In tomorrow’s class we’ll discuss the cycles of growth, decline, and growth of kingdoms in Sudanic Africa between about 500 and 1500. As an important part of that conversation, I want to consider the relationship of those kingdoms to the Sahara. To that end, I offer two questions to get you thinking:

• What is the difference between environmental influence and environmental determinism?
• What factors provided stimulus for long-distance interaction and connections across the Sahara?  Compare these factors to motivations for interactions between Bantu-speakers and Batwa before 1500 C.E.