TEKS 1A,C; 6A; 19B;
26C
Sub- Saharan Africa refers to those countries that are
a. South of the Sahara Desert
b. In the Sahara Desert
c. North of the Sahara Desert
d. East of the Nile River
Geography
Africa is split into 2 parts
•
•
•
•
Saharan Africa 40% of Continent
Sub-Saharan Africa 60% of Continent
Africa is the 2nd largest continent after Asia
Tropical Rainforests make up 5% of Continent
Saharan Desert
savanna
Africa has few harbors or ports
Farmland and grassland take up 40%
of continent. Farming and ranching
take up most of the grassland.
Rivers are hard to navigate
NAME OF
KINGDOM
Location
Economy
Type of
government
Important
points
Ghana
• Located south of the Sahara Desert in West Africa
• Economy based on trading, mining, farming & cattle
ranching
• Government - Monarchy
• Important Points
• City of Timbuktu- Leading center for culture,
education and Islam in Africa
• Controlled the Salt & Gold trade routes between
west & north Africa
Mali
• Located southeast of Ghana: later grew to include all
of Ghana
• Economy based on trading, mining (Gold & Salt)
• Government - Monarchy: Mansa Musa (King)
• Important Points
• @1300 was the largest empire in the world
• Center of the spread of Islam in Africa
Songhai
• Located east of Mali
• Economy based on trading, mining
• Government - Monarchy
• Important Points
• Practiced Islam
• Famous rulers: Sonna Ali & Askia Mohammad
Cush
• Located south of Egypt on the Nile River
• Economy based on trade, agriculture, iron products
• Government - Monarchy: Capital in Meroe
• Important Points
• Ruled Ancient Egypt for several hundred years
• Developed an alphabet and written language
Axum
• Located in Ethiopian Highlands
• Economy based on trade, Agriculture & ivory products
• Government - Monarchy: Rulers of Ethiopia claimed to
be the descendants of King Solomon
• Important Points
• Modern day Ethiopia is located in the same
geographic area
Zimbabwe
•
•
•
Located in southeast Africa near Zambezi River
Economy based on trade with city-states in the area
Government - Monarchy
Kanem-Bornu
• Located in central Africa- Modern day Sudan
• Economy based on trade, farming, cattle ranching
and mining
• Government - Monarchy
• Had a professional army
• Important Points
• Wealth was based on copper mines
• Practiced Islam as their main religion
Hausa & Fulani
• Located in west Africa: Modern day Nigeria
• Economy based on trade & Ivory
• Government - City-states ruled by a Sultan
• Important Points
• Practiced Islam
Forest Kingdoms of West Africa:
Benin, Dahomey, Kongo, Asante
• Located in coastal areas of west Africa
• Economy based on slave trade, Farming and Gold
• Government - Monarchy
• Important Points
• Wealth was based on gold and slave trade
Goods Traded from the Sahara desert:
• Salt, Cloth and metals
Goods from south of the Sahara desert:
• Gold, Ivory, Slaves & Spices
Trade Routes
• Across the Sahara
Desert from
southern Africa to
North Africa
• From North to
Europe and Asia
Significance:
• Aided in the rise of the African Empires
• Spread Islam through West Africa from the
Middle East