Name
Class
Date
History and Geography
Early African Civilizations
The Geography of Africa
Africa is a vast continent with a variety of physical features and
climates. Its landforms include deserts, mountains, and plains. It has
rain forests and savannahs. Many rivers run through the different
regions of Africa.
EUROP E
ASIA
ELEVATION
Feet
Meters
13,120
6,560
1,640
656
(Sea level) 0
Below
sea level
0
0
4,000
2,000
500
200
0 (Sea level)
Below
sea level
350
350
700 Miles
700 Kilometers
MAP ACTIVITY
1. On the map, put an X on the body of water that is the border between Africa and
Spain.
2. On the map, use a bright color to draw a line to show where the equator crosses
the continent of Africa.
3. On the map, use a different bright color to draw a line to show where the Tropic
of Cancer crosses the continent of Africa.
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
18
5647_MSH_HistGeo_Ch13.indd 18
Early African Civilizations
6/17/05 5:58:41 PM
Name
Class
Date
History and Geography
The Geography of Africa, continued
4. On the map, use a bright color to draw a dotted line to show where the Tropic of
Capricorn crosses the continent of Africa.
5. Update the map legend to reflect the changes you made to the map.
ANALYZING MAPS
1. Region In what region of Africa is the Kalahari Desert?
2. Place What two deserts border the Red Sea?
3. Location What mountain range is located south of the Tropic of Capricorn?
4. Human/Environment Interaction Why do you think many people lived in West
Africa?
5. Movement What geographical feature presents an obstacle to humans living and
traveling in North Africa? Why?
EXTENSION ACTIVITY
Did you ever wonder what the places shown on a map look like? Learn
what’s behind the names on the map of Africa. Using magazines, books,
travel brochures, and Internet resources, collect pictures of the different
regions, places, and physical features of Africa. Create a presentation to
showcase your pictures. Possible ideas for presentations are booklets,
travel guides, posters, slide shows, PowerPoint presentations, collages,
postcards, and “picture” maps. Include pictures that show a variety of
different places and features of Africa.
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
19
Early African Civilizations
Answer Key
History and Geography
Chapter Review
MAP ACTIVITY
REVIEWING VOCABULARY, TERMS,
AND PEOPLE
1. X should be on the Mediterranean Sea.
2. Line should correspond to the line repre-
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
senting the equator shown on the map, at
a latitude of 0°.
3. Line should correspond to the line representing the Tropic of Cancer shown on the
map, just above the 20°N latitude.
4. Line should correspond to the line representing the Tropic of Capricorn shown on
the map, just below the 20°S latitude.
5. Updated legend should include symbol for
the Mediterranean Sea and different colors
used for the equator, Tropic of Cancer,
and Tropic of Capricorn.
rifts
Sundiata
oral history
animism
kente
savannah
COMPREHENSION AND CRITICAL
THINKING
1.
2.
3.
4.
b
a
b
b
REVIEWING THEMES
ANALYZING MAPS
1. technology and innovation
2. geography
1.
2.
3.
4.
southern Africa
the Arabian Desert and the Nubian Desert
Drakensberg
The Niger River was a source of water,
food, and transportation. Along its middle
section are lakes and marshes containing
many animals and fish.
5. Answers will vary. The Sahara Desert,
because it is a huge, barren desert. It has
high temperatures and few sources of
water.
REVIEW ACTIVITY: WEST AFRICA
CONCEPT MAP
Students’ concept maps will vary. Quality
concept maps will include words and images
that represent the main ideas of each section.
EXTENSION ACTIVITY
Presentations will vary, but students should
include a variety of pictures.
Social Studies Skills
PRACTICE AND APPLY THE SKILL
Students’ answers could include the facts that
both kingdoms reached much farther into
other regions of Africa and that both extended
to the Atlantic coast.
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
31
Early African Civilizations