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Published byRegina Jones Modified over 9 years ago
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Sub-Saharan Africa
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Countries for the Political Map Quiz MaliSomalia NigerMalawi ChadBotswana CameroonZimbabwe SenegalSouth Africa LiberiaLesotho TogoMadagascar Democratic Rep. of the CongoMozambique TanzaniaUganda EthiopiaNigeria Sierra LeoneKenya Angola
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Facts 2 nd largest continent Known as the “Plateau Continent” Most of Africa is covered by a huge plateau Several basins (depressions) lie throughout the plateau
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Important Physical Features 1. Nile River Flows through Egypt; over 4,100 miles long – Numerous cataracts, rapids, & waterfalls makes transportation via rivers difficult 2. Rift Valleys (East Africa) 3. Mount Kilimanjaro 4. Escarpments (Great Escarpment)
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Features Continued At the bottom of rift valleys are clusters of lakes Examples: Lake Tanganyika – World’s largest freshwater lake Lake Victoria – Africa’s largest lake
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Africa’s Resources Mineral resources makes Africa one of the richest continents Examples: gold, platinum, copper, cobalt, phosphates, diamonds
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Oil & Coffee in Africa Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, & Libya – Leading petroleum producers – Produce about 7% of world’s oil Coffee: – 2 nd most profitable commodity – Africa grows 20% of the world’s supply Lumber & chocolate are also major commodities
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Importance of Agriculture Agriculture = single most important economic activity in Africa 66% earn their living from farming – Accounts for 1/3 of Africa's exports
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Climate & Vegetation Majority of Africa is between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn The equator runs through the middle of the continent Africa = warm temperatures
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8 climate regions are found in Africa Which is found the most? – Desert Exs: Sahara, Sahel, Kalahari, and Namib Travel is risky due to EXTREME conditions
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Rainfall? Matter of EXTREMES – Some areas receive too much, while other too little Closer to equator = longer rainy season Closer to desert = longer dry season MOST RAIN: – Rainforest in Central Africa & Africa’s west coast
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Serengeti Plain Grassland area in northern Tanzania – Very dry with few trees – Lots of animal life
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Desertification When the land becomes so dry that it turns into deserts
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Desertification
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Aswan High Dam Built to control cycle of floods and droughts throughout Egypt = regular supply of water for farmers
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Problems with the Aswan High Dam 1. Relocation of people 2. Moving/destruction of ancient Egypt’s treasure (temples/pyramids) 3. Decreased fertility of soil 4. Increased rate of diseases, such as Malaria
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Vocabulary Time!!! Define the following words on the RIGHT side of your notebook; Draw pictures on the LEFT side Rift Valley-Pandemic Basin-Stateless Society Escarpment-Aquifer Serengeti Plain-Bantu Migrations Sahel-Cash Crop Desertification-Commodity Aswan High Dam-Apartheid Silt-Canopy Genocide
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4 Regions 1. East 2. Central 3. Western 4. South
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East Africa’s Aksum Aksum (important East African civilization) – Important trading center; contributed to expansion and power (traded w/Egypt) 6 th Century: Aksum lost many trade partners….empire began to weaken
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European Colonization The Slave Trade * Existed for centuries, Europeans dramatically increased the traffic * Middle Passage- slave trade from Africa to New World ( N. America) * Many died during this trip across the Atlantic
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Scramble for Africa European powers divide Africa All Countries were controlled by Europeans, except Liberia and Ethiopia (independent) – Nations = independence in the mid 1900’s
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Ethiopia Not colonized by Europeans Emperor Menelik II kept the country independent.
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* Political boundaries made by Europeans caused ethnic conflict (2 opposing groups occupying same land) * Left many regions under developed Colonial Legacy
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The Masai of Kenya Ethnic group Found in the grasslands of the rift valley Herd livestock
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West African Empires
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Ethnic Groups Ashanti – Kente cloth weaving
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Bantu Migrations: Central Africa
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South Africa White dominated government enforced the policy of apartheid (strict separation of the races) **Blacks lived in separate areas **No political rights Apartheid ended in 1991
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Mandela In 1994, held first election following policy of universal suffrage Nelson Mandela was elected 1 st black president of South Africa
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