Introduction Introduction to Africato Africa

Did you know?Did you know?►Africa has more countries than any Africa has more countries than any

other continent.other continent.►The Sahara is a desert that is the The Sahara is a desert that is the

size of the U.S. It’s the world's size of the U.S. It’s the world's largest desert.largest desert.

►Most of the world’s gold and Most of the world’s gold and diamonds come from Africa.diamonds come from Africa.

►More than 800 languages are spoken More than 800 languages are spoken in Africa.in Africa.

Africa’s LandformsAfrica’s Landforms► Africa is located between the Atlantic Ocean and Africa is located between the Atlantic Ocean and

the Indian Ocean. It has a long, smooth coast, so the Indian Ocean. It has a long, smooth coast, so it does not have many harbors or ports. This it does not have many harbors or ports. This makes it hard for Africans to use the seas for makes it hard for Africans to use the seas for

trading.trading.

SS7G1 The student will locate SS7G1 The student will locate selected features of Africa.selected features of Africa.

a. Locate on a world and regional a. Locate on a world and regional map the map the SaharaSahara, and the , and the Atlas Atlas

MountainsMountains. .

The Sahara, which is Arabic for desert, stretches from the

Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea.It’s the world’s largest desert. Years can pass without rain.

The Sahara divides Africa into two The Sahara divides Africa into two regions. regions.

* * North AfricaNorth Africa includes the Sahara includes the Sahara and the region south of the and the region south of the

Mediterranean.Mediterranean.* The rest of Africa is * The rest of Africa is sub-Saharansub-Saharan Africa or Africa below the Sahara.Africa or Africa below the Sahara.

A huge A huge plateauplateau covers most of Africa. This is covers most of Africa. This is a broad area of high, flat land. This makes it a broad area of high, flat land. This makes it higher in eastern and southern Africa than in higher in eastern and southern Africa than in other parts. A plateau is one of the four basic other parts. A plateau is one of the four basic landforms. A narrow coastal plain surroundslandforms. A narrow coastal plain surrounds

the plateau in Africa. This is the the plateau in Africa. This is the Waterburg Plateau in Namibia.Waterburg Plateau in Namibia.

The The Atlas MountainsAtlas Mountains are in northwest are in northwest Africa. There are no mountain chains south Africa. There are no mountain chains south

of the Sahara, but there are someof the Sahara, but there are some high mountains. The highest mountain in high mountains. The highest mountain in Africa is Africa is Mount KilimanjaroMount Kilimanjaro which is on which is on

the border of Kenya and Tanzania.the border of Kenya and Tanzania.There is always snow on top.There is always snow on top.

The The Great Rift ValleyGreat Rift Valley is an is an important landform in east Africa. It important landform in east Africa. It is made of deep, wide cracks in the is made of deep, wide cracks in the Earth’s surface. Many lakes are in Earth’s surface. Many lakes are in this valley. This is a portion of the this valley. This is a portion of the

GRV in Kenya.GRV in Kenya.

SS7G1 The student will locate SS7G1 The student will locate selected features of Africaselected features of Africa..

►a. Locate on a world and a. Locate on a world and

political-physical map: political-physical map: Congo River, Congo River, Niger River, Nile River.Niger River, Nile River.

RiversRivers►Africa has four large riversAfrica has four large rivers..►The The Nile RiverNile River in east Africa is in east Africa is

the longest river in the world.the longest river in the world.►The The Niger, Congo and Niger, Congo and

ZambeziZambezi are other long African are other long African riversrivers..

These rivers have many waterfallsThese rivers have many waterfalls..Waterfalls make it difficult to Waterfalls make it difficult to

travel on the rivers. travel on the rivers. This has made it hardThis has made it hard

for Africans to travel and trade for Africans to travel and trade with each other.with each other.

Waterpower from African rivers Waterpower from African rivers produces electricity called produces electricity called

hydroelectricityhydroelectricity..Hydroelectricity is electricity produced Hydroelectricity is electricity produced

from waterpower. This is the Kariba from waterpower. This is the Kariba Dam in Zimbabwe and Zambia. Dam in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Climate and VegetationClimate and Vegetation► Almost all of Africa lies in the tropics, though Almost all of Africa lies in the tropics, though

Africa has five climate regions. Each region Africa has five climate regions. Each region has different has different vegetationvegetation, or plants such as , or plants such as

trees, shrubs, and grass.trees, shrubs, and grass.

► SS7G3SS7G3 The student will explain The student will explain the impact of location, climate, the impact of location, climate, and physical characteristics on and physical characteristics on population distribution in Africa.population distribution in Africa.

a. Explain how the characteristics a. Explain how the characteristics of the tropical of the tropical rain forestrain forest

affect where people live, they affect where people live, they type of work they do, and type of work they do, and

transportation.transportation.

► SS7G1 SS7G1 The student will The student will located selected features of located selected features of AfricaAfrica..

a. Locate on a world and a. Locate on a world and political-physical map: political-physical map: rain rain forestforest

The region in The region in central Africacentral Africa near the Equator has a hot, wetnear the Equator has a hot, wet

tropical climate.tropical climate.

In the tropical areas near the In the tropical areas near the equator, there is heavy rain almost equator, there is heavy rain almost

everyday. everyday. Tropical rain forestsTropical rain forests grow in this grow in this

climate. Logging, however, is climate. Logging, however, is destroying much of the rainforest.destroying much of the rainforest.

SS7G1 The student will locate SS7G1 The student will locate selected features of Africaselected features of Africa..►a. Locate on a world and a. Locate on a world and

political-physical map: political-physical map: savannasavanna

The second climate region is north The second climate region is north and south of the rainforests.and south of the rainforests.

The climate is hot, with both rainy The climate is hot, with both rainy and dry seasons.and dry seasons.

SavannasSavannas cover this region. cover this region. Savannas are large land areas Savannas are large land areas with long, thick grass and short with long, thick grass and short trees. Many wild animals live on trees. Many wild animals live on

the savannas. the savannas.

North and south of the savannas, the climate North and south of the savannas, the climate is is semi-aridsemi-arid which means that the climate is which means that the climate is hot with both rainy and dry seasons. There hot with both rainy and dry seasons. There may be only ten inches of rain during the may be only ten inches of rain during the

year. year.

SS7G1 The student will locate SS7G1 The student will locate selected features of Africaselected features of Africa..

►a. Locate on a world and regional a. Locate on a world and regional political and physical map: the political and physical map: the SahelSahel..

The semi-arid zones of Africa are The semi-arid zones of Africa are part of the part of the SahelSahel. The Sahel is a . The Sahel is a

region of dry grasslands south of the region of dry grasslands south of the Sahara. The word “sahel” is Arabic Sahara. The word “sahel” is Arabic

for “edge of desert” or “border.”for “edge of desert” or “border.”

The Sahel stretches from the Atlantic The Sahel stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. Twelve Ocean to the Red Sea. Twelve

countries are in the Sahel.countries are in the Sahel.

► SS7G3 The student will SS7G3 The student will explain the impact of explain the impact of location, climate, and location, climate, and physical characteristics on physical characteristics on population distribution in population distribution in Africa. Africa. a. Explain how the a. Explain how the characteristics of the characteristics of the Sahel Sahel affect where people live, affect where people live, they type of work they do, they type of work they do, and transportation.and transportation.

► SS7G2 The student will explain SS7G2 The student will explain the impact of the impact of desertificationdesertification on the environment of Africa on the environment of Africa from the from the SahelSahel to the to the rainforest. rainforest.

The Sahel has long periods The Sahel has long periods without rain called without rain called droughtsdroughts..

►This photo shows This photo shows people of the people of the Sahel region that Sahel region that have to travel have to travel long distances in long distances in search of food search of food and water.and water.

The The SahelSahel has been heavily affected by the has been heavily affected by the process of process of desertificationdesertification. This means that . This means that the land is turning to desert. Desertification the land is turning to desert. Desertification

happens because of both physical and human happens because of both physical and human factors. The term factors. The term land degradationland degradation tends to tends to

be linked to the human factors, with be linked to the human factors, with desertificationdesertification being being

linked to climate change.linked to climate change.

SS7G1SS7G1The student will locate selected The student will locate selected

features of Africa.features of Africa.►a. Locate on a world and political-physical a. Locate on a world and political-physical

map: the map: the SaharaSahara and the and the Kalahari Kalahari Desert.Desert.

The fourth climate region of Africa is a The fourth climate region of Africa is a desertdesert climate. The Sahara Desert is climate. The Sahara Desert is

north of the short grasslands. There are north of the short grasslands. There are also smaller deserts at the southern end of also smaller deserts at the southern end of

Africa.Africa.

Deserts have few plants, but Deserts have few plants, but these plants need almost no these plants need almost no

water.water.

The fifth climate region has a The fifth climate region has a MediterraneanMediterranean climate. Summers climate. Summers

are hot and dry. Winters are short and are hot and dry. Winters are short and rainy.rainy.

This climate is found in North Africa This climate is found in North Africa near the Mediterranean Sea. Grapes, near the Mediterranean Sea. Grapes,

olives, oranges, and other crops olives, oranges, and other crops grow in this climate which is found grow in this climate which is found

also atalso at the tip of Africa. the tip of Africa.

Africa’s History and Africa’s History and EconomyEconomy

►People have lived in Africa for People have lived in Africa for thousands of years. It is sometimes thousands of years. It is sometimes called the called the “cradle of civilization.”“cradle of civilization.”

SS7G4 The student will explain the SS7G4 The student will explain the diverse cultures of the people diverse cultures of the people

who live in Africawho live in Africa..

►Hundreds of ethnic groups live together in Hundreds of ethnic groups live together in close groups called close groups called tribestribes. . Each ethnic Each ethnic

group has its own language, religion, and group has its own language, religion, and culture which can sometimes cause culture which can sometimes cause

conflicts.conflicts.

This map shows where the different This map shows where the different tribes in Africa live.tribes in Africa live.

SS7H1 The student will analyze continuity SS7H1 The student will analyze continuity and change in Africa leading to the 21and change in Africa leading to the 21stst

century.century.a. Explain how European a. Explain how European partitioningpartitioning

across Africa contributed to conflict, civil across Africa contributed to conflict, civil war, and artificial political boundaries.war, and artificial political boundaries.

Colonialism in AfricaColonialism in Africa►From the 1800s to the 1960s, From the 1800s to the 1960s, European countries ruled most of European countries ruled most of

Africa.Africa.

The European countries wanted The European countries wanted to own Africa’s gold, diamonds, to own Africa’s gold, diamonds,

copper, and other resources.copper, and other resources.

Europeans divided most of Africa into Europeans divided most of Africa into coloniescolonies. Often different ethnic groups were . Often different ethnic groups were

forced to live together in one country forced to live together in one country causing conflicts. causing conflicts.

Liberia Liberia (left) and (left) and EthiopiaEthiopia (right) (right) are the only countries that were never are the only countries that were never

colonies.colonies.

Many of these ethnic groups were Many of these ethnic groups were enemies and could not get along. enemies and could not get along.

Today fighting among ethnic groups is Today fighting among ethnic groups is still a problem.still a problem.

► "We are fighting "We are fighting every day because every day because we are Hutu and we are Hutu and they are Tutsis. We they are Tutsis. We cannot mix, we are cannot mix, we are always in conflict," always in conflict," the tribesman said. the tribesman said. "We will stay "We will stay enemies forever." enemies forever."

(left, Hutu soldiers in (left, Hutu soldiers in Rwanda)Rwanda)

The Europeans needed modern The Europeans needed modern transportation, so they built roads, transportation, so they built roads, railroads, and seaports throughout railroads, and seaports throughout

Africa. They used these ports to Africa. They used these ports to ship minerals and ship minerals and raw materialsraw materials

to Europe.to Europe.

Raw materialsRaw materials are products are products from nature such as cotton, from nature such as cotton,

metal, and wood. The Europeans metal, and wood. The Europeans used them to make factory goods used them to make factory goods

that they would sell to their that they would sell to their African colonies.African colonies.

Europeans also started Europeans also started plantationsplantations. A . A plantation is a large farm that grows cash plantation is a large farm that grows cash crops. Plantations in colonial times grew crops. Plantations in colonial times grew

cash crops such as coffee, sugarcane, and cash crops such as coffee, sugarcane, and cotton.cotton.

During the 1960s, Africans began ruling During the 1960s, Africans began ruling themselves. They were no longer themselves. They were no longer

coloniescolonies, or lands ruled by distant , or lands ruled by distant countries. Now all African countries are countries. Now all African countries are

independent.independent.

Life TodayLife Today►Today most Africans earn a living by Today most Africans earn a living by

farming.farming.►They use They use traditional methodstraditional methods like using like using

animals to pull plows instead of modern animals to pull plows instead of modern farm machinery like tractors.farm machinery like tractors.

Most Africans are Most Africans are subsistence subsistence farmersfarmers which means they which means they struggle just to grow enough struggle just to grow enough

food for their families.food for their families.

Africans also work in mines and Africans also work in mines and export its minerals to many export its minerals to many

nations.nations.

Each African nation earns most of its Each African nation earns most of its money by exporting only one or two money by exporting only one or two

farm farm or mineral products.or mineral products.

Today, most countries in Africa are still Today, most countries in Africa are still developing nations. developing nations. This means that except for This means that except for the country of South Africa, the nations in Africa the country of South Africa, the nations in Africa

have a low standard of living and poor have a low standard of living and poor industry or technology.industry or technology.

Today, Africans are still Today, Africans are still working to improve their working to improve their

countries.countries.