climate Zones of West AfricaClimate Zones of West Africa

SavannaSavanna

Lies south of the SahelLies south of the Sahel

The The savannasavanna is an is an area of tall grasses and area of tall grasses and scattered trees and scattered trees and shrubs.shrubs.

When rain falls When rain falls regularly, farmers can regularly, farmers can grow many crops.grow many crops.

Humid TropicalHumid Tropical

• Lies along the coasts of Lies along the coasts of the Atlantic and the the Atlantic and the Gulf of GuineaGulf of Guinea

• Plentiful rain supports Plentiful rain supports tropical forests.tropical forests.

• Many trees have been Many trees have been cut down to make room cut down to make room for people.for people.

Main Idea 3:Main Idea 3: West Africa has good agricultural and West Africa has good agricultural and mineral resources that may one day mineral resources that may one day

help the economies in the region.help the economies in the region. The climate in part of the region is good for agriculture.The climate in part of the region is good for agriculture.

Ghana is the world’s largest producer of cacao, which is used to Ghana is the world’s largest producer of cacao, which is used to make chocolate.make chocolate.

Coffee, coconuts, and peanuts are also grown in the region.Coffee, coconuts, and peanuts are also grown in the region.

Oil is the most valuable resource in the region.Oil is the most valuable resource in the region. Found off the coast of NigeriaFound off the coast of Nigeria

Other mineral resources include diamonds, gold, iron ore, and Other mineral resources include diamonds, gold, iron ore, and bauxite, the main source of aluminum. bauxite, the main source of aluminum.

History and CultureHistory and Culture

The Big Idea

Powerful early kingdoms, European slave trade and colonization, and traditions from a mix of ethnic groups

have all influenced West African culture.

Main Ideas

• In West Africa’s history, trade made great kingdoms rich, but this greatness declined as Europeans began to control trade routes.

• The culture of West Africa includes many different ethnic groups, languages, religions, and housing styles.

Main Idea 1:Main Idea 1:In West Africa’s history, trade made great In West Africa’s history, trade made great kingdoms rich, but this greatness declined as kingdoms rich, but this greatness declined as Europeans began to control trade routes.Europeans began to control trade routes.• One of the earliest kingdoms in West Africa was Ghana. It

grew rich from the Sahara trade in salt and gold.

• The empire of Mali later replaced Ghana and took control of the salt and gold trade routes.

– King Mansa Musa used Mali’s wealth from trade to support artists and scholars.

• The kingdom of Songhai came to power as Mali declined.

– The Songhai city of Timbuktu was a cultural center with more than 100 schools.

• West African trade cities declined as Europeans began to sail along Africa’s west coast. Europeans could trade for gold on the coast rather than paying traders to bring it across the desert.

Later West AfricaLater West AfricaThe Slave TradeThe Slave Trade

In the 1500s the demand for In the 1500s the demand for labor in Europe’s American labor in Europe’s American colonies led to the creation of colonies led to the creation of the slave trade.the slave trade.

The slave trade was profitable The slave trade was profitable for traders.for traders.

The slave trade devastated The slave trade devastated West Africa.West Africa.

Families were broken up Families were broken up when members were when members were enslaved.enslaved.

Many Africans died on the Many Africans died on the voyage to America.voyage to America.

Colonial Era and Colonial Era and IndependenceIndependence

• France, Britain, Germany, and France, Britain, Germany, and Portugal claimed colonies in Portugal claimed colonies in West Africa in the 1800s.West Africa in the 1800s.

• Some Europeans moved to Some Europeans moved to West Africa to run colonies.West Africa to run colonies.

They built schools, roads, and They built schools, roads, and railroads.railroads.

Europeans created many Europeans created many economic problems in the economic problems in the colonies.colonies.

• After World War II, Africans After World War II, Africans worked for and gained worked for and gained independence.independence.

Main Idea 2:Main Idea 2:The culture of West Africa includes many The culture of West Africa includes many different ethnic groups, languages, religions, different ethnic groups, languages, religions, and housing styles.and housing styles.

Hundreds of languagesHundreds of languages

Colonial languages like French, English, and Colonial languages like French, English, and Portuguese help groups communicate.Portuguese help groups communicate.

Many people speak West African languages.Many people speak West African languages.

People Hundreds of ethnic groupsHundreds of ethnic groups

Some groups live in traditional villages. Others live in Some groups live in traditional villages. Others live in cities and mix with other groups.cities and mix with other groups.

Country boundaries do not match ethnic group Country boundaries do not match ethnic group boundaries. Many people are more loyal to their boundaries. Many people are more loyal to their group than to their country.group than to their country.

Languages

West African CultureWest African CultureReligion

• Traditional religions are forms of animism, the belief that natural objects have spirits.

• The two most common religions in the region are Christianity and Islam.

Clothing

• Mix of modern and traditional clothes

• Western-style clothes are common in cities.

• Traditional clothes includes robes, pants, blouses, skirts, and wrapped headdresses.

Families and Shelter

• Rural houses are small and simple.

• Extended families, or large groups of relatives, often live together in one house.

• In urban areas, many people live in apartments.

West Africa TodayWest Africa TodayThe Big Idea

Many countries in West Africa struggle with poor economies and political instability.

Main Ideas

• Nigeria has many different ethnic groups, an oil-based economy, and one of the world’s largest cities.

• Most coastal countries of West Africa have struggling economies and weak or unstable governments.

• Lack of resources in the Sahel countries is a main challenge to economic development.

Main Idea 1:Main Idea 1:Nigeria has many different ethnic groups, Nigeria has many different ethnic groups, an oil-based economy, and an oil-based economy, and one of the world’s largest cities.one of the world’s largest cities.

Oil is the country’s major export. The oil industry is Oil is the country’s major export. The oil industry is based around based around LagosLagos..

Most Nigerians are poor because of a high birthrate, Most Nigerians are poor because of a high birthrate, lack of food, and poor government.lack of food, and poor government.

People andGovernment

Many different ethnic groupsMany different ethnic groups

One group, the Igbo, tried to One group, the Igbo, tried to secedesecede, or break away, in , or break away, in the 1960s, which began a civil war.the 1960s, which began a civil war.

Ethnic and regional conflicts are still a problem.Ethnic and regional conflicts are still a problem.

The capital, Abuja, was chosen because it was in an The capital, Abuja, was chosen because it was in an area with a low population density, so there were few area with a low population density, so there were few people to cause problems.people to cause problems.

The government is now a democracy.The government is now a democracy.

Economy

Senegal and Gambia

Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Cape Verde

• Senegal wraps around Gambia and is larger and richer.

• Peanut farming and tourism are major economic activities.

• Many people speak a language called Wolof.

• Small, poor countries

• Guinea has bauxite resources. Guinea-Bissau has many undeveloped resources.

• Cape Verde is a chain of islands with a democratic government. Tourism is central to the economy.

Main Idea 2:Main Idea 2:Most coastal countries of West Africa Most coastal countries of West Africa have struggling economies and have struggling economies and weak or unstable governments.weak or unstable governments.

Liberia and Sierra Leone

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire

• Liberia is Africa’s oldest republic, founded by Americans in the 1820s as a home for freed slaves.

• Sierra Leone experienced violent civil war from 1991 to 2002, which killed thousands and left millions homeless.

• Both countries are working to rebuild.

• Rich natural resources

• Ghana has gold, timber, and cacao.

• Côte d’Ivoire produces cacao and coffee.

Other Coastal CountriesOther Coastal Countries

Togo and Benin• Unstable governments

• Both countries are poor. People mostly farm and herd.

Main Idea 3:Main Idea 3:Lack of resources in the Sahel countries is a Lack of resources in the Sahel countries is a main challenge to economic development.main challenge to economic development.

Mauritania

• Most people were once nomadic herders, but many have moved to cities.

• Most people are poor.

• Only the far south is good for farming.

• Corruption and ethnic tensions have caused problems.

Niger

• Very little good farmland

• Farmers grow grains on the little farmland that exists.

• In the early 2000s locusts and drought caused famine, or an extreme shortage of food.

Chad

• Better farmland than other Sahel countries

• In the past, Lake Chad supported fishing, but the lake has largely dried up.

• The end of a civil war and the discovery of oil hold promise for Chad’s future.

Other Sahel CountriesOther Sahel Countries

MaliMali

About 40 percent of the About 40 percent of the land is desert.land is desert.

Because so little land is Because so little land is available for farming, Mali is available for farming, Mali is one of the world’s poorest one of the world’s poorest countries.countries.

Cotton and gold are its Cotton and gold are its main exports.main exports.

A stable democratic A stable democratic government has begun government has begun economic reforms.economic reforms.

Tourists visit ancient cities Tourists visit ancient cities such as Timbuktu and Gao.such as Timbuktu and Gao.

Burkina FasoBurkina Faso

• Poor countryPoor country

• Thin soil and few mineral Thin soil and few mineral resourcesresources

• Ouagadougou is the capital. Ouagadougou is the capital. Jobs there are scarce. Many Jobs there are scarce. Many people try to find work in other people try to find work in other countries.countries.

• When other countries have When other countries have political or economic problems, political or economic problems, Burkina Faso also suffers.Burkina Faso also suffers.