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This PowerPoint presentation accompaniesCloseup Teaching Unit 5.3.1

West African Geography, Climate, and History: 500 – 1600 CE

West African Geography, Climate, and History

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Welcome, fellow scholars!

It’s nice to see you again.

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I’m glad you’re here!Now that you are

studying West Africa, I thought you’d like to see

images from Africa.

Before we start, think about

what comes to your mind when

you think about Africa?

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Beautiful scenery

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You may also think about some of Africa’s natural

resources.

Gold

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Ivory

What about West Africa today?

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“The challenges facing Africa are daunting.  Africa has the highest proportion of its people in extreme poverty.” Food4Africa.org

How may West Africa’s environment and climate have contributed to this

situation?

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Tsetse Fly

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Its bite causes sleeping sickness in humans and is fatal for domestic animals, like cattle and horses.

Anopheles Mosquito

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It spreads malaria

“Climate change may have a graver effect on Africa than any other continent.”

www.Economist.com May 10, 2007

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Has West Africa’s natural environment

been a positive or negative factor in its

historical development?

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The End