Early settlement
Liberia is an interesting and real example of some of the divergent paths early man took in its curiosity filled world exploration. Their settlement story correlates with the history of man outside of the Fertile Crescent. Although much was never formally recorded, Liberia’s early settlement still plays an important role in the oral history and the religious life of some of Liberia's tribes today. Many distinct tribes settled in Liberia as early as the 12th century (Van Der Kraaij, 1983).
While man started settling in the Middle East in an area known as Fertile Crescent, in Northern and Western Africa, nomadic hunter gatherer groups developed farming independently with high yield crops such as millet and yams (Diamond, 2005). They continued traveling west and soon made it to modern day Liberia most likely because of 2 reasons. One was because of the tropical climate, and fertile soils. Second, was an invasion which forced thousands to flee south and west of Ghana in 1076 (Wells, 2015).
While man started settling in the Middle East in an area known as Fertile Crescent, in Northern and Western Africa, nomadic hunter gatherer groups developed farming independently with high yield crops such as millet and yams (Diamond, 2005). They continued traveling west and soon made it to modern day Liberia most likely because of 2 reasons. One was because of the tropical climate, and fertile soils. Second, was an invasion which forced thousands to flee south and west of Ghana in 1076 (Wells, 2015).
Maps
Population trends past, present and future.
In this population pyramid you can see the evidence of a high birth rates whit a life expectancy of less than 80 years of age. With this highest level of population under the age of 19, Liberia will experience a population boom.
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Here you can see that between the age of 35-45 there are less men than women most likely due to the effects of civil war which killed thousands during the early 90's. Here the overall population has increased greatly and will continue to grow rapidly.
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The life expectancy rate will finally push past 85 years of age and the population growth will start to slow down as birthrates stall.
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