WORLD GEOGRAPHY
CHAPTERS 22-24
“SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA”

I. MAPS REFLECT CHANGES OVER TIME: Boundaries - Africa (1914, 1990s).

II. CLIMATES AND VEGETATION.

III. HUMAN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT: Environmental changes - desertification.

IV. REGIONS MAY BE DEFINED BY PHYSICAL OR CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS.
A. Physical region: Sahara Desert
B. Cultural region
1. Religion: Islam
2. Political: African Union

V. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES CAN LINK OR DIVIDE REGIONS: Ethnic heritage - Rwanda and Burundi (Hutus and Tutsis).

VI. ELEMENTS OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, SUCH AS MAJOR BODIES OF WATER AND
MOUNTAINS, INFLUENCE THE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF REGIONS: Zambezi River - water power.

VII. COUNTRIES.
A. GDP: South Africa, Gabon, & Botswana
B. Land size: Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Chad, Mozambique, & Madagascar
C. Population: Nigeria, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, & Kenya

WORLD GEOGRAPHY CHS. 22-24 (CONT.) PAGE 2

VIII. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.
A. Continent composed of a huge plateau, escarpments
B. River transportation impeded by waterfalls & rapids
C. Location of equator through middle of region; similar climate patterns north & south of equator
D. Smooth coastline; few harbors
E. Large number of landlocked states
F. Storehouse of mineral wealth
G. Limited fertility of rain forest soils
H. Kalahari and Namib Deserts
I. Bodies of water: Nile River, Zambezi River, Niger River, Congo River, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Lake Victoria, & Lake Tanganyika
J. Nature preserves and national parks

IX. ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.
A. Large percentage of population engaged in agriculture (primary activity)
B. Subsistence agriculture
C. Nomadic herding
D. Slash and burn agriculture
E. Plantation agriculture
F. Cash crops and food crops
G. Poorly developed infrastructure
H. Large number of landlocked states
I. Substantial mineral wealth (diamonds, gold, alloys)
J. Major exporters of raw materials
K. Wide range of per capita income
L. Productivity that lags behind population growth
M. Desertification

WORLD GEOGRAPHY CHS. 22-24 (CONT.) PAGE 3

N. Demographics typical of developing countries: 1. Low per capita GDP
2. Low life expectancy
3. High population growth rate
4. High infant mortality
5. Large % of population under the age of 15
6. Low literacy rates

X. CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS.
A. Uneven population distribution
B. Many ethnic groups - languages, customs
C. Large numbers of refugees
D. Few cities with populations over one million
E. Knowledge of history through oral tradition
F. Country names related to historical empires - Mali, Ghana, Zimbabwe
G. Diversity of Africans reflected in cultural heritage: masks, sculpture, dance, music, colorful dress, and jewelry
H. Cities as centers of culture and trade
1. Lagos, Nigeria
2. Dakar, Senegal
3. Johannesburg, South Africa
I. Cultural landscape: markets, churches, mosques and minarets, villages, modern city cores

XI. NO COUNTRY HAS ALL THE RESOURCES IT NEEDS TO SURVIVE AND GROW: Cote d’Ivoire - limited natural resources, cash crops in exchange for manufactured goods

XII. DIVISIONS ARE REGIONS OF EARTH’S SURFACE OVER WHICH GROUPS OF PEOPLE ESTABLISH SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, & POLITICAL CONTROL: Alliances - economic and political (African Union).

WORLD GEOGRAPHY CHS. 22-24 (CONT.) PAGE 4

XIII. SPATIAL DIVISIONS MAY GENERATE CONFLICT.
A. Cultural differences (language, religion): Sudan
B. Ethnic differences: Rwanda and Burundi

XIV. PATTERNS OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT OCCUR ACCORDING TO SITE AND SITUATION.
A. Confluence site: Khartoum, Sudan
B. Trans-Sahara trade route: Timbuktu, Mali
C. Supply station for ships: Capetown, South Africa