Final answer:
The main and transitional belts discussed include the Sahel, tropical grassland savanna, and woodland savanna in the savanna region, as well as the cultural and climatic African Transition Zone. The Sahel acts as a semi-arid transition between the Sahara and more fertile regions, while the African Transition Zone is a crossroads of climates and religions. Transitional words and phrases in writing also play a role in ensuring idea flow and coherence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns the main and transitional belts of Sub-Saharan Africa, which include geographic and cultural transitions. For geographers, the savanna is a key region where transitions are observed, exemplified by successive belts such as the Sahel, the tropical grassland savanna, and the woodland savanna.
The Sahel in particular is characterized as a semi-arid belt that lies between the Sahara Desert and the more fertile savannas to the south, experiencing rain only periodically during the year.
The African Transition Zone is also significant as it represents a change not only in the physical environment, changing from type A (tropical) to type B (dry) climates, but also in the cultural landscape, being at the crossroads of Islam and Christianity.
The impact of modernization and the shift from traditional practices to those incorporating modern technology and information are evident in this zone. Additionally, historical kingdoms such as those in West Africa and the contribution of coastal kingdoms to the slave trade highlight the rich historical transitions of this area.
Lastly, when writing papers, using transitional words and phrases is important to indicate the flow of ideas and to show the relationship between different concepts or sections. They serve to guide readers through the narrative or argument being presented.