AFRICA
How Geography Affected the Development of the First Civilizations and it's People Today
The Ancient Djenne-Djeno
Djenne-Djeno was one of the cities developed in the region south of the Sahel. Before the cities developed, Africans had lived in small villages. Djenne-Djeno was the oldest city in Africa south of the Sahara.
The Djenne-Djeno took advantage of the lush soil of the Niger River they lived on to grow rice and raise cattle. Living next to a great river also meant that much of their economy was based of the fishing industry.
By the 3rd century BC, they had started to smelt iron. Having a strong food industry and fine pottery also meant that they were able to form trading connections with other river peoples, and Djenne-Djeno became a strong center for trade.