Unit
Years: 6th to the 16th century
Culture & Community
Economy & Society
When we think of the desert we often think of a vast and empty expanse of dry or arid land. You might therefore be surprised to learn that the Sahara Desert is not full of empty sand dunes. The Sahara actually spans a vast territory from North to West Africa and stretches toward the East. Therefore rather than being a barrier for people living in Africa thousands of years ago, it actually served as a connection point.
If you were to look at a pictorial map at that time, you would see that the Sahara was full of oases. An oasis is a fertile area in a desert, typically characterized by the presence of water in the form of springs or wells. Oases were and are vital for human habitation and agriculture in arid environments, providing a source of water for drinking, irrigation, and the cultivation of crops. Oases also served as important stopover points for travelers crossing deserts, providing a respite from the harsh desert conditions and a source of refreshment.
Zooming in on the map would reveal that the area south of the Sahara is called the Sahel which means “Shore” in Arabic. Why do you think it is called “shore”? If the Sahel is a shore, what would be the ocean? The Sahel had very specific geographical features that also allowed people to thrive. As a result, despite its harsh environment, the Sahel was and is home to people who have adapted to its conditions. Even further South is the Savanna, an area rich in resources as well. Savannas are dominated by grasses, trees, and shrubs, which typically form a continuous ground cover. Unlike forests, which have dense tree canopies, savannas have widely spaced trees and shrubs.
The Sahel, the Savanna and oases in the Sahara, all had features and natural resources that enabled people to uniquely travel and exchange goods and ideas. Exploring the land and its features helps us better understand how out of the vast continent of Africa this region enabled the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai to thrive.
A person who campaigns for social or political change through direct action, protest, or advocacy.
Gold that has been eroded from its original source and deposited in sedimentary deposits, typically in riverbeds or floodplains.
The long-term alteration of temperature and weather patterns in a region or across the globe, often attributed to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrialization.
A dry, barren, and often sandy landscape with little or no vegetation, typically characterized by extreme temperatures and minimal rainfall.
The source or origin of a river or stream, typically referring to the highland or mountainous area where water begins to flow downhill and form the initial channels of a river system.
Located or situated away from the coast or shoreline, often referring to areas or regions located within a country's interior, away from major bodies of water or maritime trade routes.
The principal river of West Africa, flowing approximately 4,180 kilometers (2,600 miles) in a crescent-shaped course through several countries, including Guinea, Mali, Niger, Benin, and Nigeria, and serving as a vital waterway for transportation, agriculture, and commerce, as well as a source of livelihood for millions of people in the region.
An oasis is a fertile area in a desert region, typically characterized by the presence of water, vegetation, and sometimes human settlement, and providing a vital source of sustenance and refuge in an otherwise arid environment. Oases often form around natural springs, wells, or underground aquifers, and support diverse ecosystems and agricultural activities, serving as important hubs for trade, travel, and cultural exchange in desert regions. The plural form is "oases."
A natural oasis located in Erfoud, a town in southeastern Morocco, known for its palm groves, lush vegetation, and natural springs, as well as its historical and cultural significance as a stop along ancient trade routes and a center of Berber and Arab culture. The oasis of Erfoud is a popular tourist destination and is renowned for its scenic beauty and traditional way of life.
A type of map or illustration that depicts geographic features, landmarks, and points of interest in a stylized or artistic manner, using pictorial symbols, drawings, or images to represent locations, rather than traditional cartographic symbols or scales, and often incorporating visual elements such as illustrations, icons, or annotations to convey information about geography, culture, or history. Pictorial maps are commonly used for tourism, education, and promotional purposes.
A flat, elevated landform characterized by a relatively level or gently sloping surface, typically situated at a higher elevation than surrounding areas, and often bounded by steep slopes, cliffs, or escarpments, resulting from geological processes such as erosion, uplift, or volcanic activity, and commonly found in continental interiors, mountain ranges, or desert regions. Plateaus may vary in size, elevation, and geological composition, and support diverse ecosystems, habitats, and human settlements.
The Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world, covering approximately 3.6 million square miles in North Africa. It is characterized by vast stretches of sand dunes, rocky plateaus, and sparse vegetation.
The Sahel is a semi-arid region in Africa, situated between the Sahara Desert to the north and the savannas to the south. It spans several countries, including Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, and Eritrea.
A savannah is a grassland ecosystem characterized by scattered trees and shrubs, along with grasses and herbs. Savannas are found in tropical and subtropical regions, typically bordering deserts or forests.
The Senegal River is a major river in West Africa, approximately 1,086 miles long, flowing through Senegal and Mauritania. It plays a significant role in the economies and ecosystems of the region.
