Countries of North Africa Chapter 9

I. Egypt A.Islam – most people in North Africa are Muslim 1.Most Egyptians (North Africans in general) are Muslim 2.Small percentage are Christian – Coptic Church (oldest branch of Christianity in world) a.In Egypt before Islam 3.Koran – holy book, people pray 5 times a day facing Mecca a.Pray in Mosques – religious centers 4.Sharia – Muslim law, used as base for Egyptian law a.Based on teachings of Muhammad and Koran b.Following Sharia – shows faith in Islam

B.Life in Egypt – depends on Nile River 1.Most population along Nile – provides water, silt, & transportation 2.Nile historically unpredictable – flooded often a.Aswan High Dam – built to control Nile 1.Blocks water and silt from reaching Delta, causing it to shrink 2.Farmers use more fertilizer, threatening soil and water

C.City life in Egypt – ½ of population in cities 1.Capital is Cairo – largest city a.Very crowded – people moving to find better lives b.Farmland lost to accommodate housing 2.Bazaars – open markets where most people shop D.Rural life in Egypt – mostly in villages along Nile 1.Fellaheen – rural farmers, don’t own land 2.Live in mud houses, poor conditions, poor people

A.Much of Algeria – Sahara desert, so 90% of population along coast 1.Location on coast – provided history of trade 2.Location and resources – attractive to invaders a.Phoenicians – sea traders, first invaders, set up Algiers as trading post (capital of Algeria) b.Romans and Arabs also invaded and occupied Algeria 1.Arabs brought Islam c.French colony for 130 years – gained independence 1962 II. Algeria

B.Algerian People – 75% are Arab (Middle Eastern ethnic group), 24% are Berber (North African ethnic group) 1.Most are Muslim, but some have combined Islam with their religious traditions 2.Berber languages and French are official languages of country

C.Algerian Land – Most live in coastal regions 1.Tell – coastal region with best farmland 2.Urban areas – Arabs live in cities, a.Casbahs – older parts of city, where houses and markets crowded together 3.Rural areas – home to Berbers and Arabs a.1/3 Algerians are farmers – but farmland not good 4.Desert – 80% of land in Algeria a.Settle of few Oasis areas b.Work for oil and natural gas companies, herd camels

D.Algeria Today – trying to continue their own customs and traditions 1.Arabic and Berber important heritage for Algeria 2.Trying to enforce education to Algerians, bc historically they have been without it