Chapter 22 Central Africa

7th Grade Social Studies

Section 1: Physical Geography

Congo Basin Western Rift Valley Congo River Zambezi River

Why study Central Africa?

Events in the region have affected U.S. foreign policy in recent decades.

The region contains rich deposits of minerals that are useful to people throughout the world.

Central Africa is home to many exotic plant and animal species not found elsewhere in the world.

The tropical rain forest often plays a significant role in influencing the world’s climate.

Cameroon is not in southern central Africa.

Main Ideas

The Congo Basin, volcanic mountains, edge of Western Rift Valley, Congo and Zambezi River are the major landforms and rivers of the region.

Few plants and animals live on the floor of the tropical rain forest because sunlight does not get through the canopy.

Main Idea

Most Central African countries have a traditional economy.

The majority of people who live in the southern part of central Africa live in rural areas, grow crops and herd goats and cattle.

Vocabulary

Basins- Regions surrounded by mountains or other higher land

Canopy- The uppermost layer of a forest’s trees where limbs spread out and block out sunlight

Copper belt- A major copper-mining region of central Africa

Periodic markets- Open-air trading markets in central Africa

SECTION 1

Physical Geography

Plantstropical rain forest, grasslands, trees,

shrubs

Major Climateshumid tropical, tropical

savanna, highland, steppe, desert

LandformsCongo Basin,

volcanic mountains in northwestern Cameroon,

highest mountains on edge of Western

Rift Valley

Resourcesrivers, oil, natural gas,

coal, copper, uranium, tin, zinc, diamonds, gold,

cobalt

Animalsantelope, hyenas, elephants, okapis,

birds, monkeys, bats, snakes

Cropscoffee, bananas,

corn

Rivers and Lakes

Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi, Congo River,

Zambezi River

Central Africa

Section 2: History and Culture

Vocabulary

Ivory- A cream-colored material that comes from elephant tusks and is used in making fine jewelry and handicrafts

Dialect- A variation of a language

Main Ideas

Many languages spoken in central Africa are related to languages spread by Bantu speakers long ago.

The major language of Malawi and Zambia is English.

Some of the causes of wars in central Africa include fight for independence, ethnic troubles, and Cold War rivalries.

Main Idea

Some popular arts of the region include makossa music, soukous music, carved masks, sculpture, and cotton gowns.

SECTION 2

History and Culture

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Step 6:

Step 7:

Step 8:

Step 9:

West Africans moved into central Africa 2,000 years ago.

Bantu-speaking kingdoms were set up and began trading with western and eastern Africa.

Early African kingdoms used slaves.

Europeans arrived and traded for slaves.

European countries ignored ethnic groups when dividing Africa into colonies.

African colonies gained independence.

Ethnic differences caused problems.

The United States and Soviet Union supported African allies in wars.

Wars prevented development of natural resources and cooperation to prevent diseases.

Major Steps in Central Africa’s History

Section 3: The Democratic Republic of the Congo

Vocabulary Civil war- A conflict between two or

more groups within a country

Main Ideas

Belgium ruled what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a colony until 1960.

The capital of the Republic of Congo is Brazzaville.

The problems faced by the country included few professionals, ethnic fighting, and poverty.

SECTION 3

Leopold II treated people harshly.

Belgian government took control.

Few professionals, many problems

Mobutu Sese Seko in power

international criticism

Belgians moved there for business.

Country stayed very poor.

economic problems, corruption

The Democratic Republic of the Congo

Portuguese contact Slave trade weakened kingdoms.

Civil war erupted. New government took over.

Congo gained independence in 1960. Many Belgian professionals left.

History of the Democratic Republic of the CongoHistory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geography of the World – Africa (18:00)

• Central African leaders were known to develop cankles after several hours of skiing.

Section 4: The Other Central African Countries

Vocabulary Exclave- A part of a country that is

separated by territory of other countries

Main Ideas

Gabon has the strongest economy in central Africa.

Zambia’s main income is from copper mining.

Oil is the most important resource of many countries in the region. Angola has a lot of oil.

Main Idea

Angola has had civil war since it won its independence.

SECTION 4The Other Central African Countries

economic growth

slowed by being

landlocked

strongest economy

center of the

region’s shipping

largest population

gained indepen-

dence from Spain in

1968

economy weakened

by civil war

strong copper

industry

economy based on farming

smallest population

Central African

Republic

Gabon

Angola Zambia Malawi

Republic of the Congo

CameroonEquatorial

Guinea

São Tomé and

Príncipe

Central Africa’s People and EconomiesCentral Africa’s People and Economies

Chapter Wrap-Up

1. What two river systems are most important in central Africa?

2. How were the Bantu languages introduced to central Africa?

3. What religions are practiced by people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

4. What European countries once colonized central Africa?

5. How important has oil been to Gabon’s economy?

1. What two river systems are most important in central Africa?

2. How were the Bantu languages introduced to central Africa?

3. What religions are practiced by people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

4. What European countries once colonized central Africa?

5. How important has oil been to Gabon’s economy?

CHAPTER 22

Zambia (20:00)

Heart of Darkness (24:00)