Africa
Physical Geography of Africa
Africa is created by volcanic activity.
The Plateau has several basins. 3 major mountain regions
The highest point is Mt Kilimanjaro. Almost on the equator but is a permanent ice cap.
Sahara desert covers most of Africa ~ Largest desert in the world
Precipitation in Africa varies because Africa ranges from Desert to Rainforest
Africa’s climate varies but much of the continent is tropical wet and dry. Monsoon winds bring seasonal rain.
Western Africa has fertile soil for farming - Shifting cultivation
Madagascar
Africa has an abundance of resources
European colonial rulers exported these natural resources
These nations have slowly started to develop infrastructure and industry
Oil and gas are the most valuable commodity
One of the wVictoriaichest continents in terms of natural resources
Conflict diamonds: Diamonds mined in a war zone
The second most profitable commodity is coffee - 20% of the world’s coffee come from Africa
Still much subsistence farming
Africa South of the Sahara: Transitional zone
Hunters and gatherers settled on the Savanah
Gold, salt, and slaves were the main products that were traded through Africa
Goree Island was the center of the slave trade
These mixed religions, cultures, - The only regions that remained free were Libya and Ethiopia
Most of the countries gained independence however the Europeans did not build infrastructure or educate the people
Urban populations are growing fast with high birth rates
The only unifying force was the Bantu population/migration
Lots of illegal mining. Clean water is a major concern in Africa
East Africa
“Cradle of humanity”
Rwanda genocide: the extermination of national, racial, political, or cultural groups
Most people are located on the coast
Education varies throughout East Africa
Two major ethnic groups
Lots of sicknesses - typhoid, cholera, AIDS, African Sleeping Sickness
Still recovering from effects of imperialism/ colonialism
One of the main economic activities is tourism.
Africa: South of the Sahara
Nearly all countries in the west are partially in the transitional zone
Ghana was the first great empire to emerge in the region. Control of European powers shifted the center of power west towards the coast.
Europeans named portions of the coast for dominant commodities the provided
Berlin conference divided Africa - the exception was Liberia. Lack of infrastructure. Tribal and religious disagreement.
Extended families are common in rural areas
Literacy varies from 76% to 30% - lack of education means fewer skilled workers
Group dictators like Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor in Siberia slaughtered thousands
More than half of the people in West Africa are engaged in agriculture
The economy of West Africa is based on the sale of raw materials to industrialized countries
Equatorial Africa
Tropical climates
Bantu people were farmers and herders - spread language and founded kingdoms
Literacy and access to education varies
E-commerce gave people a global market
Southern Africa
10 mainland countries and 4 island nations
Portuguese established a trading post along the coast
1713 - the spread of smallpox
1806 - Britain controlled cape colony
Began to take Zulu lands. Cecil Rhodes - Started DeBeers company which developed a near-monopoly on the world. South Africa established apartheid in 1948. 1912 the ANC was formed. 1994 election took place involving all races and Mandela became president.
King of Swaziland in Africa’s last absolute monarch
Western regions less populated - deserts
Trade centers on the coast - no navigable rivers
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS: a disease of the immune system
In some countries 40% of their population has it
The number one solution is education
European colonist claimed much of the best farmland
Income also comes from tourism