People's way of life can be affected by the area in which they live. the same is applicable to the peoples in the area today known as Nigeria.
Geography has significant impact Nigeria on the history of people of Nigeria. In many ways, geography has been an important variable in shaping the fortunes of the country. in other ways, geography has affected the course of people"s activities in their various geographical locations. Geography has a powerful influence on the way people dress, on the food people eat and on the occupation of the people. For sample, it is climate, the amount of rain, the nature of the soil and the amount of heat that determines the type of crops that can be cultivated. It is the nature of the terrain and the access to water that determines the occupation of people. For instance, the creeks and the deltas and the rivers of southern Nigeria have produced the Ijaw Canoemen and fishermen. Similarly, the forests have produced the hunters.
Geography has impacted on the distribution of the ethnic groups in the country. Areas that could support life were well occupied while people avoided the environments that were hostile. For instance, there is a large concentration of micro-ethnic groups in central Nigeria. Several of such groups enjoy a large measure of political autonomy. This concentration and political pattern have been attributed to the rugged topography, hostility of more powerful neighbours and rampant slave raids i the past.
Also, it is geography that exposed different Nigerian groups to external influences from North Africa and Middle East. Through this, there was introduction of Islam in the Northern part as well as the establishment of Trans-Saharan trade. In the south, especially those in the coastal region, had interactions with the Europeans from the 15th century onwards. Through these interactions, Christianity and western education as well as Trans-Atlantic Slave trade had earlier inroads into the southern human settlement areas.
Through the presence of the river system, geography enabled people to travel, fish, farm and settle along fertile banks. For instance, the River Niger societies flourished along the River Niger as a result of movement along the river.
Geography affected the occupation and the types of crops grown by farmers across Nigeria. It also determined the type of economic activities that people inhabiting a particular location engaged in. For instance, those found in the coastal areas developed and carried out fishing activities as their major pre-occupation because of the availability of water resources. those found within the forest areas developed lumbering industries as well as engaged in woodwork and related economic activities. They produced crops mostly cereals, etc. because of the presence of fertile well drained land.
Geographical conditions are also responsible for population movements and habitation of people within Nigeria area. Indeed, migrations all over the country were determined by geography. There were also several cases of migrations brought about by the need to live in strategic and safe places. For instance, insecurity forced several groups to live on top of hills which protected them from their enemies.
Other geographical factors responsible for migrations include the search for food, pasture for livestock and political opportunities. Furthermore, geography has determined the nature and character of warfare across Nigeria. For example the Fulani were versed in Calvary and use of horses. But their successes were limited to grasslands of the North while the forest regions of the south could not be penetrated.
Geography has helped to unite the country as well as divided the country and its peoples. For example, the Niger-Benue river systems supplied water ways which have made the movement of people possible. The basin of Niger-Benue also encouraged the development of population which began to share common interest and occupation. The river systems made possible the evolution of a network of relationships between groups that would have been difficult without the geographical factor.
Geography has also provided natural divisions for the peoples of Nigeria into three broad regions of the North, Middle Belt and the South. In the isolated territories each of the groups has evolved political systems, institutions and values most suited to their needs. They also developed language skills and local traditions. Notwithstanding some of these limitations of geography, man has always tried to conquer his environment and these limitations. In Nigeria, in order to do away with some of these barriers, people engaged in trade across geographical boundaries. For food, the people in the Delta area had to trade with the people of interior. They carried with them salt and fish which they had to exchange for crops, fruits and other agricultural products. Similarly, products from the forest belt were taken far north in exchange for what the people either lacked or could not produce.
Another way by which man broke down geographical barriers was through appetite for more land and resources. The Jukun of the Middle-Belt, for instance waged series of wars on Kano and Katsina in far north. Similarly, the Aro of the southeast sought to expand their influence beyond igboland by invoking supernatural forces.Also through inter-group relations, the various Nigerian peoples interacted amongst themselves and between them and other groups.
Geography has significant impact Nigeria on the history of people of Nigeria. In many ways, geography has been an important variable in shaping the fortunes of the country. in other ways, geography has affected the course of people"s activities in their various geographical locations. Geography has a powerful influence on the way people dress, on the food people eat and on the occupation of the people. For sample, it is climate, the amount of rain, the nature of the soil and the amount of heat that determines the type of crops that can be cultivated. It is the nature of the terrain and the access to water that determines the occupation of people. For instance, the creeks and the deltas and the rivers of southern Nigeria have produced the Ijaw Canoemen and fishermen. Similarly, the forests have produced the hunters.
Geography has impacted on the distribution of the ethnic groups in the country. Areas that could support life were well occupied while people avoided the environments that were hostile. For instance, there is a large concentration of micro-ethnic groups in central Nigeria. Several of such groups enjoy a large measure of political autonomy. This concentration and political pattern have been attributed to the rugged topography, hostility of more powerful neighbours and rampant slave raids i the past.
Also, it is geography that exposed different Nigerian groups to external influences from North Africa and Middle East. Through this, there was introduction of Islam in the Northern part as well as the establishment of Trans-Saharan trade. In the south, especially those in the coastal region, had interactions with the Europeans from the 15th century onwards. Through these interactions, Christianity and western education as well as Trans-Atlantic Slave trade had earlier inroads into the southern human settlement areas.
Through the presence of the river system, geography enabled people to travel, fish, farm and settle along fertile banks. For instance, the River Niger societies flourished along the River Niger as a result of movement along the river.
Geography affected the occupation and the types of crops grown by farmers across Nigeria. It also determined the type of economic activities that people inhabiting a particular location engaged in. For instance, those found in the coastal areas developed and carried out fishing activities as their major pre-occupation because of the availability of water resources. those found within the forest areas developed lumbering industries as well as engaged in woodwork and related economic activities. They produced crops mostly cereals, etc. because of the presence of fertile well drained land.
Geographical conditions are also responsible for population movements and habitation of people within Nigeria area. Indeed, migrations all over the country were determined by geography. There were also several cases of migrations brought about by the need to live in strategic and safe places. For instance, insecurity forced several groups to live on top of hills which protected them from their enemies.
Other geographical factors responsible for migrations include the search for food, pasture for livestock and political opportunities. Furthermore, geography has determined the nature and character of warfare across Nigeria. For example the Fulani were versed in Calvary and use of horses. But their successes were limited to grasslands of the North while the forest regions of the south could not be penetrated.
Geography has helped to unite the country as well as divided the country and its peoples. For example, the Niger-Benue river systems supplied water ways which have made the movement of people possible. The basin of Niger-Benue also encouraged the development of population which began to share common interest and occupation. The river systems made possible the evolution of a network of relationships between groups that would have been difficult without the geographical factor.
Geography has also provided natural divisions for the peoples of Nigeria into three broad regions of the North, Middle Belt and the South. In the isolated territories each of the groups has evolved political systems, institutions and values most suited to their needs. They also developed language skills and local traditions. Notwithstanding some of these limitations of geography, man has always tried to conquer his environment and these limitations. In Nigeria, in order to do away with some of these barriers, people engaged in trade across geographical boundaries. For food, the people in the Delta area had to trade with the people of interior. They carried with them salt and fish which they had to exchange for crops, fruits and other agricultural products. Similarly, products from the forest belt were taken far north in exchange for what the people either lacked or could not produce.
Another way by which man broke down geographical barriers was through appetite for more land and resources. The Jukun of the Middle-Belt, for instance waged series of wars on Kano and Katsina in far north. Similarly, the Aro of the southeast sought to expand their influence beyond igboland by invoking supernatural forces.Also through inter-group relations, the various Nigerian peoples interacted amongst themselves and between them and other groups.
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