Big Idea

Chapter 5 Section 1 Sub-Saharan Africa

Anticipatory SetHow large is Africa?

About three times as large as the continental United States( 11.67 million sq. miles)

California StandardsSocial Studies Standard 7.4.1: Study the Niger River and the relationship of vegetation zones of forest, savannah, and desert to trade in gold, salt, food, and slaves; and the growth of the Ghana and Mali empires. Paraphrase:

SS 7.2.2: Study how the Niger River and vegetation zones of Sub-Saharan Africa

affected trade.

California StandardsReading Comprehension 2.3: Structural Features of Informational Materials: analyze text that uses cause-and-effect organizational pattern.

Paraphrase

RC 2.3: Analyze text that uses cause-and-effect organizational

patterns.

Input

Sub-Saharan- The area of Africa that lies south of the Sahara

Plateau- a highland area of fairly flat landNatural Resources- products that come

from nature and have economic valueSavannah- a broad grassland with scattered

treesSahel- fertile region with unpredictable

rainfall that lies along the southern border of the Sahara

Input: The Sahara

• Sahara is the Arabic word for “desert”• At 3.5 million sq. miles it is the

world’s largest desert.• In ancient times, traders from North

Africa and West Africa traversed the Sahara to exchange goods.

Vegetation Zone: Desert

Input: The Sahel

• A fertile region that borders the Sahara to the south.

Vegetation Zone: Savannah

• Sahel is the Arabic word for “shore”• Rainfall is limited and the region

is plagued with droughts

Input: Rain Forest

The rainforest is comprised of towering trees, dense leaves and vegetation, and is hot and wet all year.

Vegetation Zone: Rain Forest

Input: Niger River• Main river of

West Africa• Provided water

to civilizations that lived in dry regions• Provided a

route traders could travel across to enter the interior of West Africa

Input: Africa’s Natural Resources

GoldCopper

Iron Salt

InputSocial Studies Standard 7.2.2 and

Reading Comprehension Standard 2.3: Cause: Traders in Western Africa had access to

gold, where as those in the Sahara had access to salt.Effect: Trans-Sahara trade began and was

based on the trade of salt and gold.Effect: Other items such as steel swords,

copper, silks, ivory, crafts, and slaves were traded as well.Effect: A new religion, known as Islam, was spread along the trade routes by merchants.

Input: SummaryThe African continent is a vast

and varied place. It contains the world’s largest desert, as well as an immense savannah containing tropical rain forests. Much of Africa lies on a large plateau.

Ancient people traversed this difficult landscape in order to exchange resources such as salt, gold, copper, and iron. These traders trekked across the Sahara by camel caravan or utilized the Niger River to travel to and from the interior of West Africa.

Input

Africa’s economy is still based largely on the exportation of natural resources.

Today, the continent of Africa produces:62% of the world’s Platinum/Palladium 46% of the world’s Diamonds21% of the world’s Gold16% of the world’s Uranium

InputMuch like in the Arabian

peninsula and Middle East, Muslims will encounter non-Islamic empires. Some of these empires will be conquered and converted to Islam, while others will adopt it willingly. Like the Islamic empires to their north, the empires of Africa will become centers of great cultural and economic wealth.

What are the three types of vegetation zones located within the African continent?

Explain the significance of the Niger River.

Name some of the natural resources traded in Ancient Africa.

Modeling

Which vegetation zone is defined as “broad grasslands with scattered trees”?

Check forUnderstanding

Savannah

What was an effect of Trans-Sahara trade?

Check forUnderstanding

Varies; Ex: “Slaves were traded from

one area of the continent to

another”; “Islam was spread by

merchants”

Answer #2Guided Practice

Independent Practice

Finish #1-5 on the worksheet.