Chapter 21 blog notes
- 3. Landforms & ClimateVariety of climates, but not a variety of landformsPlains & HighlandsPlains cover much of W. AfricaCoastal plain: home to citiesInterior plains: where few crops & animals are raisedPlains are vast w/ a few highland areasSW has plateaus & cliffsTibesti Mt. in NE
- 4. The Niger RiverMost important in West AfricaStarts 150 miles from Atlantic Ocean & flows east & southward for 2,600 milesBrings life-giving water to West AfricaPeople farm along its banks or fish in its watersImportant transportation routeDivides into network of channels, swamps, & lakes in areas (inland delta)
- 5. Climate & VegetationRegion’s climates are zonal4 ZonesThe Sahara: largest desert; northernmost parts of region; few to no peopleSteppe Climate: the Sahel (strip of land that divides the desert from wetter areas) an area of dry grasslands; rain fall varies; overgrazing by animals, cutting of trees for firewood, & winds blowing away fertile soil causing death to many people & animalsThe Savanna: good soil, thick grass, & scattered tall trees; dangerous tsetse fly lives here, caused sleeping sickness & deathThe Coast & Forest: many of largest cities are here, wet, humid climate; plentiful rain supports rain forests; trees have been cut to back way for expanding populations; environmental damage is a serious problem
- 6. ResourcesVariety of resourcesAgricultural products, oil, and mineralsAgricultureClimate of region helps with growing cropsMineral riches: diamonds, gold, iron ore, & manganese, & bauxiteNigeria is a major exporter of oil95% of exports
- 7. Section 2History & Culture
- 8. West Africa’s HistoryMuch of early history based on archaeology & oral history (spoken information passed down from person to person through generations
- 9. Great KingdomsArtifacts suggest earliest trading towns developed into great kingdomsEarliest kingdom of Ghana became rich and powerful by about A.D. 800Empire of Mali replace GhanaMansa Musa famous kingUsed wealth from trade to support artists and scholarsSonghai kingdom replaced the Mali kingdomTimbuktu became a cultural centerUniversities, mosques, & schoolsW. African trade cities faded when Sahara trade decreasedEuropeans began sailing along the west coast of Africa
- 10. The Slave Trade1440s Portuguese explorers began sailing along the west coast of AfricaEuropeans & Africans profited from trade with each other for awhile1600s the demand for labor in Europe’s American colonies changed everythingEnslaved Africans were sold to colonistsIt was very profitable for tradersSlave trade devastated West African communitiesFamilies were broken upMany died on the voyage to AmericaMost who survived were sent to the West Indies or BrazilEnded in 1800s; millions of African had been forced from their homes
- 11. Colonial Era & Independence1800s many European countries competed for colonies in West AfricaFrance claimed most the northwest, Britain, Germany, & Portugal seized the restOnly tiny Liberia remained independentFounded in 1820s by Americans as a home for free slaves; Sierra Leone (British colony) also became a home for freed slavesSome Europeans moved to West Africa to run the coloniesThey built roads, bridges, & railroadsTeachers & missionaries set up Christian churches and schoolsAfter WWII Africans worked for independenceMost gained it during the 1950s & 1960sPortugal gave up their colonies in 1974
- 12. CultureCulture reflects traditional African cultures, European culture, & IslamPeople & Languages100s of different ethnic groupsSome still live in traditional villagesOthers mix in region’s citiesColonial political borders separated ethnic groupsMore loyal to ethnic group than countryFrench, English, or Portuguese are universal languages
- 13. ReligionMany forms existTraditional AfricansAnimism: belief that bodies of water, animals, trees, & other natural objects have spiritsMost commonIslam & Christianity
- 14. Clothing, Families, & HomesClothing:Mix of traditional & modernWestern-style; traditional robes, skirts, blousesHomes:Small and simpleIn Sahel they are circular straw or mud hutsFamiliesExtended families live close together
- 15. ChallengesBorders of West Africa ignored human geographyPeople had stronger ties to their ethnic group than to their new countryFew people were trained to run new governmentsDictators took control in many countriesStill trouble region todayBirthrates are high in West AfricaMore and more people most make a living from the small amount of fertile landMany are moving to already crowded cities, even though jobs are fewCountries also must find ways to educate more of their people, but many families can not afford to send their children to school
- 16. Section 3West Africa Today
- 17. Nigeria2nd largest country in W. AfricaAfrica’s largest populationOn e of the strongest economiesPeople & Gov’tMany ethnic groupsConflict has occurred (In 1960s Igbo tried to secede & bloody civil war followed)Capital was chosen in low population density area to help avoid conflictsDemocratic gov’t today
- 18. Nigeria EconomyRich natural resourcesOil accounts for 95% of export earningsGood roads railroads have been builtRich in resources but most people are poorCauses:High birthrate (can not produce enough food for population)History of bad gov’t (corrupt official have enriched themselves)
- 19. Senegal & GambiaOdd borders of countries created by French & BritishGambiaLarger & richerSimilarities:Peanuts are major cropsTourism is importantSpeak WolofGriots (story tellers) are important
- 20. Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Cape VerdeGuinea & Guinea-Bissau are poor countriesGuinea natural resource: BauxiteG-B: undeveloped mineral resourcesCape VerdeVolcanic islands in AtlanticHas most stable democratic gov’tTourism forms main part of economy
- 21. Liberia & Sierra LeoneLiberiaOldest republicHome to freed slaves in 1820sFreed slaves clashed w/ Africans already living there; led to civil war which ended in 2003Sierra LeoneCivil war from 1991-2002Wrecked economy, killed thousands, & forced millions from their homesTodayTrying to rebuildNatural resources could help build up economiesRubber, iron ore, & diamonds
- 22. Ghana & Cote d’lvoireGhana:Named after African kingdomCote d’lvoire:Former French colony, name mean “Ivory coast”Largest Christian church building in AfricaRich natural resourcesGold, timber, cacao, & coffeeEconomy hurt by civil war
- 23. Togo & BeninUnstable gov’tPeriods of military ruleFragile economies & violent politicsPoor countriesPeople depend on farming & herdingPalm products, cacao, & coffee are main crops
- 24. Mauritania, Niger, & ChadMauritaniaOnce nomadic herdersExpand desert has moved herders into citiesVery poor peopleFarming & fishing are importantCorrupt gov’t & ethnic tensions between blacks & Arabs add to troublesNiger3% of land good for farmingFarmers grow staple food crops (millet & sorghum)Crops destroyed by locusts & drought in 2000sCaused widespread famine; international groups supplied aidChadLand for farmingLake Chad once had healthy fishing industry & supplied waterDrought has caused evaporationFaced civil wars in 1990sOil recently discovered in 2004
- 26. Mali & Burkina FasoMali40% covered by SaharaAmong world’s poorest countriesSome farmland along Niger RiverPeople fish or farmCotton & gold are main exportsFairly stable democratic gov’t has begun economic reformTourism is importantBurkina FasoPoor countryThin soil & few mineralsFew trees remainJobs in cities are scarceMen often try to find work in other countriesWhen unrest disrupts work opportunities the economy suffers