Africa NotesAfrica Notes
Geography….Geography….
► About 50 About 50 countriescountries
► 1/3 of all the 1/3 of all the world’s world’s countriescountries
► 2nd largest 2nd largest continent in continent in land arealand area
Continent of Plateaus….Continent of Plateaus….
► Africa is a giant Africa is a giant plateauplateau
► Plateau - flat Plateau - flat landmass higher landmass higher than the than the surrounding land surrounding land with at least one with at least one steep sidesteep side
► Narrow coastal plains Narrow coastal plains extend inland less extend inland less than 20 milesthan 20 miles
► One plateau follows One plateau follows the other as the land the other as the land rises from west to east rises from west to east in a series of stepsin a series of steps
Continent of Plateaus…Continent of Plateaus…► Escarpment – steep Escarpment – steep
cliffs or slopes, cliffs or slopes, separate the plateausseparate the plateaus
► The highest and The highest and broadest plateaus and broadest plateaus and escarpments lie in the escarpments lie in the south and eastsouth and east
► Rivers turn into Rivers turn into cataracts – waterfalls, cataracts – waterfalls, as they flow over the as they flow over the escarpmentsescarpments
► Because of plateaus, Because of plateaus, Africa has the highest Africa has the highest overall elevation of any overall elevation of any other continentother continent
► The average elevation is The average elevation is 2000 feet above sea 2000 feet above sea levellevel
Mountains & Highlands…Mountains & Highlands…
►Not many Not many mountainsmountains Atlas MountainsAtlas Mountains Drakensberg Drakensberg
MountainsMountains Mount KenyaMount Kenya Mount Mount
KilimanjaroKilimanjaro►Africa’s highest Africa’s highest
mountain mountain
Great Rift Valley…Great Rift Valley…
►Great Rift Great Rift Valley - valley Valley - valley that creates a Y that creates a Y shaped trench shaped trench 3500 miles long3500 miles long Series of faultsSeries of faults Mt. Kilimanjaro – Mt. Kilimanjaro –
famous of the famous of the rift’s volcanoesrift’s volcanoes
Steep Steep escarpments over escarpments over a mile higha mile high
Pangaea….Pangaea….
► PangaeaPangaea Theory that all the Theory that all the
continents were continents were connected to form connected to form one large continentone large continent
Scientists believe the Scientists believe the Great Rift Valley was Great Rift Valley was created during violent created during violent movements that movements that separated the separated the continents and continents and caused them to drift caused them to drift apart 180 million apart 180 million years agoyears ago
Deserts….Deserts….► Kalahari DesertKalahari Desert
Located in south-Located in south-central Africacentral Africa
Grasses & palm treesGrasses & palm trees Biodiversity – many Biodiversity – many
different types of different types of plant & animal lifeplant & animal life
►Namib DesertNamib Desert Some of the world’s Some of the world’s
highest sand duneshighest sand dunes As little as ½ inch As little as ½ inch
rain per yearrain per year Beetles, lizards, Beetles, lizards,
snakessnakes
Lake VictoriaLake Victoria►Source of the White Source of the White
Nile RiverNile River►22ndnd largest freshwater largest freshwater
lake in the worldlake in the world Lake TanganyikaLake Tanganyika
►Stretches 420 milesStretches 420 miles►World’s longest World’s longest
freshwater lakefreshwater lake Lake MalawiLake Malawi
►Many species of fish Many species of fish found in Lake Malawi found in Lake Malawi that are not found that are not found anywhere else on earthanywhere else on earth
Lake VoltaLake Volta►Formed due to a dam Formed due to a dam
on the Volta Riveron the Volta River Lake ChadLake Chad
►No outlets to the seaNo outlets to the sea
Rivers….Rivers…. NileNile► World’s longest riverWorld’s longest river
Zaire RiverZaire River► 2700 miles long2700 miles long► Crosses the equator Crosses the equator
twicetwice Congo RiverCongo River
► Flows northward from Flows northward from Zambia & then Zambia & then southwest into Atlantic southwest into Atlantic OceanOcean
Niger RiverNiger River► Empties into the Empties into the
Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean Zambezi RiverZambezi River
► Empties into the Empties into the Indian OceanIndian Ocean
► Forms Victoria FallsForms Victoria Falls Explorer, David Explorer, David
Livingstone, name this Livingstone, name this after the British after the British Queen VictoriaQueen Victoria
Twice the height of Twice the height of Niagara FallsNiagara Falls
Climate….Climate….
► Western AfricaWestern Africa Lies within the tropicsLies within the tropics Warm Warm
temperatures temperatures throughout the throughout the yearyear
Areas around the Areas around the equator have arid equator have arid climateclimate
Sahel – region of Sahel – region of semiarid climate semiarid climate extending below extending below the Sahara Desertthe Sahara Desert► Major droughts can Major droughts can
occur & causes occur & causes widespread faminewidespread famine
Climate Climate cont…cont…
► Southern AfricaSouthern Africa Tropical wet and dryTropical wet and dry Winds from Sahara bring Winds from Sahara bring
hot, dry conditions in hot, dry conditions in winterwinter
Winds from the ocean Winds from the ocean bring rain in summerbring rain in summer► Grasslands & grazing Grasslands & grazing
animalsanimals Drakensberg MountainsDrakensberg Mountains
► Causes rain shadow Causes rain shadow effecteffect
► Central AfricaCentral Africa Rainfall year roundRainfall year round Dense tropical Dense tropical
rainforestrainforest Home to many Home to many
endangered speciesendangered species
Natural Resources….Natural Resources….►DiamondsDiamonds
Found in South Africa and Found in South Africa and ZaireZaire
►GoldGold Geologists believe ½ the Geologists believe ½ the
world’s gold comes from world’s gold comes from South Africa and the South Africa and the Great Rift ValleyGreat Rift Valley
►OilOil Found in Nigeria - Found in Nigeria -
member of OPECmember of OPEC
►Cacao Beans (coco)Cacao Beans (coco) West Africa is world’s West Africa is world’s
major sourcemajor source
Population….Population….
► 967 million967 million►World’s youngest World’s youngest
populationpopulation► About half of the About half of the
people are less than people are less than 15 years old15 years old
►World’s highest World’s highest birthrate - birthrate - statistic that tells statistic that tells the # of babies the # of babies born in a born in a populationpopulation
Population…Population…►World’s shortest World’s shortest
life expectancy - life expectancy - average age people average age people are expected to liveare expected to live
►World’s lowest World’s lowest economic growth rateeconomic growth rate
►High infant mortality High infant mortality rate - the # of babies rate - the # of babies that die in a that die in a populationpopulation
►World’s highest World’s highest population growth population growth raterate
Population Distribution….Population Distribution….
Uneven population Uneven population distribution due to distribution due to physical geographyphysical geography►Sparsely populated:Sparsely populated:
DesertsDeserts MountainsMountains
►Densely populated:Densely populated: Around lakes and Around lakes and
riversrivers Fertile soilFertile soil Good climatesGood climates
Problems Facing the Problems Facing the Population…Population… Due to a growing Due to a growing
population, many population, many regions in Africa are regions in Africa are struggling to feed their struggling to feed their populationpopulation
Food production has Food production has declined due to:declined due to:►Loss of soil fertilityLoss of soil fertility►DroughtsDroughts
Famine and malnutrition Famine and malnutrition kill many Africanskill many Africans►Famine - severe food Famine - severe food
shortage for an shortage for an extended period of extended period of timetime
Only about 40% have Only about 40% have clean drinking waterclean drinking water
Problems….Problems….
Many diseasesMany diseases►AIDS has become AIDS has become
an epidemic - a an epidemic - a disease affecting disease affecting many persons at many persons at the same time, the same time, and spreading and spreading from person to from person to person in a person in a locationlocation
Poor medical care Poor medical care due to:due to:►Lack of doctorsLack of doctors►Lack of medical Lack of medical
supplies and supplies and equipmentequipment
Very low Gross Very low Gross Domestic Product Domestic Product (GDP) - total amount (GDP) - total amount of goods and services of goods and services produced in a county produced in a county in a yearin a year
Low per capita income Low per capita income - - average amount a average amount a person earns in a person earns in a yearyear►Varies from region to Varies from region to
regionregion► Sierra Leone - $530Sierra Leone - $530►South Africa - $10, 270South Africa - $10, 270
Urbanization….Urbanization….► Urbanization - the movement of people from Urbanization - the movement of people from
rural to urban areasrural to urban areas► Africa is the least urbanized continent but it is Africa is the least urbanized continent but it is
urbanizing at the fastest rateurbanizing at the fastest rate► Most cities are located along rivers or near natural Most cities are located along rivers or near natural
resourcesresources► People often move to cities in search of jobsPeople often move to cities in search of jobs
Housing shortagesHousing shortages No electricity or running waterNo electricity or running water
History….History….► Great kingdoms Great kingdoms
ruled areas of ruled areas of West & Central West & Central AfricaAfrica Trading sitesTrading sites Gold, cloth, slavesGold, cloth, slaves Islam spread to regionIslam spread to region
► 1400s – Europeans 1400s – Europeans began trading with began trading with AfricansAfricans Trying to find route to Trying to find route to
East AsiaEast Asia Tropical disease, few Tropical disease, few
navigable rivers, and navigable rivers, and thick forests kept thick forests kept Europeans outEuropeans out
History….History….► European European
ColonizationColonization 1500s to 1800s the 1500s to 1800s the
Europeans began Europeans began trading with African trading with African societies for slavessocieties for slaves
Europeans sold Europeans sold enslaved Africans to enslaved Africans to American colonistsAmerican colonists
The slave trade The slave trade existed for a long timeexisted for a long time►Disrupted families & Disrupted families &
societiessocieties►Coastal states became Coastal states became
more powerful than more powerful than inner savannainner savanna
The triangular The triangular slave trade:slave trade:► Europeans Europeans
traded with traded with Africans for Africans for slaves in slaves in exchange for exchange for goods like goods like weaponsweapons
► Slaves were Slaves were taken from Africa taken from Africa to the colonies in to the colonies in the Americasthe Americas
► Raw materials Raw materials grown in the grown in the Americas were Americas were taken to taken to Europe to the Europe to the manufacturing manufacturing plantsplants
Millions died Millions died during the “Middle during the “Middle Passage”- ocean Passage”- ocean journey from journey from Africa to the Africa to the AmericasAmericas
History cont….History cont…. David LivingstoneDavid Livingstone
► Scottish doctor and Scottish doctor and missionarymissionary
► One of the first One of the first Europeans to explore Europeans to explore the interior of Africathe interior of Africa
► For 30 years, he explored For 30 years, he explored and set up Christian and set up Christian missionsmissions
► Sent detailed reports Sent detailed reports back to Great Britain of back to Great Britain of the exotic wildlife and the exotic wildlife and peoplepeople
The stories from Africa The stories from Africa made people very curiousmade people very curious
European ColonizationEuropean Colonization
►Mid-1800s – slave Mid-1800s – slave trade was endingtrade was ending
► Europe was Europe was industrializing industrializing and needed and needed resourcesresources Europeans sought Europeans sought
control of fertile control of fertile African territories African territories and resourcesand resources
Scramble for Africa….Scramble for Africa…. European nations European nations
scrambled to make scrambled to make their claims in Africatheir claims in Africa
By the 1800s, By the 1800s, European nations European nations divided up Africa and divided up Africa and colonized itcolonized it
In 1885, 14 nations met In 1885, 14 nations met in Berlin to partition- or in Berlin to partition- or divide, Africadivide, Africa
By 1914, European By 1914, European nations controlled nations controlled 90% of Africa90% of Africa
Europeans controlled Europeans controlled most of Africa until the most of Africa until the mid to late 1900smid to late 1900s
History cont….History cont…. LiberiaLiberia
The only free The only free independent independent state in west state in west AfricaAfrica
►Established in Established in 1822 by freed 1822 by freed Africans who were Africans who were once enslavedonce enslaved
►Received Received support from the support from the U.S.U.S.
►This discouraged This discouraged European powers European powers from seizing it as a from seizing it as a colonycolony
►Only other free Only other free country was country was EthiopiaEthiopia
History….History….
► Boer War – 1899 to 1902Boer War – 1899 to 1902 Dutch vs BritishDutch vs British British were victoriousBritish were victorious White minorities controlled South AfricaWhite minorities controlled South Africa
►Held political powerHeld political power►Controlled the economy & owned most of the Controlled the economy & owned most of the
landland
Post-Colonialism….Post-Colonialism….
► Colonialism Colonialism lasted less than lasted less than 100 years100 years
► 1976 – all 1976 – all African African countries countries were were independentindependent
► Effects:Effects: Many ethnic Many ethnic
conflictsconflicts Workers shifted Workers shifted
from agriculture from agriculture to industryto industry
History…History… Apartheid – Apartheid – official official
policies that forced policies that forced black South Africans black South Africans to live in separate to live in separate areas and use areas and use separate facilities separate facilities from white South from white South AfricansAfricans
African National African National Congress pushed for Congress pushed for end to apartheidend to apartheid
1990 – apartheid ended1990 – apartheid ended 1994 – 1994 – Nelson Nelson
Mandela elected first Mandela elected first black presidentblack president
Culture….Culture….► LanguageLanguage
Over 800 languages Over 800 languages and dialectsand dialects► Some originated in Some originated in
AfricaAfrica► Some were brought Some were brought
by foreignersby foreigners► Some are a mixture Some are a mixture
of languagesof languages Lingua franca- Lingua franca-
universal language universal language that trade and that trade and business is business is conducted inconducted in► Swahili is the lingua Swahili is the lingua
franca of East Africafranca of East Africa Many countries still Many countries still
have the language of have the language of the European country the European country that colonized themthat colonized them
Culture cont….Culture cont….►ReligionReligion
Many ethnic groups have their own Many ethnic groups have their own traditional religionstraditional religions
Traditional religions, Islam and Christianity each Traditional religions, Islam and Christianity each consist of about 1/3 of the religions practiced in consist of about 1/3 of the religions practiced in AfricaAfrica
African religionsAfrican religions►Believe spirits of ancestors are importantBelieve spirits of ancestors are important►Spirits are honored in ceremoniesSpirits are honored in ceremonies►Animists believe in sprits of the natural worldAnimists believe in sprits of the natural world
IslamIslam►Religion of the SahelReligion of the Sahel
ChristianityChristianity►Atlantic coastAtlantic coast
HousingHousing
Housing South African slumsHousing South African slums
1) Market in West Africa selling fruits
2) Farmer and his laid-out field (needs to be located near water for irrigation
3) Farmer plowing his field to grow crops (lack of technology)
4) Typical business woman in South Africa where opportunities are greater
5) Copper mining in Central Africa
Agriculture….Agriculture…. Most Africans still Most Africans still
rely on agriculture rely on agriculture to make a livingto make a living
Cash crops - grown Cash crops - grown to make a profitto make a profit
Millet & sorghum are Millet & sorghum are staple crops – drought staple crops – drought resistantresistant
Other staple crops – Other staple crops – cassava, yams, corncassava, yams, corn
Dual economies – Dual economies – some goods produced some goods produced for exportation while for exportation while others are produced others are produced for local peoplefor local people
Agriculture cont…Agriculture cont… Farming methodsFarming methods
►Commercial farming- Commercial farming- farming organized as a farming organized as a business produce cash business produce cash cropscrops
►Shifting farming- farmers Shifting farming- farmers move every one to three move every one to three years to find better soilyears to find better soil
►Sedentary farming- Sedentary farming- farming conducted on farming conducted on permanent settlementspermanent settlements
ProblemsProblems►Most people cannot afford Most people cannot afford
the machinery, the machinery, technology and fertilizers technology and fertilizers to increase food to increase food productionproduction
►Food shortages are a Food shortages are a constant problemconstant problem
Mining….Mining…. Important Important
economic activityeconomic activity Very dangerousVery dangerous Work long hoursWork long hours Many poor Africans Many poor Africans
work in the mines to work in the mines to support their support their familiesfamilies► Mineral wealth has Mineral wealth has
made South Africa made South Africa one of the richest one of the richest regions in the arearegions in the area
► Most black South Most black South Africans do not Africans do not benefit from this benefit from this because the because the mines are owned mines are owned by white South by white South Africans or Africans or foreign foreign companiescompanies
Industrialization….Industrialization…. Manufacturing is not a Manufacturing is not a
big part of the big part of the economyeconomy
Obstacles to Obstacles to industrializationindustrialization►Lack of capital - tools Lack of capital - tools
and equipment used and equipment used in factoriesin factories
►Political conflict (within Political conflict (within countries and between countries and between neighboring ones)neighboring ones)
►Not enough skilled Not enough skilled workersworkers
Environment….Environment….► Famine is caused by:Famine is caused by:
Rapidly growing populationsRapidly growing populations Lack of capital (tools and equipment)Lack of capital (tools and equipment) Overdependence on cash cropsOverdependence on cash crops Desertification- transformation of arable Desertification- transformation of arable
(fertile) land into desert(fertile) land into desert►Using land too much for grazing and farming causes erosionUsing land too much for grazing and farming causes erosion►Droughts have impacted this tooDroughts have impacted this too
Civil War is the biggest cause of famineCivil War is the biggest cause of famine►Used food as a weapon by burning the fields of their Used food as a weapon by burning the fields of their
enemiesenemies►Relief agencies like the Red Cross would send food but it Relief agencies like the Red Cross would send food but it
was often stolen by rebels or warlordswas often stolen by rebels or warlords Example - the movie Black Hawk Down was set in SomaliaExample - the movie Black Hawk Down was set in Somalia
Deforestation…Deforestation… The destruction of The destruction of
forests for:forests for:►Wood to exportWood to export►Burn forests to clear Burn forests to clear
land for farming or land for farming or grazinggrazing
►FuelFuel Results of Results of
deforestation:deforestation:►Deforestation may Deforestation may
make the earth make the earth hotterhotter
Carbon dioxide holds in Carbon dioxide holds in more heat than oxygenmore heat than oxygen
Increase in carbon Increase in carbon dioxide (since plants dioxide (since plants turn carbon dioxide turn carbon dioxide into oxygen)into oxygen)
►Plants and animals are Plants and animals are at risk for extinction- at risk for extinction- disappearance from the disappearance from the earthearth
Deforestation cont….Deforestation cont….► Protecting rain forests and endangered wildlifeProtecting rain forests and endangered wildlife
As the population grows, farmers need more land for As the population grows, farmers need more land for farmingfarming
Taking land from grasslands and forests where Taking land from grasslands and forests where animals liveanimals live
Many animals are becoming endangered because:Many animals are becoming endangered because:►Humans have pushed into the animals’ natural Humans have pushed into the animals’ natural
habitats – living areashabitats – living areas► Increase in hunting:Increase in hunting:
Poaching – illegal huntingPoaching – illegal hunting Elephants and rhinos (Tusks and horns are very Elephants and rhinos (Tusks and horns are very
profitable)profitable) Some countries have made huge game preserves to Some countries have made huge game preserves to
protect animalsprotect animals Ecotourism- tourism based on the environmentEcotourism- tourism based on the environment Ecotourism has increased visits to preservesEcotourism has increased visits to preserves Some Africans object to preserves because they Some Africans object to preserves because they
need the land and often don’t profit from ecotourismneed the land and often don’t profit from ecotourism
Current Issues….Current Issues….
►Slow economic developmentSlow economic development►Rapid population growthRapid population growth► Internal war & conflictInternal war & conflict►DeforestationDeforestation►Extinction of plants & animalsExtinction of plants & animals►Malaria & HIV/AIDSMalaria & HIV/AIDS►Genocide – intentional destruction of Genocide – intentional destruction of
peoplepeople Rwanda (1994)Rwanda (1994) Hutu vs TutsiHutu vs Tutsi