Sub-Saharan Africa

Countries for Tuesday’s Political Map Quiz MaliSomalia NigerMalawi ChadBotswana CameroonZimbabwe SenegalSouth Africa LiberiaLesotho TogoMadagascar Democratic Rep. of the CongoMozambique TanzaniaUganda EthiopiaNigeria Sierra LeoneKenya Angola Sudan Equatorial Guinea Rwanda

Facts 2 nd largest continent Known as the “Plateau Continent” Most of Africa is covered by a huge plateau Several basins (depressions) lie throughout the plateau

Important Physical Features 1. Nile River Flows through Egypt; over 4,100 miles long – Numerous cataracts, rapids, & waterfalls makes transportation via rivers difficult 2. Rift Valleys (East Africa) 3. Mount Kilimanjaro 4. Escarpments (Great Escarpment)

Features Continued At the bottom of rift valleys are clusters of lakes Examples: Lake Tanganyika – World’s largest freshwater lake Lake Victoria – Africa’s largest lake

Africa’s Resources Mineral resources makes Africa one of the richest continents Examples: gold, platinum, copper, cobalt, phosphates, diamonds

Oil & Coffee in Africa Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, & Libya – Leading petroleum producers – Produce about 7% of world’s oil Coffee: – 2 nd most profitable commodity – Africa grows 20% of the world’s supply Lumber & chocolate are also major commodities

Importance of Agriculture Single most important economic activity in Africa 66% of Africans earn their living from farming – Accounts for 1/3 of Africa's exports

Climate & Vegetation Majority of Africa is between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn The equator runs through the middle of the continent Africa = warm temperatures

8 climate regions are found in Africa Which is found the most? – Desert Exs: Sahara, Sahel, Kalahari, and Namib Travel is risky due to EXTREME conditions

Rainfall? Matter of EXTREMES – Some areas receive too much, while other too little Closer to equator = longer rainy season Closer to desert = longer dry season MOST RAIN: – Rainforest in Central Africa & Africa’s west coast

Serengeti Plain Grassland area in northern Tanzania – Very dry with few trees – Lots of animal life

Desertification When the land becomes so dry That it turns into deserts

Desertification

Aswan High Dam Built to control cycle of floods and droughts throughout Egypt Gives farmers a regular supply of water

Problems with the Aswan High Dam 1. Relocation of people 2. Moving/destruction of ancient Egypt’s treasure (temples/pyramids) 3. Decreased fertility of soil 4. Increased rate of diseases, such as Malaria

Vocabulary Time!!! Define the following words on the RIGHT side of your notebook; Draw pictures on the LEFT side Rift Valley-Pandemic Basin-Stateless Society Escarpment-Aquifer Serengeti Plain-Bantu Migrations Sahel-Cash Crop Desertification-Commodity Aswan High Dam-Apartheid Silt-Canopy

4 Regions 1. East 2. Central 3. Western 4. South

East Africa’s Aksum Aksum (important East African civilization) – Important trading center; contributed to expansion and power (traded w/Egypt) 6 th Century: Aksum lost many trade partners….empire soon began to weaken

European Colonization The Slave Trade * Existed for centuries, however Europeans dramatically heightened the traffic * Middle Passage- slave trade from Africa to New World ( N. America) * Many died during this trip across the Atlantic

Scramble for Africa European powers divide Africa All Countries were controlled by Europeans, except Liberia and Ethiopia (independent) – Most nations become independent in the mid 1900’s

Ethiopia Was not colonized by Europeans Emperor Menelik II kept the country independent.

* Political boundaries made by Europeans was/is causing ethnic conflict (2 opposing groups occupying same land) * Left many regions under developed Colonial Legacy

The Masai of Kenya An ethnic group Lives on the grasslands of the rift valley and herd livestock.

West African Empires

Ethnic Groups Ashanti – Kente cloth weaving

Bantu Migrations: Central Africa

South Africa White dominated government enforced the policy of apartheid (strict separation of the races) **Blacks lived in separate areas **No political rights Apartheid ended in 1991

Mandela In 1994, held first election following policy of universal suffrage Nelson Mandela was elected 1 st black president of South Africa

South African Flag South African Flag Meaning: Although the colors have no official meaning attached to them the South African flag incorporates the colors black, green and yellow of Nelson Mandela's political party, the African National Congress and the former Boer republics flags (red, white, and blue). – The Y shape represents the convergence of South Africa's diverse society and the desire for unity. The South African flag is basically made up of former South African flags. The past meanings of the colors were: – Red for bloodshed – Blue of open blue skies – Green for the land – Black for the black people – White for the European people – Yellow for the natural resources such as gold.