Diverse Societies in Africa Introduction Africa spreads across

Diverse Societies in Africa

Introduction • Africa spreads across the equator • It includes a large array of environments • Some parts suffer constant drought while others receive over 200 inches of rainfall a year • Interaction with the environment has created diverse cultures and societies • Each group found different ways to adapt

The Land • Second largest continent in the world • Occupies 1/5 of the earth’s surface • The coastline has few harbors, ports, or inlets • Because of this, its coastline is actually shorter than Europe's

The Environment • Deserts are unsuitable for life • They also hamper peoples movements • The large deserts are the Sahara and the Kalahari • The Sahara is about the size of the US • Only a small part consists of sand dunes, the rest is a wasted area of rocks and gravel • Another difficult area to live in is the rainforest

• The tsetse fly is found in the rainforest • It prevents people from having cattle, donkeys, or horses • It also prevented people from colonizing in Africa • The northern coast and the southern tip of Africa have a good climate and fertile soil • Most people in Africa live in savannas – grassy plains

Early Humans • The earliest Africans were nomadic hunter -gatherers • Other Africans learned to domesticate certain animals • Experts believe that agriculture began in Africa around 6000 BC • Other Africans learned to farm in the rainforest where they planted yams

Early Societies • They all shared common elements • One was that their basic unit was the family • They organized themselves into family groups • They had religions that consisted of animism • They believe that spirits are present in animals, plants, and other forces