Sub-Saharan Africa Flashcards
Berlin Conference
A meeting to divide Africa among the European colonial powers
Conflict Diamonds
Diamonds whose profits from selling lead to the purchase of weapons used in wars and local conflicts
Desertification
Arid and semiarid lands become degraded and less productive and desertlike conditions result
Failed State
A state where the government is too weak to control its territory, can’t provide public services, etc.
Fair Trade
Ensuring that producers are paid a reasonable wage and that crops are produced sustainably
Green Belt Movement
A social movement centered around planting and preserving trees
Internally Displaced Person (IDP)
People who are uprooted but stay in their home country
Land Grabs
Large scale land purchases
Pastoralism
A way of life that depends on livestock
Rift Valley
Large and long depression formed by steep walls formed by the downward displacement of a block of the earths surface between tectonic faults
Savanna
Grasslands with extensive grazing areas, open stands of trees interspersed with shrubs and grasses
Sahel
Southern border of the Savana Desert
Why is Sub-Saharan Africa particularly vulnerable to Climate Change?
Poverty
Dependence on agriculture
Lack of safe water
What impacts could climate change have on the region?
Less food and water
Larger range of insects and diseases
What natural resources are important in sub-saharan Africa?
Africa’s rivers, deltas, inland wetlands, and mineral resources
Explain the main causes of low agricultural production in Sub-
Saharan Africa and describe the methods used to adapt to these conditions.
Wildlife poaching, pests, disease, etc. Solutions include... efforts to eradicate and cure disease Establishing parks and conservation programs etc.
How has human activity impacted the wildlife of sub-saharan Africa?
Population of wildlife has been decimated via hunting (pleasure, encroachment, etc.)
What strategies have been used to protect wildlife?
Protected areas like animal parks
What are the predominant religions of sub-saharan Africa?
Christianity and Islam
What are the predominant languages of sub-saharan Africa?
Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Swahili, and Zulu
How has the loss of forests in sub-saharan Africa disproportionately affected women?
Harder to get wood, water, and food
What is the legacy of European colonialism in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Establishment of political boundaries that disregarded traditional boundaries, introduction of European languages, etc.
Why has the World Bank identified Sub-Saharan Africa as “the most important development challenge of the 21st century?”
Because they are so dependent on foreign aid and have a very low GPI
More than 3/4 of Africa’s population work ?
In the informal economy
What were the Millennium Development Goals and how did they impact Sub-Saharan Africa?
Targets established by the United Nations that aim to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. None of these targets have been met although there have been improvements
Describe the current political issues of Somalia, Nigeria, and South Sudan
Somalia is a failed state, they are in a constant state of civil war, and have pirates
Nigeria’s government has had issues with ethnic people protesting
South Sudan’s government has had issues with rebel groups over control of the country
Describe the status/roles of women in sub-saharan africa
Women have a status under men, but play a crucial role in getting food, water, wood, etc.
Describe the factors affecting population growth rates in Sub-Saharan Africa
Lack of contraception
Financial security children provide
Status of women
What are the reasons for large number of refugees from/in sub-saharan africa?
Armed conflicts
Human rights violations
Drought
What challenges are associated with sub-saharan african refugees?
Lack of food/water/housing
Disease
Consider the location of the Congo Rainforest and the Kalahari Desert? What atmospheric circulation systems are associated with these regions?
Subtropical high
What is the predominant land use of sub-Saharan Africa?
Agriculture
Describe the distribution of gold resources in Sub-Saharan Africa
Mostly in Southern and West Africa
How are the population characteristics of Southern African different from North Africa?
South Africa is more populous and diverse then North Africa
How did the Europeans contribute to ethnic tensions that exist in Africa today?
They drew boundaries that put rival ethnic groups in the same country
Approximately ? of the world’s refugees are African
1/3
Into what body of water does the Congo River flow?
Atlantic Ocean
Despite the continent’s mineral wealth, most Africans live in poverty. Why?
Most mining companies are foreign-owned and employ few Africans
What physical feature, located in East Africa, is located along a divergent plate boundary?
Great Rift Valley
Herders of Namibia, threatened by war and drought, now profit from ?
Ecotourism
What is the leading cause of death in Africa? What can be done to control the disease?
AIDS
Education on AIDS and affordable treatment
