Africa was once known as the “dark continent.” Geography is largely responsible for its isolation. The Sahara creates a physical barriers that isolated.

Africa was once known as the “dark continent.” Geography is largely responsible for its isolation.

The Sahara creates a physical barriers that isolated most of Africa from Europe.

Perception of Africa

Reality of Africa

Most of Africa is a plateau. The narrow coastline and rapidly rising plateau made it difficult to explore the interior.

Note the narrow coastal plain (light green.)

These factors limited travel and diffusion.

The Atlantic currents also made travel along the coast difficult.

Note how the North Atlantic currents facilitated travel between North America and Europe.

The jagged, irregular coastline of Europe created natural harbors which were perfect for trade.

The almost smooth coastline of Africa (much like Texas) has few deep natural harbors.

What can you attribute this geographic difference to?

Glaciers covered much Europe.

Most of Africa’s economic activity is in the primary sector. What problems does this create?

Primary resources are usually exported to other counries to manufacure goods.

Geography divides Africa. The climate and cultures are distinct since the Sahara has created “two Africas.” North Africa is dominated by deserts, Arabs, and Islam.

The desert limited diffusion and migration.

Egypt

Morocco

This lesson will focus on what is called SSA, or, Sub-Saharan Africa.

North Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa

There are many rivers similar in size to the great rivers of Europe and North America, yet it was difficult for ships to sail to the interior.

Because it is a plateau, the major rivers have waterfalls and “cataracts” (rapids) that prohibit travel by large ships.

Where is the “fall line” in the USA?

Africa has some of the world’s largest rivers, but the rapids and waterfalls make them almost useless for shipping.

Victoria Falls prohibits ships traffic on the Zambezi.See Devils’s Armchair

Eastern Africa is actually splitting off from the rest of Africa. The Great Rift Valley is evidence of the split.

Most of Africa lies in the tropics. What does this tell you about climate?

It’s HOT!

Three of the world’s largest deserts are found in Africa.

SaharaNamib

Kalahari

The Sahel is a band that borders the southern Sahara. A combination of drought and human development is turning weak grasslands into desert.

This is called “desertification.”

Burkina Faso (means “land of up-right men”) sits in the Sahel.

This is a good example of a place you do not want to live.

It is on the “shatterbelt ” between Islam and Christianity – a recipe for conflict.

Capital - Ouagadougou

Djibouti

Many African empires once existed, but we know little about them.

Why?

Remains of Great Zimbabwe in southern Africa.

They didn’t leave behind a written history. Only oral history.

Much of the east coast of Africa is an escarpment, quickly dropping as much as 5,000 feet to the sea.

How could this limit trade and diffusion?

For thousands of years, much of Africa’s internal trade has been conducted at markets where several tribes meet and trade goods.

Ancient trade routes through north and west Africa promoted diffusion throughout the region. Gold and ivory from the south was traded for salt and goods from the north.

It also created great trading cities. The most famous of which was:

Timbuktu

Timkuktu still exists in Mali today. The trade routes moved and the climate became hotter. The city lost is main reason to exist – a trading center.

Why are the building made of these materials? Little stone or wood.

African culture is hard for Westerners to understand. Their loyalties are built on tribes first, countries second.

What tribe are you from?

Kikuyu

Xosha

Zulu

Khoi

Havusa

Masai

Ibo

AshantiDinka

BasangaHutu

TutsiYoruba And hundreds of others

There is no easy definition of what it is to be African. The world’s second largest continent, it is a land of complexity and contrast.

Croc & lions