AfricaGeography and History

AfricaLocationBiggest after Asia.3X the size of U.S.More independent nations than any other - 54

Straddles equatorAtlantic Ocean & Indian Ocean & Med. Sea & Red Sea.

Different RegionsNorth Africa - Morocco to EgyptClose contact with Europe and ME.

North Africa is linked to Sub-Saharan Africa

RegionsWest Africa - Mauritania to Nigeria

Central Africa - Zaire, Equator

East Africa - Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania

South Africa - Zimbabwe, Zambia, S.Africa

LandformsMost of Africa is a vast plateau.Lie at different elevations.Highest - East and South

Escarpments - steep cliffs, divide the plateau from the coastal plain.

Cataracts - Large waterfalls.

Great Rift ValleyRed Sea to the Zambezi River.

Series of mountains and valleys.

Rich in Minerals and Metals. The sheer cliffs, high mountains, and deep valleys make building roads and railroads costly and dangerous.

RiversNile - Lifeblood of Egypt - Longest in World.

Aswan Dam.

Zaire river - drains central Africa

Zambezi River - Victoria Falls

Natural ResourcesMineral ExportsZaire and Zambia - CopperS.Africa, Zaire, Botswana - Platinum and CobaltNigeria and Angola - Offshore OilGold and Diamonds found in riverbeds.

Resources are unevenly distributed throughout Africa

Climate and DiversityMost tropical of all continents.

Farther north or south of the equator, the shorter the rainy seasons.

Less than an inch to more than 80 inches.

Major Climate ZonesTropical Wet Climate Region

Narrow belt along the equator 8% of Africa

Guinea on west coast to Great Rift Valley in the east.

Tropical Wet Climate80 degrees average temperature.

60-120 inches average rainfall.Causes leaching.Washing away of nutrients due to heavy rains.

ProblemsDiseases in rainforestsTermitesDampness

Tropical w/Wet and Dry SeasonThe Savanna occupies this region.Over half of Africa is this.

Warm all year round.

Summer Hot and WetWinter Dry and Warm

20-80 inches of rain.Drought is not uncommon.

DesertificationPopulation growth has caused problems.During periods of moisture, people move there, chop trees down, and tear up the land.

In addition, grazing herds destroy the top roots of the grasses, so the thin layer of topsoil turns to dust. This causes desertification, or the turning of semidesert land into desert.

Deserts

The Sahara Desert

SaharaDeserts cover about 40% of AfricaNorth SaharaSouth Kalahari and Namib

Sahara is larger than the U.S.Windswept rock, gravel, and shifting sand dunes.High of 130 degrees and less than 10 of rain/yr

Kalahari and NamibSouth AfricaKalahari is not as dry as Sahara.

Grasses and wild melons grow in a few places, and animals graze.

Namib one of the driest places on earth.

Mediterranean Climate ZonesSimilar to L.A.Summers are hot and dry.Winters are cool and moist.

Pleasant conditions attract European settlers

Climate and HealthMany insects breed and carry disease in tropical climates.Malaria kills 1 million every year.Sleeping Sickness Tsetse FlyInfects people and livestock.

River Blindness Senegal to KenyaBilharzia Snails that carry parasitic wormsWest Nile - Mosquitoes

PopulationNot densely populated. 675 millionClimate, Water, and Soil determine where people live.Heavy PopulationSouthern West AfricaMorocco and AlgeriaNile River ValleyEastern S.Africa

First PeopleWhere do you think the first people originated from?

Archaeologists study objects left by people.

Africas climate makes it difficult to learn about the past through artifacts.

Records on StoneFrom S.Africa to the Sahara, archaeologists have studied paintings on rock cliffs and cave walls.

Paintings show the tools, weapons, and hunting and gathering methods of early people.

Need for ChangeAbout 4000 years ago the Sahara was changing. Less rain fell, Lakes and rivers dried up. People moved.

Some think that people moved to the Nile River Valley. Where is that?

Nile River ValleySome people gave up the nomadic life of hunting and gathering.

Earliest civilization developed in Egypt about 7000 years ago.

Fertile soils and plentiful wildlife allowed people to farm and hunt.

Nile River Valley3,000 B.C. Pharaohs united ancient Egypt.

Pharaohs expanded their empire.

Through trade and conquest, they exchanged knowledge and ideas with other cultures.

Religion and GovernmentPolytheisticDifferent gods controlled the forces of nature.Chief god was Amon-Re, the Sun GodOsiris, god of the underworld and the Nile.

Life after death is central to Egyptian religion.

Pharaohs and Nobles prepared for life after death.

Gift of the NileThe Nile flooded every year up to 1970

Aswan Dam stopped the flooding.

What would be some hidden costs of this?

Achievements of EgyptiansHieroglyphics used pictures and symbols.

Knowledge of stars and planets to produce the calendar.

Geometry to survey flood plains.

Surgery to set fractured bones.

Kingdom of the KushTrade b/t Egypt and Nubia and Kush

At times, Egypt conquered lands to the south.

The Kushites had control of Egypt around 750 B.C. but were driven out by the Assyrians and their iron weapons.

KushAt first the Kush flourished.

Worshipped same gods and made a capital at Meroe along the Nile.

Over time, however, the Kush became gods themselves and they adapted to form their own alphabet.

IronAfter losing to the Assyrians, the Kush learned to make Iron weapons.

Egyptians still decided to use bronze.

Kush profited from trade.

By 200 A.D. the Kush had been run out by invasions.

Kingdom of AxumDeveloped on the high plateaus of what is today Ethiopia.

Sent spices, gems, and ivory north into Egypt, across the Red Sea to Arabia, and across the Indian Ocean to South Asia.

Slave TradeB/w 1500-1800, 10-15 million slaves were sent to the Americas.Effects of Slave TradeIndustrialization slowly stopped the slave trade.Increased wars and tension.Sierra LeoneColony resettled by freed slaves.

LiberiaColony established by freed American slaves.

Slave TradeDemand for slaves limited until settling of Americas.

First Europeans used Native Americans to mine gold and silver and to work on their plantations.

They then looked to Africa Tropical Climates

Slave TradeMost slaves were people who were captured in war.

Others sold themselves into slavery because of famine and the need to support their family.

Atlantic Slave TradeEuropean slave traders relied on local African rulers to supply them with slaves.

They paid for slaves with guns.

As a result, Slave Traders used guns to overtake villages.

Lasted 400 years. Est. 20-30 million died.

Effects of Slave TradeIndustrialization decreased the need for slaves.

Economic Conditions were bad.Young men and women were seized.

Caused a DiasporaSpreading out or scattering of people.

Imperialism, 1800sEuropeans settle Africa for MotivesEconomic, nationalism, political, religious.E raw materials, palm oil for soaps, cotton, gum, rubber, ivory, hardwoods.

MotivesScramble for colonies.Medical Advancements and Maxim GunEurope competes for colonies. BelgiumPush European ways of life.

African ResistanceMany resisted Europeans. - Ethiopia Wars and fighting greatly decrease African population

ImperialismColonial GovernmentsDirect and Indirect ruleEuropeans introduce their laws. Africans dont like. Not personal and no consensus.

Many laws have abstract right and wrongs.

Direct Colonial power from the governments.Indirect Left traditional rulers in place. Britain made decisions but left the enforcing up to traditional rulers.

No power or influence in either was given to the African leaders.

A Different EconomyMoney EconomyAfrican communities had been largely self-sufficient. Villagers bartered, or traded, for goods they needed.

They decided to sell their labor for money.

Now they had to pay taxes in cash instead of goods.

Effects of Money EconomyVillages ChangedMen went to work in mines and on farms.

Some people gained wealth as they accumulated capital and property.

Changed attitude towards land. Used to be community, now owned by individuals.

Led to growing of cash crops that could be exported on the world economy instead of just for themselves.

Material ImprovementsBrought transportation and communication.Made travel easier but who had to build the roads and put up the telegraph lines?

Transportation increased likelihood of migration of workers.

Hospitals were set up along with better sanitation in the cities.

African NationalismNationalism grew out of European control.Following WWII independence movements began to take shape.

1950 Liberia, Ethiopia, S.A. and Egypt1957 Ghana became the 1st African nation to gain independence.

Building GovernmentsUnprepared for independence.Faced meeting the needs of their people.National unity through sometimes un-unified borders.Civil War, Dictatorships, Military Rule.

Democracy started to take shape.

African SocialismThe government owns & operates business.

Many Africans wanted the state to meet the needs of the people and provide equality for all Africans.

Struggled to meet the needs of all.

Mixed EconomiesThe governments of many of African nations today.

Government business and private ownership.

Multinational investors invested in Africa.

Economic DependenceAfrica wants to reduce its dependence on other nations.

Attempts to diversify exports and reduce imports.

Change in AfricaIn 1990, 22% lived in cities. By 2025 54% will live in cities and the population will double.

Why? Rural poverty, industrialization, better jobs, schools, health care.

Jobs are scarce, crime rate is high in cities.

UrbanizationChanges in Family. How?

Westernization

Religious Changes

Struggle for South AfricaZulus disrupted traditional patterns of life. Were warriors who used iron weapons.

Boers push northward from South Africa.

Meet with the Zulus and defeat them with British help.

Discovery of Diamonds & GoldDiamonds 1867 Gold 1884British fight the Boers for control of the land.Britain won and promised self-government to the new nation.One Flaw Only white men had right to vote.Boers majority were white. They controlled the area again.

South AfricaGranted independence in 1910

Small white minority ruled South Africa Strict policy of Apartheid or racial segregation.Strict laws and policies for blacks.

Apartheid in AfricaProtests pressured the government.Faced violence from the government.

International Pressure Grew.Banned from Olympics, economic sanctions, embargoes.

Both sides are facing criticism.

Apartheid in South AfricaWhat is Africa, and the rest of the world doing in regards to apartheid taking place in Africa?

1 Page Times new Roman Double Spaced

Africa TodayRegional CooperationOrganization of African Unity 1963Involved all African nations but South Africa.Promote peace, economic cooperation, and development.

The FutureLimit family sizes.Science and food production.

Ghana developed in West Africa between the Niger (NI-jhur) and the Senegal Rivers. It was an important kingdom there from about AD300 to about 1100. The rivers helped Ghana to grow rich because they were used to transport goods and develop trade. Ghana also collected taxes from traders who passed through the kingdom. The people called their nation Wagadu; we know it as Ghana --that was the word for war chief.

Ghana had few natural resources except salt and gold. They were also very good at making things from iron. Ghanaian warriors used iron tipped spears to subdue their neighbors, who fought with weapons made of stone, bone, and wood.

The Emperor of GhanaPower rested on his control of the gold trade.

He owned all the gold mines.

Each caravan that entered or left Ghana had to pay a tax.

Ghana became a rich and powerful nation, especially when the camel began to be used as a source of transport. Ghana relied on trade and trade was made faster and bigger with the use of the camel.

After 700 AD, the religion of Islam began to spread over northern Africa. Followers of this religion are called Muslims. Muslim warriors came into Ghana and fought with the non-Islamic people there. This weakened the great civilization of Ghana. Local warriors then decided to break away from the power of Ghana and form their own local kingdoms. This ended many of the trade networks. This eventually weakened the civilization of Ancient Ghana.Islamic Mosque in Ghanablankbluesky.com/ travel/ghana/

Nubia was a great civilization that developed along the Nile River south of Egypt. They shared many of the same cultural traits as Egypt such as religion, architecture and art.

These are the pyramid of Ancient Nubia. They were used as tombs. Although they are similar to those of Ancient Egypt, they have some differences. Compare these pyramids with those of ancient Egypt.

As you look at the following pictures, think of these questions: What are the pyramids made of? How many sides are there? How large are they? (Notice person next to middle one.)Nubian Pyramids

Are large blocks used or smaller bricks? Is there an entrance leading up to the pyramid?Nubian Pyramids

Nubian Pyramids

These are the pyramids of Egypt. Compare them to those of Nubia.

This is one of the biggest pyramids in Egypt. The pyramid of Khufu. The Egyptian pyramids were much larger than those of Nubia, but there were many more pyramids in Nubia than in Egypt.

samedifferentdifferentSmallerSteeperTriangularTombsLargeBig blocks

For many centuries, the people and culture of Ancient Nubia were a mystery to the world. Even the Ancient Greeks wrote about an advanced culture that was mostly unknown to other civilizations of the time.

Ancient Nubia was a great kingdom that produced many resources like gold, ivory, copper, frankincense and ebony.Nubia was also known as Kush and The Land of the Bow. Nubian archers (warriors who used a bow and arrow) were feared by all who saw them in battle.Nubia had a long line of powerful kings. They were often at war with Egypt, to the North. From about 2,000 to 1,000 BC, Egypt controlled Nubia but when Egypt weakened, Nubia came north and conquered Egypt (800-700 BC.)A frankincense tree. The resin was used to make good smelling incense.

MaliLocated in West Africa; near rivers; desert-like conditions; gold mines

Africa was the home to several great empires. One of the most prosperous was the empire of Mali.

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.It had a famous university with a large library containing Greek and Roman books.Timbuktu was an important city in Mali.

SOL 3.1 Ancient Greece Study Guide Page 3

Why were storytellers so important in the empire of Mali? Most of what we know about Malis history comes fromoral accounts that were handed down from Mali storytellers. Many storytellers in Mali passed on traditions and storiesfrom one generation to the next..Griot - GREE oh) the name for a western African singer/ storyteller who recites oral history

Mansa MusaGreat ruler of Mali

Armies captured Taghaza and its salt mines.

Created security along trade routes.

Adopted Islam and built mosques. See page 81.

Empire of SonghaiSunni Ali was their leader gained power in Gao.

Led armies across West Africa establishing peace so he could govern his empire well.

Askia Muhammad encouraged Islamic writers to Timbuktu. As a result it became a center for learning.

SonghaiLost to Moroccans.They had guns and cannons.

City-StatesLarge town that has its own government and usually controls the surrounding countryside.

Patterns of GovernmentLineage and Clan

Land disputes are took to community leaders.

Subsistence Farmers

Lives of WomenContributed to the economic well-being of the family.

Planted, Weeded, and Harvested.Owned Land and Ruled Home.

Became property of Husband at marriage.

WomenMen often married more than one womanKnown as Polygamy.

Bride WealthYoung man was expected to offer a valuable gift to the brides family.

Cattle-Herding SocietiesGave a number of cattle, tools, cloth, or goats.

InheritanceMatrilinealThrough the mothers line.Uncles were closer to sons. Why? Mothers blood.Often took uncles name.Uncle would defend boy against father.

PatrilinealThrough the male line.