Geography of Africa Continent of Extreme and Diverse Environments

Geography of AfricaGeography of Africa

Continent of Extreme and Continent of Extreme and Diverse EnvironmentsDiverse Environments

22ndnd Largest Largest ContinentContinent

Stationary Part of Pangaea Stationary Part of Pangaea Rugged coastlineRugged coastline

Not many high Not many high mountains like in S. mountains like in S. Asia, (Kilimanjaro is Asia, (Kilimanjaro is highest)highest)

Many plateaus inland – Many plateaus inland – 90% of Africa is 500ft. 90% of Africa is 500ft. or higheror higher

Victoria FallsVictoria Falls One of the Largest One of the Largest

Waterfalls in the Waterfalls in the WorldWorld

Sahara DesertSahara Desert

Northern Plateau – Sahara Desert Northern Plateau – Sahara Desert covers 30% of continent (size of US)covers 30% of continent (size of US)

SahelSahel

Dry semi-arid scrubland home to Dry semi-arid scrubland home to nomadic herdersnomadic herders

SavannaSavanna

20-60 inches of rainfall a 20-60 inches of rainfall a year – where zebras, year – where zebras, antelopes, giraffes and antelopes, giraffes and elephants etc. live.elephants etc. live.

Tropical RainforestsTropical Rainforests

From West Africa through From West Africa through Democratic Republic of CongoDemocratic Republic of Congo

70 in. rain annually70 in. rain annually Gorillas, exotic birds and Gorillas, exotic birds and

plants – all in danger todayplants – all in danger today

Africa’s RiversAfrica’s Rivers 40% of the world’s potential hydroelectric power40% of the world’s potential hydroelectric power NileNile

– 4,100 miles (longest)4,100 miles (longest)– Two sources, Blue and White intersectTwo sources, Blue and White intersect

NigerNiger– 2,600 miles 2,600 miles – In West Africa, In West Africa,

center of ancient center of ancient kingdoms kingdoms

CongoCongo– 3,000 miles3,000 miles– Central locationCentral location

Rich in Mineral DepositsRich in Mineral Deposits

diamonds, gold, platinum, oil, diamonds, gold, platinum, oil, copper, coal, cobalt, uranium, copper, coal, cobalt, uranium, bauxite and iron-ore…why so poor?bauxite and iron-ore…why so poor?

What turned out to What turned out to

be Africa’s most lucrative be Africa’s most lucrative

trade industry? trade industry?

AgricultureAgriculture

African societies are African societies are primarily based on primarily based on agricultureagriculture

Subsistence farming & Subsistence farming & cash cropscash crops

Cash crops are Cash crops are problematic – Why?problematic – Why?

Great Rift ValleyGreat Rift Valley– Africa's most diverse Africa's most diverse

regionregion

– Habitats include Habitats include deserts to snowfields, deserts to snowfields, active volcanoes to active volcanoes to deep water abyss, deep water abyss, lowland rainforest to lowland rainforest to savanna, and soda savanna, and soda lakeslakes

– It is growing It is growing continuously continuously

Clip on Great Rift ValleyClip on Great Rift Valley

Discovery Streaming Atlas 4D GRVDiscovery Streaming Atlas 4D GRV– Geology of the GRVGeology of the GRV– The Danakil DepressionThe Danakil Depression– White GoldWhite Gold– How the Great Lakes FormedHow the Great Lakes Formed– The Food Chain in the SerengetiThe Food Chain in the Serengeti– The Masai The Masai – The future of the GRVThe future of the GRV

Environmental Issues Environmental Issues of Africaof Africa

DesertificationDesertification Degradation of:Degradation of:

– AridArid– Semi-AridSemi-Arid– Sub-humid LandsSub-humid Lands

SahelSahel region is very region is very susceptiblesusceptible

Causes

DroughtDrought

Desiccation---irreversible Desiccation---irreversible damage to soil after long damage to soil after long periods of droughtperiods of drought

RamificationsRamifications Limited crop productionLimited crop production

– Damage food supplyDamage food supply Disruption of various culturesDisruption of various cultures

Deforestation

13 million acres of forest 13 million acres of forest lost from 1990-2000lost from 1990-2000

CausesCausesCleared for AgricultureCleared for Agriculture

Flooded b/c of dams builtFlooded b/c of dams built

Pollution and developmentPollution and development

RamificationsLoss of environmentLoss of environmentCultures disruptedCultures disrupted

Traditional African CultureTraditional African Culture

Some important pointsSome important points

Traditional African ReligionANIMISM

1. Belief in one remote Supreme Being.

3. Ancestor veneration.

4. Belief in magic and charms

5. Diviner mediator between the tribe and God.

2. A world of spirits (good & bad) in all things.

Islam and Islam and Christianity Christianity also make up also make up a large a large percentage of percentage of the population the population of Africaof Africa

An African’s “Search for An African’s “Search for Identity”Identity”

1. Nuclear Family2. Extended Family3. Age-Set

4. Clan

5. Lineage (ancestry)

TRIBE (communal living)

1000 different languages; 1000+ different tribes

Problems of Tribalism Today

1. The tribe is more important than the nation.2. Communication problems.

3. Inter-tribal warfare civil wars.

4. Tribal favorites for government jobs: Nepotism Urbanization:

Breaks down tribal traditions.Tribal intermingling on the job.

SlaverySlavery

What were some of the reasons Europeans sought to enslave What were some of the reasons Europeans sought to enslave Africans?Africans?

Why did some Africans sell fellow Africans into slavery?Why did some Africans sell fellow Africans into slavery?

How were enslaved Africans treated by traders and their masters?How were enslaved Africans treated by traders and their masters?

Read – Letters from Affonso, Olaudah’s experienceRead – Letters from Affonso, Olaudah’s experience

Slave Trade?Slave Trade?

What were the African Advantages?What were the African Advantages?

Protection – middle Protection – middle man man

Availability of foreign Availability of foreign goods goods

Get rid of enemiesGet rid of enemies $$$$$$$$

What were the African What were the African disadvantages?disadvantages? Slow down Slow down

other/traditional tradingother/traditional trading Hurt Africa in the long Hurt Africa in the long

run – took focus off of run – took focus off of other business venturesother business ventures

Lost intelligent and Lost intelligent and strong peoplestrong people

Decrease in populationDecrease in population Cultures destroyedCultures destroyed Slave experienceSlave experience

What were the What were the European European Disadvantages?Disadvantages?

Resentment from Resentment from AfricansAfricans

Increased contact – Increased contact – lead to more diseaselead to more disease

Slaves were cheaper Slaves were cheaper labor force, labor force, competition for jobcompetition for job

Morality Morality

What were the European What were the European Advantages?Advantages?

US and Europe US and Europe eventually take on eventually take on some African culturesome African culture

$$$$$$$$$$$$ Faster colonization of Faster colonization of

the New World the New World

Why did Slavery End?Why did Slavery End?

After a little over 300 years, why did After a little over 300 years, why did European countries eventually European countries eventually abolish the slave trade and slavery?abolish the slave trade and slavery?

The White Man’s Burden – The White Man’s Burden – Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

Effects of ColonialismEffects of Colonialism

What were the overall effects of What were the overall effects of colonialism on the development of colonialism on the development of Africa? (Use Maps, DBQ, and Parable Africa? (Use Maps, DBQ, and Parable of the Eagle) of the Eagle)