From Human Beginnings to New Nations · West Africa many West African (and other traditional societies) existed in a stateless society prior to Colonialism . ... Southern Africa early

Chapter 19 Human Geography of Africa: From Human Beginnings to New Nations

Section 1: East Africa

(“cradle of humanity”)

Olduvai Gorge –

remains from 65

humans as far

back as 2 million

years

Aksum – 100 A.D.

present day Ethiopia

Berlin Conference (1884-1885): 14 European

nations gather to divide up Africa – only Liberia

and Ethiopia remained free. Why?

coffee

cotton

sugarcane

tea

cash

crops:

Traditional cultures of East

Africa include the Masai

and Kikuyu

traditionally farmers and

herders

Section 2: North Africa

Algeria

Egypt

Libya

Morocco

Sudan

Tunisia

Islam is main religion and

the main cultural influence

souks (marketplaces) are common in

most cities in North Africa

Changing roles of

women:

North African (Muslim)

households generally

centered around men

Recently though

changes in traditional

roles have occurred –

20% of Tunisia’s

parliament are women

“Arab Spring”

800 A.D. - Ghana becomes powerful empire on trade

routes supported by salt and gold trade

1235 A.D.- Mali conquers Ghana and becomes most

powerful empire for about 200 years

around 1400 A.D. Songhai empire takes over and is in

charge until 1591

Section 3: West Africa

many West African (and other traditional societies)

existed in a stateless society prior to

Colonialism

West Africa’s economy relies on exports,

primarily agricultural, mining, and oil

money is needed to improve the

infrastructure of many countries in the area

Section 4: Central Africa

Cameroon

Central African

Republic

Democratic Republic

of the Congo

Republic of Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sâo Tomé and Princípe

2,000 B.C. The Bantu tribes begin migrating from

Central Africa farther south

Today around 120 million Africans speak one of the

hundreds of Bantu languages

Colonialism and the slave trade

as many as 10 million African

slaves were brought over to

the Americas’

the Industrial Revolution

changed the relationship

of Europe and Africa –

need less slaves and more

raw materials

leads to Colonialism,

(Imperialism, Age of Empire, etc.)

Berlin Conference, etc.

Still causing political and

economic struggles today

Central African art,

education and culture

Fang sculpture influences

Picasso

Education is improving,

but still many issues such

as language barriers,

funding, etc.

Section 5: Southern Africa

early empires of Bantu

speaking peoples – built on the

gold trade – combined with

Colonialism are the basis for

modern Southern Africa

Nelson Mandela F.W. De Klerk

1600s – Boers arrive in southern Africa

1902 - establish country of South Africa

1948 - institute policy of apartheid

1989 – De Klerk elected president

1994 – Mandela becomes 1st black president in South Africa in first

free elections for all (dies summer 2013)

much of Southern Africa’s economy is

based on minerals and farming

Several factors are affecting the economy

such as an increase in the separation

between rich and poor

AIDS has killed many skilled and

unskilled workers the last few decades (25% of adults infected in some countries)

life expectancy in Botswana in 1999 was

39 years old – is back up to 61 but takes

time to recover

Chapter 20 Today’s Issues: Africa

Section 1: Economic Development

many African countries today still have

little manufacturing of their own – they

still export more raw materials then

finished products

most of them are considered LDC’s and

need help from industrialized countries

improvements

being made:

improved

infrastructure

more diversity in

commodities

increasing

education for all

stopping “brain

drain”

Section 2: Health Care

AIDS (nearly $5 billion needed)

cholera

malaria

tuberculosis

Our problem? Who should pay?

all photos

Sean Simons