CENTRAL AFRICA Ch 19 sec 4

I. Bantu Migrations and Colonial Exploitation  The Bantu people started out in southern Nigeria and migrated throughout southern and central Africa.  Their culture and language spread out and changed over time, however, there is still a common thread throughout the region.

I. Bantu Migrations and Colonial Exploitation  As Europeans began to demand more slaves for their colonies in North and South America, African merchants traded with them at the coast.  African rulers also participated, and by the end of the slave trade millions of Africans had been sold out of Africa.

I. Bantu Migrations and Colonial Exploitation  The rugged terrain and the threat of disease kept Europeans from going farther into Africa until the advent of steam power and vaccines.  The first major power to take control in central Africa was Belgium. King Leopold 2 took the Congo and used extreme cruelty to force the people to work.

I. Bantu Migrations and Colonial Exploitation  The French and the Belgians controlled most of Central Africa until the 1960s, when they gave independence to their colonies.  The countries had to deal with ethnic problems created when the colony’s borders were made by Europeans. Former enemies were now competing for power in independent countries.

II. The Economic Legacy of Colonialism  Many African countries that were former colonies suffer economically because there is a lack of development and corruption in the government.  In Central Africa, there was little development of industry, transportation, and education for the population.

II. The Economic Legacy of Colonialism  The Democratic Republic of Congo is still feeling the problems of independence. The government is corrupt and uses any wealth it gains to maintain power.  Troops from other countries have occupied areas of the DRC to try and control the natural resources.

III. The Influence of Central African Art  Much of the art from Central Africa depicts attitudes about colonialism. They show the destruction and effects of European rule.  The Fang people are known for their sculptures, and have influenced other artists, most notably Pablo Picasso.

IV. Improving Education  The goal of many countries is to improve education to create more skilled workers and citizens who participate in government.  There is a shortage of schools and teachers to meet the demand, and the large number of languages spoken in the region differ from the language taught in schools, which is usually the former European language.

IV. Improving Education  There are differences about how long children go to school. Some countries only have education for children up to 12 years old, and some go up to 14.  There is an increase in vocational education, and some countries are starting universities to improve their education systems.

In your notebook  Half-page summary of the lecture today.