Vegetation Zones Vegetation Zones of West Africa

Empire of Ghana

CH.5.2 THE EMPIRE OF GHANA What you must know:1.Study the Niger River .2.Study the relationship of vegetation zones (desert, savannah and forest) to trade in gold and salt, food and slaves.3.Growth of Ghana Empire.4.Influence of Islamic beliefs, ethics and laws.

DESERT

SAVANNAH/GRASSLAND

Most West African people live in the

grassland to farm.

Dense Forest

Sahara Desert•Largest desert in the world •3,500,000 sq. miles. •15% sand dunes, rest stone deserts, oases, mountains, sparse vegetation.•High wind.•Few animals, mostly nocturnal. •Deposits of salt.

Scenes from the Sahara Desert

Sahel-Transition ZoneSemi arid- between Sahara

Desert and savannas to the south.

Forms a belt across Africa.Low growing grasses and tall

trees.4 to 8 inches of rain per year

HELSA

SAVANNAH-Flat, grassy, SAVANNAH-Flat, grassy, with scattered trees. with scattered trees. •Used for farming. Used for farming. •Most people live in this Most people live in this region.region.•Home to many wild Home to many wild animals.animals.

Tropical Rain

Forest covers the Southern part of West Africa

home to people

and many animals

Niger RiverOver 2, 600 miles longKey route for transportation, helped with communication and trade.Floods produced fertile soil for farming.

Sunset on the Niger

River!

Niger River a source of food.

TRANS-SAHARAN TRADEThe empires of West Africa, Ghana

and Mali flourished from trade.

TRANS-SAHARAN TRADE Berbers from North Africa introduced

the camel to West Africa. Caravans were used to cross the

Sahara Desert, establishing trade routes between the North and West Africa.

Gold from West Africa was exchanged for something the West Africans prized even more salt.

Salt was used as a flavoring, a food preservative, and for retaining body moisture.

THE GROWTH OF GHANA’S EMPIRE

THE GROWTH OF GHANA’S EMPIRE

SALT

GOLD

TAXING TRADE

WEALTH

WHAT DID GHANA DO WITH ITS WEALTH?

• Became an empire.•Conquered surrounding lands.•Conquered people had to pay a tax or tribute.•Koumbi Saleh the capital became a thriving center of trade and culture.

Trading Berbers from North Africa brought ISLAM and ARABIC to

West Africans

MOSQUE

•AFRICANS CONVERT TO ISLAM AND

Learn Arabic to study the Quran

INFLUENCE OF ISLAMIC BELIEFS

Kings practiced Islam and traditional beliefs to keep the throne.

Muslims held positions in government because they could read and write in Arabic.

Upper class converted to Islam and learned Arabic.

WHAT LED TO GHANA’S DECLINE?

•Almoravids attacked Ghana and occupied the capital.•The war weakened Ghana’s trade network.