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CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 26. WEST & CENTRAL AFRICA. THE SAHEL. A. THE SAHEL. Regions south of the Sahara Jungle forest to the south Developing into… Savanna grasslands in the north For centuries this was an important cross-roads for many countries. B. SAHARA DESERT.

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CHAPTER 26

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  1. CHAPTER 26 WEST & CENTRAL AFRICA

  2. THE SAHEL

  3. A. THE SAHEL • Regions south of the Sahara • Jungle forest to the south • Developing into… • Savanna grasslands in the north • For centuries this was an important cross-roads for many countries.

  4. B. SAHARA DESERT • The Sahara was not always a desert. • A few thousand years ago people hunted & fished here. • Over time, the climate grew drier.

  5. B. SAHARA DESERT • As the desert spread, people moved. • Some moved northnear the Mediterranean. • Some moved south into the Sahel.

  6. B. SAHARA DESERT • Trade linked the empires • These two groups never lost contact with each other • Caravans traveled over the desert bringing: √Gold√Salt√ Ivory √ Slaves • Sahel trade-routes became a “bridge” between north & south

  7. B. SAHARA DESERT • Muslim Invaders (Islam) introduced Camels into the Sahara. • Camels are “fattened” for months on the grasses of the Maghreb (north) or the Sahel (south).

  8. B. SAHARA DESERT • This trade also spread Islamfrom North Africa to WestAfrica.

  9. B. SAHARA DESERT • Travel was so difficultthat “runners” were sent ahead to oases to bring water back to the caravan. • Caravans could not carry enough water.

  10. C. GOLD & SALT • West African countries have very rich golddeposits, but need salt. • Northern countries have rich Salt mines, but wants gold. • This need and want let to profit motivation:$$$

  11. C. GOLD & SALT • Trade between the Mediterranean-Coast and Western Africa increased into the 16th century. • Once Europe had established trading-ports in western Africa, the dangerous desert trip wasno longer necessary.

  12. D. Trade & Enslavement • During the 1500s, Europeans traded guns and manufactured items for: • Gold • Ivory • Slaves • Cross-desert trade ended

  13. THE PRESENT • Many live by subsistence farming • Shifting Agriculture: • Farmers clear the trees & grasses (deforestation) • This location might be used for one or two years • After the soil loses all the nutrients, the farmers move on • This has caused desertification. • Desertification: the land turns to desert

  14. THE PRESENT • Herding • Camels, sheep and cattle • Grasslands provide forage • Forage:food for grazing animals • Overgrazing has also caused desertification • During droughts, desertification increases • Many people moved into refugee camps

  15. Jungle

  16. COASTAL COUNTRIES • Location leads to trade • Two advantages: • Wetter climate • Access to the sea • Resource rich: • Gold • Ivory • Slaves • Made trade across the Sahara less important…Why?

  17. COASTAL COUNTRIES • Unequal trade: • Imports are greater than exports • Why is this important? • This has left many African countries in debt • It costs these countries over $9 billion dollars every year just to pay the interest

  18. STRUGGLES FOR POWER • Similar to Latin-America, many African countries: • Revolutions • Civil wars • Coup: Sudden political takeover • Usually involves the military

  19. LIBERIA

  20. LIBERIA

  21. THE AGONY OF LIBERIA • Foundedin 1822 by freed American slaves • Adopted an American-style government • In 1980, the military took over • This developed into a civil-war • 200,000 killed • Over 1,000,000 homeless • Aid-shipments were stolen by soldiers

  22. THE AGONY OF LIBERIA • War ended in 1996 • New president was as bad as the others • By 2003, fighting was in full force • Rebels control most of the country • Neighboring countries came as peacekeepers • Restoring peace will be hard

  23. TRADITIONAL ROLES • Role of women is changing: • Grow crops to feed their families • Established cooperatives • Cooperative: People cooperate in business • Control the markets where food is bought and sold • Major owners of small business

  24. TRADITIONAL BELIEFS • Many worship their dead parents and grandparents • Called Ancestor worship • Also worship the “spirit” contained within the sky, rivers, trees, etc. • Called Animism • Social customs, beliefs and economic systems lead to large families • Double the world’s birth-rate

  25. NIGERIA

  26. NIGERIA

  27. NIGERIA • Regions: • Twice as large as California • Swamps in the south • Develop into tropical jungle • Then savanna grasslandsand • Desert in the extreme north

  28. NIGERIA • Settlement: • More powerful tribes controlled the best land areas • English is the official language • In the jungle areas more than 180 other languages are spoken

  29. NIGERIA • Population & Movement • 137 million people • Workers migrate from one area to another looking for work • People often fight over differences in religion & politics • Religions: • 50% Muslim • 40% Christian • 10% Other

  30. NIGERIA • When northern Nigeria changed to Islamic law: • Muslims moved north • Christians moved south • Military Government • Problems began when oil-prices fell, reducing income • As the economy broke down, the military staged a coup

  31. NIGERIA • Military government borrowed money from The United-Nations: • World Bank • International Monetary Fund (I.M.F.)

  32. NIGERIA • Under U.N. supervision, Nigeria began to make changes: • Sold government-run businesses to private owners • Fired many government workers • “Froze” prices and wages • Many people were unhappy with these changes, and protested

  33. NIGERIA • A new group of military leaders took power: • Arrested/killed anyone in political opposition • Refused to repay the money Nigeria had borrowed • Nigeria is left with unhappy people living in a poor country

  34. CENTRAL AFRICA

  35. CENTRAL AFRICA • Region built by movement: • The big river, Congo & its tributaries: • Total 9,000 mostly navigable miles • Living-Highway providing, food, water and transport

  36. CENTRAL AFRICA • Boats travel from areas deep within the country to Kinshasa • However, below Kinshasa are waterfalls and rapids • Goods are carried overland by railroads to costal port- cities

  37. CENTRAL AFRICA • Movement: • In the center of this region lies dark and forbidding jungles • These areas are almost impossible to travel into • Around the rainforest are vast areas of savanna grasslands • Grasslands are easy to cross

  38. CENTRAL AFRICA • Urbanization: • Over the past 50 years, millions have moved into cities • Some live wealthy lives after working for years in profitable businesses • Others attempt subsistence-farming…barely hanging onto life

  39. Democratic Republic of Congo • A Troubled Giant: D.R.C. • History is marked by civil-war and coups • After gaining independence from Belgium, a 4-year civil-war broke out • Some groups hired mercenaries to fight • Mercenaries: Paid, hired soldiers

  40. Democratic Republic of Congo • Eventually, a military-dictator named General Mobutu came to power • The economy improved little, and eventually began to fail • Soon the country was in debt for billions of dollars • But, somehow General Mobutu increased his wealth by billions

  41. Democratic Republic of Congo • The country’s economy was in ruins • People began to barter when the money became worthless • Barter: Trading goods for other goods without money • Government changed hands again in 1997 and 2004 • The country is still in great economic/political trouble

  42. Reach For A Star Production John P. Lukewww.mrluke.net

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