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A Geographic Profile of SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Chapter 9
Sub-Saharan Africa
Second largest land area of all the major world regions Covers 17.4 million square miles (2x size of U.S.)
Population of 749 million (2007) Overpopulated in areas, yet much of region
is sparsely populated Average population density is slightly more
than that of the U.S. Rate of population increase is 2.5% per year
Preference for Large Families Extra hands to perform work Ability for parents to be looked after when old/sick In the case of girls, to receive “bride wealth” Large families convey status
Birth rates have been dropping in everycountry in region over the past two decades
9.1 Area and Population
Comparison in Area and LatitudeSub-Saharan Africa vs. Conterminous U.S.
Population Distribution
Population Cartogram
Homes Elevated to Minimize Risk of Flooding
9.1.1 Africa’s Population Prospects
Africa has the world’s youngest population 43% of the region’s people are under 15 years of age
Malthusian Scenario 1 Percent Gap
Population has had growth rate of about 3% since 1960s Food production has grown at only about 2% annually This is the only world region where per capita food production
is declining HIV/AIDS
Possibly a Malthusian “check” to population growth
9.2 Physical Geography & Human Adaptations
The Landscapes of Africa Africa’s Biomes and Climates Living off the Land Africa’s Wildlife
9.2.1 The Landscapes of Africa
Most of Africa is a vast plateau, or series of plateaus Typical elevation of more than 1,000 feet, though in
places elevation rises to 5,000 feet and higher The character of African rivers
Rapids and waterfalls block navigation a shortdistance inland Great potential for hydroelectric energy
Africa’s discontinuous inland waterways areinterconnected by railroads and highways
Africa’s High Volcanic Mountains
9.2.2 Africa’s Biomes and Climates
Equator bisects Africa, so about two-thirds of the region lies in the low latitudes, having tropical climates
Biomes of Sub-Saharan Africa Tropical Rain Forest Savanna Steppe Desert Mediterranean Humid Subtropical Marine West Coast
Precipitation in region is high, but unevenly distributed Drought is a persistent problem
Climates of Sub-Saharan Africa
Biomes of Sub-Saharan Africa
9.2.3 Living off the Land
Most productive lands are on river plains, in volcanic regions, and in some grassland areas of tropical steppes
To support growing populations, fallow periods have been shortened, and the lands pressed to yield more crops
Sub-Saharan Africa’s soils favor subsistence agriculture and pastoralism Half of the region’s population practices these livelihoods
Land Use in Sub-Saharan Africa
Mother and Child in Zimbabwe
Zebu Cattle in Madagascar
9.2.4 Africa’s Wildlife
Africa has the planet’s most spectacular and numerous populations of large mammals Tropical grasslands and open forests
Habitats of large herbivorous animals Elephant, Buffalo, Zebra, Giraffe, and many species of Antelope
Carnivorous and scavenging animals Lion, Leopard, and Hyena
Tropical rain forests Abundant species of insects, birds, and monkeys
Streams and rivers draining the forests and wetter savannas Hippopotamus, crocodile, and a great variety of fish
Home to some of the world’s most extraordinaryand successfully managed national parks International tourism to these parks is a major source
of revenue
Daggers as Dress Accessory in Yemen
9.3 Cultural and Historical Geographies
African continent was the original home of humankind After 5000 B.C.E., indigenous people were responsible for
agricultural innovation in four culture hearths: Ethiopian Plateau West African Savanna West African Forest Forest-Savanna Boundary of West Central Africa
Domestication of important crops Millet, sorghum, yams, cowpeas, okra,
watermelons, coffee, and cotton
9.3.1 The Languages of Africa
Peoples of this region speak more than 1,000 languages, which generally belong to one of four broad language groups: Niger-Congo Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharan Khoisan
The African Union, the continent’s supranational organization, uses 6 official languages English, French, Portuguese, Spanish,
Swahili, and Arabic
Languages of Sub-Saharan Africa
9.3.2 Africa’s Belief Systems
Spiritualism is extremely strong, but spiritual affiliations and practices are more interwoven and flexible than in most other world regions Not uncommon for family members to follow different faiths, or for
an individual to change religious beliefs and practices in the course of a lifetime
Dominant Religions of Africa Islam Christianity Indigenous African Religions (Animism)
Religions of Sub-Saharan Africa
9.3.3 The Origins and Impacts of Slavery
Over a period of 12 centuries, as many as 25 million people from sub-Saharan Africa were forced to become slaves, exported as merchandise from their homelands
The trade began in the 7th century, with Arab merchants using trans-Saharan camel caravan routes to exchange goods
Slave traffic Provided motivation for European commerce along African coasts Largest slave traffic was the European controlled slave trade Transatlantic slave trade peaked between 1700 and 1870
80% of an estimated 10 million slaves made the crossing More than 10 million others probably died
Slavery has not yet died out in the region Enslavement of children persists in West Africa
Slave Export Trade Routes
9.3.4 The Impact of Colonialism
European colonialism began to overshadow and inhibit the growth of indigenous African civilizations in 16th C.
Portugal was earliest colonial power to build an African empire
Conference of Berlin in 1884-1885 European powers carved up Africa Modern national boundaries do not correspond with ethnic
boundaries Nigeria as the “Mistake of 1914”
European colonization had both positive and negativeimpacts on the region
Most countries still have important links with theirformer colonial powers
Colonial Rule in 1914
9.4 Economic Geography
Sub-Saharan Africa is characterized by great poverty 25 of the world’s 30 poorest countries are located there All economies except South Africa’s are underindustrialized
Africa’s place in the commercial world is mainly that of a producer of primary products Cash Crops Raw Materials
Social and structural problems contribute to the region’s underdevelopment Most African societies lack a substantial middle class
and the prospect of upward economic mobility
Coffee as Kenya’s Cash Crop
9.4.1 Agriculture
Per capita food output in most of Sub-Saharan Africa has declined or remained flat since independence Malnutrition afflicts almost half the region’s children Rapid population growth and drought are responsible Many regimes have invested more in their militaries than in
getting food to their citizens Governmental preference for cash crops over subsistence food
crops Export Crops
Grown on small farms rather than on plantations / estates Most valuable export crops are:
Coffee, Cacao, Cotton, Peanuts & Oil Palm Products Secondary Cash Crops
Sisal, Pyrethrum, Tea, Tobacco, Rubber, Pineapples, Bananas, Cloves, Vanilla, Cane Sugar & Cashews
9.4.2 Mineral Resources
Notable Mineral Exports Precious metals and precious stones Iron alloys Copper Phosphate Uranium Petroleum High-grade iron ore
Destined principally for Europe, the U.S., and China Mining has attracted far more investment capital to Africa
than any other economic activity
Minerals, Oil Pipelines and Transportation Links
9.4.3 Africa’s Fragile Infrastructure
Poor Transportation Hindering Development Few countries can afford to build extensive new road or rail
networks, and much of colonial infrastructure has deteriorated Contributes to famine, with the inability to transport crop
surpluses to parts with chronic food shortages Contributes to high costs of agricultural inputs (i.e., fertilizers)
Bridging the Digital Divide Critical shortage of telephone, fax, e-mail, and other
communication technologies Internet Cafés Mobile Phones
Ferries for River Crossings Without Bridges
9.4.4 Africa in World Markets & Economics
Commodities boom brought annual economic growth rates of about 5% to 16 Sub-Saharan African countries
Many countries outside the region have effectively closed their doors to African imports Subsidies, high tariffs, and/or low quotas imposed on
agricultural products or manufactured goods Africa’s Debt
Forgiveness of $40 billion of debt by G-8 China’s engagement with the region
Pledge of $20 billion in infrastructure and trade financing
9.4.5 A Legacy of Failed States
Failed-State Syndrome Pernicious process of economic and political decay that is
eating away at some African countries Some countries are little more than “shell states” 9 of world’s 15 most corrupt countries are in this region Donor Democracy
Leaders make just enough concessions to winoutside aid without instituting real reform
9.5 Geopolitical Issues
Sub-Saharan Africa is often judged as marginal in world affairs, but the region deserves and is receiving increased international attention Humanitarian problems Global implications of its public health and environmental
situations Problems in the management of Africa’s natural resource
wealth, its oil reserves, and concerns over terrorism Terrorism Hot Spots
Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Niger, Chad, and Mali HIV/AIDS
Link between U.S. and Africa via air traffic routes Potential AIDS-related political instability or civil wars
9.6.1 The Sahel
The Sahel Extends eastward from the Cape Verde Islands to the Atlantic shore
nations of Mauritania, Senegal, and the Gambia, and inland to Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, and South Sudan
Ecosystems of Sahel have high resilience to cope with droughts Desertification is the destruction of that resilience
It is an unnatural, human-induced condition It has afflicted the Sahel greatly since the late 1960s Successful changes have been made to reverse desertification
(1977 United Nations plan)
9.6.2 West Africa
West Africa Extends from Guinea-Bissau to Nigeria, comprised of nine countries
making up about 800,000 square miles Nigeria is the spatial, demographic, political, and economic giant
Africa’s largest oil producer, ranks 10th in world’s proven reserves Most oil production is concentrated in the Niger River Delta
Home to 12 million mostly Christian people of many ethnic groups They have derived few benefits, and have suffered greatly from oil
development in their homeland Oil spills have tainted croplands and water, and flaring off natural gas
has polluted their air and caused acid Very little of the oil revenue returns to the area Living conditions, educational opportunities, and medical care are poor
Natives becoming more militant in defending their rights to oil revenue This militancy has sent shockwaves through the world economy Cuts down on oil production, resulting in shortages on world markets
9.6.3 East Africa
East Africa is made up of 5 countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi Subregion is roughly the size of Texas Population (143 million) nearly half of the U.S.
Rwanda and Burundi have had tragic disputesbetween their majority and minority populations Hutu (Bahutu) make up about 85% of the
population in Burundi and 90% in Rwanda This majority was poorer and often treated unfairly by wealthier minority
Tutsi (Watusi) make up most of the remainder of the two populations This is the wealthier minority
The Hutu and Tutsi speak the same language and share a common culture; their only difference is their level of wealth
Violent clashes between these two groups have resulted in genocide unchecked by outside influences
Rwanda now has a national unity plan aimed at reconciling Hutus and Tutsis Burundi now rotates its presidency between Hutus and Tutsis for power sharing
9.6.4 West Central Africa
West Central Africa is comprised of seven countries: Cameroon Gabon Central African Republic Congo Republic Democratic Republic of Congo São Tomé and Príncipe Equatorial Guinea
9.6.5 Colonialism & Modern Strugglesin the Congo Basin
The Congo Basin was a virtual possession of Belgium during last quarter of the 19th century Exploited by King Leopold II (rubber, ivory, tropical products) Formally annexed by Belgium in 1908 Took the name Zaire (meaning “river”) in 1971 Following the overthrow of the government in 1997, the country was
renamed Democratic Republic of Congo
Trouble in region has had ties to events in neighboring East Africa Unrest in the region led to “Africa’s First World War”
This dispute involved 9 countries and 20 rebel movements It resulted in more than 5 million deaths Most of these deaths were a result of starvation, disease, or
widespread massacres of ethnic groups Since 1998, most fighting has been over control of areas rich in minerals Peace has been negotiated, but war could easily break out again
9.6.6 The Horn of Africa
Comprised of a great volcanic plateau that rises steeply from the desert and protects the African continent from the Indian Ocean
Extreme NE section of Sub-Saharan Africa includes 4 countries: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti Ethiopia is the country with the most
ethnic / cultural diversity Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity Cultural / historical links with Egypt,
Fertile Crescent & Arabia Before Marxist coup in 1970s, Ethiopian
rulers were always Christian “The Galápagos Islands of Religion”
because it has long served as an isolated refuge for unique religious groups, including Falashas (Ethiopian Jews) and Rastafarians
9.6.7 Southern Africa (former colonial statuses in parentheses)
Zambezi River Basin Angola (Portuguese Colony)
Mozambique (Portuguese)
Zimbabwe (British Colony)
Zambia (British Colony)
Malawi (British Colony)
Still further south are the following five countries: South Africa Botswana (British Colony)
Swaziland (British Colony)
Lesotho (British Colony)
Namibia (German Colony)
Has a very Europeanized cultural landscape, but this does not reflect the racial background of the majority of the population Blacks (79%), Whites (10%), Mixed Origin (9%), Asians (2%) Economic gulf separates impoverished black Africans from wealthy whites Racial segregation characterized South Africa from 1652 onward
Apartheid (Afrikaners put into place in 1948) A law that imposed racially based restrictions and prohibitions on everyone,
but weighed heaviest on black Africans and denied them political power Many blacks transferred to “homelands Black unrest became so widespread and violent
that government declared a state of emergency Most of fighting took place between rival factions:
African National Congress (ANC)led by Nelson Mandel
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)led by Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi
During Nelson Mandela’s presidency (1994-1999),South African apartheid laws became null and void
9.6.8 South Africa
Indian Ocean Islands Madagascar, The Comoro Islands, Reunion, Mauritius & The Seychelles African, Asian, Arab, European & Polynesian ethnic and cultural influences Home to many endemic species of plants and animals Theory of Island Biogeography
The number of species found on an individual island correlates with the island’s area, with a 10-fold increase in area normally resulting in a doubling of the number of species
Madagascar 4th largest island in the world 1,000 miles long / 350 miles wide 21 million inhabitants Distinctive flora and fauna
Deforestation has reached 90% Theory of island biogeography
suggests that half of the island’sspecies have become extinct
9.6.9 The Indian Ocean Islands