Transcript World Geography Today Chapter 22

World Geography Today
Chapter 22
West and Central Africa
Preview
Section 1: Natural Environments
Section 2: History and Culture
Section 3: The Region Today
Chapter Wrap-Up
World Geography Today
Chapter 22
Section 1: Natural Environments
Read to Discover
• What are West and Central Africa’s main
landforms and rivers?
• Which climates and biomes are found here?
• What are some of the region’s important
resources?
World Geography Today
Chapter 22
Section 1: Natural Environments
West and Central Africa
Landforms
and Rivers
Climates and
Vegetation
Plains and low hills
Some highland areas
Broad depressions
El Djouf
Congo River
Niger River
Zonal climate,
mostly tropical
Warm throughout
the year
Arid/semiarid to
north
Tropical wet and dry
to south
Natural
Resources
Tropical timber
Good soils
Oil, particularly in Nigeria
Minerals in the
Democratic Republic of
the Congo
Cacao in Côte d’Ivoire
Coconuts and
peanuts
World Geography Today
Chapter 22
Section 1: Natural Environments
Landforms and Rivers
• Plains and low hills; a few highlands
• Broad depressions—El Djouf (desert), Lake
Chad, Congo Basin
• Key rivers—Niger and Congo
• Coastal plain, with few natural harbors and large
sandbars
World Geography Today
Chapter 22
Section 1: Natural Environments
Climates and Biomes
• All within the tropics; zonal climate bands run east-west
• Arid—Northern zone; Sahara; Sahel semiarid region;
scattered trees, shrubs, grasses
• Tropical wet and dry—South of Sahel; open grasslands;
once home to many large animals (zebras, elephants,
giraffes), now much of it is farmland
• Tropical humid—Near equator; dense rainforest; many
birds, insects, primates
World Geography Today
Chapter 22
Section 1: Natural Environments
Key Resources
• Tropical timber, good soils
• Oil—Nigeria is Africa’s leading producer
• Minerals—Copper, diamonds, cobalt in
Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Cacao—World’s main source
• Other crops—Coffee, coconuts, peanuts
World Geography Today
Chapter 22
Section 2: History and Culture
Read to Discover
• What are the main eras in the history of
West and Central Africa?
• What are some features of this region’s
cultures?
World Geography Today
Chapter 22
Section 2: History and Culture
Question
What are the important events and eras in
the history of West and Central Africa?
World Geography Today
Chapter 22
Section 2: History and Culture
Early History
Great kingdoms,
including Ghana
and Mali, ruled
the region.
Tombouctou
served as a
trade and
education
center.
European
Contact
Explorers
reached area by
late 1400s.
Slave trade of
1500s to 1800s
brought at least
10 million
Africans to
Americas.
Colonial Era
European
countries
wanted African
resources.
Many Africans
began to work
for wages.
Postcolonial
Era
All of West and
Central Africa
was independent
by 1976.
Some countries
enjoy modern
technology but
also face many
challenges.
World Geography Today
Chapter 22
Section 2: History and Culture
Historical Eras
• Precolonial—This era saw the rise of great empires,
including Ghana and Mali, along with smaller groups of
forest peoples. European contact by explorers began in the
late 1400s and changed focus with the slave trade.
• Colonial—European powers took control of the region,
establishing plantations, mines, and coastal cities.
• Postcolonial—Ghana was the first to win independence in
1957; others followed. Colonialism created dependence on
commodity exports and political and economic problems.
World Geography Today
Chapter 22
Section 2: History and Culture
Cultural Features
• Great diversity—Reflecting African, Muslim, European influences
• Most languages in Niger-Congo family; Arabic and European
languages also used
• Mainly rural residents, but urban populations growing rapidly
• Religions—Islam in the Sahel; Christians to the south; African spirit
religions
• Low literacy rates, high poverty
• Staple crops—Cassava, corn, yams, millet, sorghum
• Societies based on extended families
World Geography Today
Chapter 22
Section 3: The Region Today
Read to Discover
• How economically developed are West and
Central African countries?
• What major challenges do the countries
face today?
World Geography Today
Chapter 22
Section 3: The Region Today
Question
To what extent are West and Central African
countries economically developed?
World Geography Today
Chapter 22
Section 3: The Region Today
Economic Development of
West and Central Africa
Subsistence Activities
• Sahel grasslands used for
herding
• Many crops planted in
tropical rain forest
• Many crops planted in one
field
Market Activities
• Primary goods exported
• Heavy dependence on a
few main exports
• Small amount of
manufacturing
• Plantation agriculture,
ranching
World Geography Today
Chapter 22
Section 3: The Region Today
Level of Development
• Developing countries—Poverty, low levels of
education, shorter lifespans
• Dual economies—For export market and local market
• Plantation agriculture and ranches hurt subsistence
farming and grazing
• Dependence on export of a few key primary products
World Geography Today
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Section 3: The Region Today
Challenges
• Economic development
• Population growth—Crowding, hunger
• Political problems—War and conflict
• Environmental destruction—Deforestation,
species extinction, desertification
• Disease—Malaria, HIV
World Geography Today
Chapter 22
Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
1. In which latitudes are the countries of West and
Central Africa located? How does this affect the
region’s climates?
2. What is the environment of the Sahel like?
3. How did Islam spread into West and Central Africa?
4. In which part of West and Central Africa is Arabic
spoken?
5. How has rapid population growth affected cities in
West and Central Africa?