7th Grade Social Studies Chapter 21 East Africa 7th Grade Social Studies

Section 1: Physical Geography CHAPTER 21 East Africa Section 1: Physical Geography Section 2: East Africa’s History and Culture Section 3: The Countries of East Africa Section 4: The Horn of Africa

Section 1: Physical Geography Great Rift Valley Mount Kilimanjaro Lake Victoria White Nile Blue Nile x x

Why Study East Africa? Many Scientists believe the human species has its origins in East Africa. Some of the most important fossil remains of humans come from the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. The U.S. imports agricultural products from the area. The region contains wildlife not found elsewhere. This wildlife is of interest to people around the world. Events in the region have influenced the foreign policy of the U.S., including the use of armed forces and economic aid.

Sec 1: Vocabulary Rifts – long deep valleys with mountains or plateaus on either side

Main Ideas, sect. 1 The major landforms of East Africa include high plains, eastern and western rift, and volcanic mountains. Lake Victoria, Lake Nakuru, the White Nile, the Blue Nile, and the Nile river are located in East Africa; these rivers meet in Khartoum, Sudan. Volcanic mountains are found in parts of East Africa because the land is splitting along the rift valleys Ethiopia’s agriculture has suffered from 30 years of drought.

Physical Geography SECTION 1 EAST AFRICA Mountains and Plains Great Rift Valley Mount Kilimanjaro, many volcanic peaks, famous wildlife preserves two large rifts; steep walls stretch from Tanzania to the Red Sea EAST AFRICA Rivers Lakes Nile, White Nile, Blue Nile, Ruvuma River Lake Victoria, Lake Nakuru, Lake Tanganyika

Section 2: E. Africa’s History/ Culture Vocabulary: Swahili – a language that is widely spoken in East Africa

Main Ideas The countries that influenced the history of this area include Portugal, Great Britain, and Germany. The main religions practiced in East Africa include Christianity and Islam. Ethnic conflicts have made it difficult for East African governments to establish a sense of national identity among its citizens. In northern East Africa, Christians and Muslims are often in conflict.

SECTION 2 East Africa’s History and Culture EAST AFRICA’S HISTORY Religion Trade Colonization • Arabic speaking nomads spread Islamic faith • slaves traded to Arabia • Great Britain • Germany • Portuguese start European slave trade • Christianity from Ethiopian Kingdoms • Italy annexed Ethiopia

Section 3: The Countries of E. Africa

Section 3: Vocabulary Gorge – a narrow, steep-walled canyon

Section 3: Main Ideas The highlands of Kenya are important because they offer good farmland, refuge for wildlife, and they are an important tourist destination. Early East African civilizations traded gold and ivory. Tourist attractions of East Africa include Kenya’s wildlife refuges, Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti Plain, and the Olduvai Gorge.

The Countries of East Africa SECTION 3 The Countries of East Africa Physical Features Challenges Rwanda violence between ethnic groups fertile highland Burundi violence between Tutsi and Hutu fertile highland violent dictatorship, collapsed economy Uganda fertile plateau Sudan Sahara, dry savannas, the Sudd Conflicts between Arab and traditionally African cultures

Kenya (20:15)

Section 4: The Horn of Africa ANSWER EACH OF THESE: How important are these camels for the Afar? _______________________________________ What purpose do they serve? What theme of geography do they represent?

Sec. 4: Main Ideas The mountains protect Ethiopia from foreign invasion. Eritrea broke away from Ethiopia in 1993. Most of Europe’s East African colonies gained independence in the 1960’s.

Google Earth Zanzibar has the“Swalhili Coast” Somalia is “A failed State” Ethiopia has “The Blue Nile”

The Horn of Africa SECTION 4 Country Location or Physical Features Key Characteristics mountains and plateaus Ethiopia agricultural, poor, suffered droughts independent since 1993, improving economy Eritrea on Red Sea mainly herders, less diverse culture, troubled by civil war and drought deserts and dry savannas Somalia independent since 1977, port provides income, depends on Ethiopian agriculture Djibouti on Bab al-Mandab, partly below sea level

Review Time A – Blue Nile B – Bab al-Mandab C – Mt. Kilimanjaro D – Great Rift Valley E – Lake Victoria F - White Nile Let’s Play Jeopardy

Sec. 4: Vocabulary droughts – periods when little rain falls and crops are damaged

Hotel Rawanda We will be watching the movie Hotel Rawanda You must have the permission slip signed in order to watch the movie If you do not have a permission slip you will do another activity In the 1990’s, Hutu’s in Rwanda tried to destroy the Tutsi people.

Chapter Wrap-Up CHAPTER 24 1. What are East Africa’s main natural resources? 2. What caused the formation of the Great Rift Valley of East Africa? 3. How have Arabs, Portuguese, the British, and the Kikuyu affected Kenya? 4. What factors have slowed Tanzania’s economic growth? 5. How have droughts in the Horn of Africa affected its people and their relationship with the rest of the world?