Africa: Geography, History, and Societal Challenges

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to geography, history, and societal issues of Africa as discussed in the lecture notes.

Pastoralism

A type of farming that relies on livestock for food.

Shifting cultivation

A farming practice involving the clearing of land and rotating crops.

Commercial farming

Large-scale farming focused on mass production for profit.

Subsistence farming

Farming in which people grow food primarily for their own consumption.

Sedentary farming

Farming that is established over generations, utilizing rainfall and fertile land.

Rwenzori Mountains

Known as the 'Mountains of the Moon,' they form a natural boundary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Mt. Kilimanjaro

The highest peak in Africa, a dormant volcano, and a popular climbing destination.

Savanas

Vast grassland regions in Africa, characterized by few trees and large open spaces.

The Serenghetti

An eastern African plains region famous for the Great Migration of large mammals.

Kalahari Desert

A semi-arid desert in Southern Africa known for supporting more flora and fauna than a true desert.

San people

One of the world's oldest hunter-gatherer communities, located in the Kalahari Desert.

Victoria Falls

The world’s largest waterfall, located on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Niger River

A major river in West Africa that plays a critical role in agriculture, trade, and transportation.

Lake Victoria

The largest freshwater lake in Africa, named after Queen Victoria.

Congo River Basin

A tropical rainforest region known as the 'lungs of Africa', home to diverse wildlife.

Ecotourism

Tourism aimed at conserving the environment while enjoying natural beauty.

Agroforestry

The practice of integrating trees and shrubs into agricultural systems for sustainability.

Bantu Migration

The movement of the Bantu people which spread languages and cultures across Southern Africa.

Middle Passage

The transatlantic journey of enslaved Africans to the Americas.

Berlin Conference

A meeting at which European powers divided Africa for colonization.

Apartheid

A policy of segregation in South Africa that favored white citizens over black citizens.

Malnutrition

A condition caused by a lack of proper nutrients, prevalent in African children.

Swahili

A widely spoken language in East Africa, part of the Bantu language family.

Islam

The predominant religion in North Africa, closely connected with the Middle East.

Literacy rate

The percentage of people who can read and write; noted as the lowest in the world in some African countries.