Chapter 24

Southern Africa

Section 1

Physical Geography

Physical Features

• Amazing scenery• Grassy plains, steamy swamps, mighty

rivers, rocky waterfalls, & steep mts. and plateaus

Plateaus & Mountains

• Most of land lies on large plateau• Land rises sharply from narrow coastal

plain• Escarpment: the steep face at the edge of

a plateau or other raised area• Drakensberg Mt. range make up

eastern escarpment• Inyanga Mts. separate Zimbabwe &

Mozambique

Plains & Rivers• Plains:

• Grassy & home to lions, leopards, elephants, baboons, & antelope

• Rivers:• Okavango River

• Never reaches the ocean; forms inland delta that is home to crocodiles, zebras, hippos, & other animals

• Orange River• Passes through Augrabies Falls

• 19 separate waterfalls• Limpopo River:

• Flows into Indian Ocean• Waterfalls & other obstacles block ships• Allow irrigation for farmland

Climate & Vegetation

• Climate varies from east to west• East coast:

• Wet & rainy• West:

• Very dry• Deserts w/ semiarid & steppe climates

Savanna & Deserts

• Savanna• Cover much of South Africa• Shrubs & short trees• Grassy plains (veld)

• Namib Desert• Some parts get ½ inch of rainfall per

year• Plants get water from dew & fog

• Kalahari Desert• Northern part gets rain to support

grasses & trees• Mostly covered with scattered shrubs

Tropical Forests

• Madagascar• Lush vegetation & tropical forests• Species of animals only found here

• 50 species of lemurs

Resources

• Rich in natural resources• Forests provide timber• Rivers supply hydroelectricity and

irrigation• Minerals

• Most valuable• Gold, diamond, coal, platinum,

copper, uranium, & iron ore• Mines are good to the economy, but

can be damaging to the environment

Southern Africa’s History & Culture

Section 2

Early History

• Landscape & climate have influenced history• Monsoon winds blow different directions

depending on time of year• Ancient ships used these winds to

make regular trading voyages between Africa & Asia

The Khoisan

• 18,000 B.C. The Khoisan hunter-gatherers lived in the region.• Left paintings of people & animals on

rock surfaces• Some descendants live today &

Khoisan language is used (unusual click sounds)

• Bantu Migrations• 1,500–2,000 years ago Bantu

migrations spread from central Africa.• Today there are more than 200 Bantu

languages• Early Bantu people introduced the use

of iron to make tools & cattle herding

Shona & Swahili

• A.D. 1000 Bantu group Shona built an empire• Farmed, raised cattle, & traded gold• Constructed stone-walled towns called

zimbabwe• Traded with Swahili speaking people

• Adopted Islam and other Arab customs by A.D. 1100s

• Sailors & traders• Also traded in Asia

Madagascar

• 1st settlers came from Asia, A.D. 700• Culture shows influence from both Africa &

Asia• Malagasy is the official language, & it is

related to languages spoken in Indonesia• Many root words from the Bantu

language

Mozambique

• 1500s Portugese set up forts in Mozambique• Hoped to take over gold trade

• Established large estates along the Zambezi River & used slaves

• 1700s & 1800s became an important part of the slave trade

• Slaves were captured & sent as slaves to Brazil & other parts of the world

Dutch, British, & Portuguese

• Cape of Good Hope• Lacked gold & copper, but had Mediterranean

climate & no mosquitoes• 1652 Dutch set up trade stations near the Cape

• Became know as Cape Town• Provided supplies for ships• Slaves brought in to work

• Afrikaners & Afrikaans• new languages developed in Cape Town• Afrikaners = white descendents of the original

colonists• Colureds = descendents from Malays, Khoisan,

or a mixture of these with Europeans

British Colony• Afrikaner frontier farmers called Boers spread out

from the original colony• 1800s British took over the Cape• Boers resisted British colonial government

• Many moved farther east & north• Movement called the Great Trek

• Bantu speaking Zulu became a powerful fighting force• Conquered surrounding African peoples, creating

their own empire• Zulu & Boers clashed at the time when Boers

moved into their territory• Zulu challenged by the British & defeated after a

series of battles

Changing Trade Patterns

• British banned slavery in empire in 1833• Angola & Mozambique remained main

Portuguese slave markets• Late 1800s slave trade ended• Focus moved to ivory

• Elephant populations were wiped out in some parts of Africa

• Then to diamonds & gold

Apartheid

• Dividing people into 4 groups based off of race• White, blacks, Coloureds, & Asians• Each group given rural “homeland”

• Not good for farming, mining, or did not have natural resources

• Blacks: had bad housing, healthcare, & schools• Whites: had best stuff• Coloureds: ok, better than blacks

• Townships:• Where blacks lived• Overcrowded clusters of tiny home

• Blacks worked in white industries, mines, farmers, & shops

Independence

• Independence came peaceful for some, but most often resulted after fighting

Culture

• Diverse culture created• Both European & African influences

• 100s of different ethnic groups

Language

• Many different languages• Related to Khoisan or Bantu

• Khoisan: series of click sounds; live in remote areas of Botswana and Namibia

• Bantu: 200 languages; 11 are official languages of South Africa

• European languages are spoken as well

Religion

• Europeans brought Christianity• Traditional African religions

• Ancestors & spirits of dead have divine powers

• Mix of Christianity & traditional African religion

Celebrations and Art

• Day of independence celebrated • Christian holidays are important• Many cultures reflected in art

• Ethnic designs in clothing, lamps, linens, etc.

Diamonds, Gold, & Colonies

• 1860s diamonds were discovered• 1886 gold was discovered in Transvaal, a

Boers controlled area• Thousands of British & others came

• Railroads were built to connect the interior with the coast

• As the British moved north the Boers moved north into Botswana

• Botswana rulers asked the British for protection from the Boers• 1885 Botswana came under British

control• Southern Africa became divided between

British, Germans

South Africa

• 1899 tensions over land & mineral wealth led to war between the Boers & British

• Usually out numbered Boers held off British armies for three years

• 1920 following the defeat of Germany in WWI Namibia was placed under South Africa’s control

Section 3

South Africa Today

South Africa

• Stable gov’t & strong economy

• New rights & freedoms

• Resolving problems from the past

• Still many challenges

End of Apartheid

• Has been biggest challenge• People around the world objected to apartheid

laws• Sanctions were imposed on South Africa

• Banned trade, refused to invest money, scientific & sports organization excluded South Africans in meetings & competitions

• Isolated South Africa• Protest within increased

• African National Congress (ANC) outlawed• Formed to protect the rights of black South

Africans; members of ANC were jailed or forced to leave the country

• Protests continued• 1980s

• South Africa began to move away from apartheid system

• 1990• Political prisoners released (i.e.: Nelson

Mandela)• Mandela became president in 1994

• Today• All races have equal rights• Schools, universities, hospitals, &

transportation open to all• Economic equality is moving slower

Government & Economy• Positioned to create better future for country• Republic & elected president• Constitution emphasizes equality & human rights• Government is trying to create jobs & better working

conditions• Especially black workers & farmers• Most of industries still controlled by wealthy whites• Fear of rapid reform could weaken the economy• Drive educated & wealthy whites to leave the country

• Resources• Coal & hydroelectric power• Uranium mines provide fuel for nuclear power plants• Gold & diamonds, copper, platinum, iron ore, &

chromium

Other Countries of Southern Africa

• Lesotho & Swaziland• Influenced by South Africa• Both enclaves: small territory surrounded by foreign territory• Lesotho has few resources or ag. Land

• Many work in South Africa• Highest female literacy rate in Africa

• Swaziland• Mineral deposits & industry• Cattle raising & farming• Good transportation system helps with foreign trade

• Both are kingdoms• Each has a king, but governed by an elected prime

minister & parliament

Namibia

• Gained independence from South Africa in 1990

• Republic w/ elected president & legislature• Few live in the deserts

• Deserts have rich mineral deposits• Diamonds, copper, uranium, lead, &

zinc• Fishing in Atlantic Ocean & sheep

ranching are important sources of income• Strong economy, but most people are poor

Botswana

• Big Success story• Thanks to: Mineral resources & stable

democratic gov’t• Main economic activities

• Diamond mining & cattle ranching• International industries built recently• Tourism is increasing• High unemployment rate, but world’s

highest rates of economic growth since 1960s

Zimbabwe• Poor economy & political instability• Does not lack resources

• Gold & copper mines and agriculture & manufacturing• High inflation, debts, & war have hurt economy

• Much inequality• Whites make up less than 1% of population but own

most of large farms & ranches• 2000 gov’t program started to take land away from

white farmers & give to black residents• Many white farmers have left country & caused

food shortages• Land reform attempt, poor economy, & violent acts against

political opponents have made people upset w/ president• Re-elected in 2002, but people think election was

flawed

Mozambique

• One of world’s poorest countries• Economy damaged by civil wars, but is

improving• Ports ship products from interior of Africa

• Taxes on shipments is important part of economy

• Plantations grow cashews, cotton, & sugar for export• Imports more than it exports• Relies on foreign aid

Madagascar & Comoros• Madagascar

• Ruled by socialist dictator for more than 20 years• Today elected president working to improve

economy• Income comes from exports of coffee, vanilla,

sugar, & cloves• Some manufacturing• Tourism is important

• Comoros• Made up of 4 tiny islands• Lack of resources & political instability

• Struggling to improve education & promote tourism

Issues & Challenges

• Poverty is a serious challenge of the region• Droughts often destroy food crops• Many people are unemployed

• Disease• High number of people w/ HIV• Gov’t trying to educate people to slow

the spread• Environmental destruction

• Deforestation = soil erosion• African Union working to promote

cooperation among African countries

Section 4

The Other Southern African Countries

Namibia• Most live in savannas of the north or in the

cooler central highlands• 6% is white mainly German descent

• Rest of population is divided among several ethnic groups

• Most are Christian• English is the official language• 1990 white farmers held most of the productive

land• Income from mining of diamonds, copper, lead,

zinc, & uranium• Fishing & sheep ranching also important• Culture show many different influences

• Ancient rock engravings & paintings of Khoisan• Beer & pastries reflect German colonization

Botswana• Large, landlocked, semiarid country• Mineral resources & stable politics have made it successful• Cattle ranching & mining of copper and diamonds are main

economic activities• International companies have set up factories here• Belongs to the Organization of African Unity (OAU)

• Founded in 1963, tries to promote cooperation between African countries

• 79% belong to Tswana ethnic group• Most live in savanna & steppe climate in east & south

• 15% are Christian• Rest follow traditional African religions

• Okavango River flows through Botswana• Home to elephants, crocodiles, antelope, lions, hyenas

• Tourists come to see these animals• Ostrich-eggshell beadwork & woven baskets are traditional

crafts

Zimbabwe• 1980 became independent• Has since struggled to create a equal distribution

of land & wealth• 1% whites

• Still own most of large farms & ranches• Exports: gold, copper, chrome, nickel, tin,

tobacco, corn, sugar, & beef• Manufactures: shoes, batteries, radios• AIDS epidemic has killed hundreds of thousands

• Make economic growth harder• Malaria & Tuberculosis are also deadly diseases• Tensions exist between Shona & Ndebele ethnic

groups

Mozambique• One of world’s poorest countries• Economy: badly damaged by civil war• Ports ship products from interior Africa

• Taxes from shipments helps countries revenue

• Energy: coal & hydroelectric dams• Plantations grow cotton, cashews,

sugar, & tea• Various Bantu ethnic groups found

here• Each with own language

• 30% are Christian & 20% are Muslim• Famous for pepper or periperri sauces

Madagascar• Former French colony• Socialist dictator rules until 1990s

• New political system struggled with countries poverty• Voted former dictator back into power

• People are very poor• Little industry• Economy based on exports of coffee, sugar, vanilla, &

cloves• Depend on subsistence farming• Animals

• Many found no where else• 40 species of lemurs

• Destruction of rain forests threatens many animals• Malagasy & French are the spoken languages• 52% follow traditional African religions• 41% are Christian• 7% are Muslim