Africa – From Riches to Rags

Africa – Ancient Egyptians The first civilization to develop in Africa was the ancient Egyptians (ca BC). They: developed advanced math studied astronomy, and built the Pyramids

Africa – Environmental Influence It was difficult for cultures to develop technology in other parts of Africa due to environmental issues: Rainforest was too dense to keep domesticated animals, and mosquitoes carried diseases like Malaria and Sleeping sickness Savanna Savanna and Steppe was difficult to farm due to unpredictable and inadequate rainfall Deserts Deserts prevented early trade due to vast size and lack of water Therefore, cultures remained isolated and developed slowly

Africa – Spread of Islam From the late 600’s to the 1500’s, Islam spread across North Africa, then south with desert traders and along Africa’s east coast with Arab ocean-going traders. Isolated cultures did not trade and were not converted.

Africa – Desert Trade Routes West African cultures developed wealth by using camels to carry gold, salt, cotton, and copper on desert trade routes connected between oases. Trade centered on city of Timbuktu (Mali)

Africa – Trade with India and China Between 700 and 1500, African Bantu people mixed with Arab traders to become the Swahili people of East Africa. Seasonal monsoon winds on the Indian Ocean enabled the Swahili to trade ivory and gold for Chinese porcelain and silk, as well as cotton and jewels from India.

Africa – European Explorers Starting in 1441, Portuguese explorers, headed toward Asia and met African tribes along coastal stops going around Africa. Because of advanced technology (guns), Europeans defeated coastal African cities. Muslim Arabs refused to trade with Christian Europeans, so trade wealth diminished in Africa.

Africa – Origins of the Slave Trade For centuries, conflicting African tribes had captured enemy soldiers in battle and used them as paid workers or indentured servants. African rulers saw the European slave trade as a chance to get rid of tribal enemies. Europeans needed strong field hands for farming work in their colonies (N. and S. Amer.)

Africa – Triangular Trade As demand for slaves increased, African tribes turned on each other just to capture more slaves to trade with Europeans. Africans received guns, alcohol, and money in exchange for more captured enemies. Eventually, approx. 37 million Africans were sold within and outside of Africa.

Africa – Results of the Slave Trade In Africa: Loss of strongest males left many groups even weaker Less females decreased populations In Latin America: Slaves blended with European masters, resulting in the mulatto culture in Cuba, Dom. Repub., Venezuela, Brazil African animistic beliefs blended with Catholicism to become voodoo In North America: Slave tribal music and U.S. brass band styles later blended into Jazz music

Africa – European Colonization The Industrial Age in Europe created many advanced countries looking to dominate world trade and power. Intense Euro. nationalism during the late 1800’s pushed many countries to expand economic control in Africa. (Rhodes – “Cairo to Cape Town”) Europeans felt that expansion was economically necessary and religiously justified.

Africa – Berlin Conference To avoid military conflict as countries claimed territory, European representatives met at the Berlin Conference in to divide Africa into colonies. No Africans were invited.

Africa – Conference of Berlin European lines ignored most tribal and physical boundaries

Africa – Great Wealth…or NOT. Europeans were not able to “cash in” on their colonies as expected because: Much of the land couldn’t support European crops due to environmental issues. (remember?!) Many resources were too isolated to transport. Africa’s narrow coast and steep escarpment leading to a wide plateau makes inland river trade difficult.

Africa – Independence Movement After World War II, colonies began declaring independence from European masters who were too weak or uninterested to hold them. Many colonial masters simply left their former colonies, without helping them transition to freedom. This led to unstable economic and political systems, and civil conflicts.

Africa – Apartheid in South Africa After South Africa achieved independence from England (1934) government power was divided between whites and Africans. By the late 1940’s, white majority govt. established policy of apartheid, separating whites from blacks and “coloreds” (mixed race people) Blacks and “coloreds” were placed on “homelands” or “settlements” and were not allowed to enter “whites only” areas such as major cities, white-owned farmland, and major resource areas)

Africa – Apartheid in South Africa, II 20% white population owned 80% of S. Af. land Nelson Mandela led the militant opposition group African National Congress, spent 27 yrs. in prison, and became the icon of the anti-apartheid movement Many nations opposed apartheid and tried to change S. Africa’s policy by restricting trade with them (sanctions) Mandela was released in 1990, and worked with South African President F.W. deKlerk to establish a govt. that balanced white-black interests Apartheid ended in 1994, Mandela elected 1 st black President of S. Af.

Africa – Modern Issues, Economic Africa has 15 landlocked countries, more than any other continent. This limits their access to trade ports and global customers. Also, many countries economies rely on only one commodity for trade, making them very dependant on other countries for their remaining needs.

Africa – Brain Drain spirals poverty Low literacy rates and lack of widespread infrastructure leads to lack of education-based jobs Educated Africans that get a degree or special job training can’t find good paying jobs in Africa, so they leave the continent This “brain drain” results in less educated people in the region, which leads to further lack of educational opportunities Most Africans live on less than $2 per day

Africa – Modern Issues, Political European drawn boundaries divided many tribes between multiple countries. This has led to conflicts over who would control the government: Nigeria, Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda Also led to attempted genocide Rwanda (1994) Darfur (Sudan)( ) Refugees (20 million+) create a burden for neighboring countries

Africa has 11% of the world’s population, but: Over 2/3 of the world’s AIDS cases (23 million +) Over 5,500,000 AIDS orphans 90% of world malaria This greatly reduces Africa’s work force and strains medical facilities Women’s rights are nearly non-existent Abuses are wide spread and usually aren’t punished Africa – Modern Issues, Social

Africa – Modern Issues, Natural Habitat Over 2/3 of the population in sub-Saharan Africa live as subsistence farmers. Africa’s climates and lack of irrigation tech. makes crops vulnerable to drought, leading to a growing Sahara and continued famine Over 38 million people live in drought areas.