G E O G R A P H Y
C H A L L E N G E
Africa
50°N
40°N
Tropic of
Cancer
20°N
10°N
Equator
0°
10°S
N
E
W
S
20°S
Tropic of Capricorn
30°S
0
500
1,000 miles
0
500
1,000 kilometers
Sinusoidal Projection
40°S
20°W
10°W
0°
10°E
20°E
30°E
MW_ISN_U03_01.eps
1 The Culture and Kingdoms of West Africa Geography Challenge
Africa
Second Proof
TCI20 71
40°E
50°E
60°E
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
G E O G R A P H Y
C H A L L E N G E
Geography Skills
Analyze the maps in “Setting the Stage” for The Culture and Kingdoms of West
Africa in the Student Text. Then answer the following questions and fill out the
map as directed.
1. Locate the ocean that borders Africa on the west. Label it on your map. Then,
locate and label the ocean that borders Africa on the east. Next, locate and
label the sea that borders Africa on the north.
2. Locate the four regions of the continent of Africa. Label these regions on
your map.
3. Locate the Sahara and the Sahel. Label them on your map.
4. Look at the map of Africa’s vegetation zones in the Student Text . In which of
these zones do you think people were least likely to settle? Why?
5. In what region of Africa were the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
located? What vegetation zones are found in this part of Africa?
6. Label the Niger and Senegal rivers. Through which two kingdoms did the
Niger River extend?
7. Which of the three West African kingdoms was the largest?
8. Locate the city of Timbuktu on your map. Label it. On what river is it located?
9. Timbuktu was part of which two West African kingdoms?
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
The Culture and Kingdoms of West Africa Geography Challenge 2
G E O G R A P H Y
C H A L L E N G E
Critical Thinking
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
10. Why do you think the Niger and Senegal rivers were important to the
civilizations that developed in West Africa?
11. Islam spread into West Africa beginning in the 700s. What part of Africa do
you think was first introduced to this religion? Along what route do you think
Islam traveled from that starting point into West Africa?
3 The Culture and Kingdoms of West Africa Geography Challenge
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute