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Chapter 24
Southern Africa
Section 1
Physical Geography
Physical Features
• Amazing scenery• Grassy plains, steamy swamps, mighty
rivers, rocky waterfalls, & steep mts. and plateaus
Plateaus & Mountains
• Most of land lies on large plateau• Land rises sharply from narrow coastal
plain• Escarpment: the steep face at the edge of
a plateau or other raised area• Drakensberg Mt. range make up
eastern escarpment• Inyanga Mts. separate Zimbabwe &
Mozambique
Plains & Rivers• Plains:
• Grassy & home to lions, leopards, elephants, baboons, & antelope
• Rivers:• Okavango River
• Never reaches the ocean; forms inland delta that is home to crocodiles, zebras, hippos, & other animals
• Orange River• Passes through Augrabies Falls
• 19 separate waterfalls• Limpopo River:
• Flows into Indian Ocean• Waterfalls & other obstacles block ships• Allow irrigation for farmland
Climate & Vegetation
• Climate varies from east to west• East coast:
• Wet & rainy• West:
• Very dry• Deserts w/ semiarid & steppe climates
Savanna & Deserts
• Savanna• Cover much of South Africa• Shrubs & short trees• Grassy plains (veld)
• Namib Desert• Some parts get ½ inch of rainfall per
year• Plants get water from dew & fog
• Kalahari Desert• Northern part gets rain to support
grasses & trees• Mostly covered with scattered shrubs
Tropical Forests
• Madagascar• Lush vegetation & tropical forests• Species of animals only found here
• 50 species of lemurs
Resources
• Rich in natural resources• Forests provide timber• Rivers supply hydroelectricity and
irrigation• Minerals
• Most valuable• Gold, diamond, coal, platinum,
copper, uranium, & iron ore• Mines are good to the economy, but
can be damaging to the environment
Southern Africa’s History & Culture
Section 2
Early History
• Landscape & climate have influenced history• Monsoon winds blow different directions
depending on time of year• Ancient ships used these winds to
make regular trading voyages between Africa & Asia
The Khoisan
• 18,000 B.C. The Khoisan hunter-gatherers lived in the region.• Left paintings of people & animals on
rock surfaces• Some descendants live today &
Khoisan language is used (unusual click sounds)
• Bantu Migrations• 1,500–2,000 years ago Bantu
migrations spread from central Africa.• Today there are more than 200 Bantu
languages• Early Bantu people introduced the use
of iron to make tools & cattle herding
Shona & Swahili
• A.D. 1000 Bantu group Shona built an empire• Farmed, raised cattle, & traded gold• Constructed stone-walled towns called
zimbabwe• Traded with Swahili speaking people
• Adopted Islam and other Arab customs by A.D. 1100s
• Sailors & traders• Also traded in Asia
Madagascar
• 1st settlers came from Asia, A.D. 700• Culture shows influence from both Africa &
Asia• Malagasy is the official language, & it is
related to languages spoken in Indonesia• Many root words from the Bantu
language
Mozambique
• 1500s Portugese set up forts in Mozambique• Hoped to take over gold trade
• Established large estates along the Zambezi River & used slaves
• 1700s & 1800s became an important part of the slave trade
• Slaves were captured & sent as slaves to Brazil & other parts of the world
Dutch, British, & Portuguese
• Cape of Good Hope• Lacked gold & copper, but had Mediterranean
climate & no mosquitoes• 1652 Dutch set up trade stations near the Cape
• Became know as Cape Town• Provided supplies for ships• Slaves brought in to work
• Afrikaners & Afrikaans• new languages developed in Cape Town• Afrikaners = white descendents of the original
colonists• Colureds = descendents from Malays, Khoisan,
or a mixture of these with Europeans
British Colony• Afrikaner frontier farmers called Boers spread out
from the original colony• 1800s British took over the Cape• Boers resisted British colonial government
• Many moved farther east & north• Movement called the Great Trek
• Bantu speaking Zulu became a powerful fighting force• Conquered surrounding African peoples, creating
their own empire• Zulu & Boers clashed at the time when Boers
moved into their territory• Zulu challenged by the British & defeated after a
series of battles
Changing Trade Patterns
• British banned slavery in empire in 1833• Angola & Mozambique remained main
Portuguese slave markets• Late 1800s slave trade ended• Focus moved to ivory
• Elephant populations were wiped out in some parts of Africa
• Then to diamonds & gold
Apartheid
• Dividing people into 4 groups based off of race• White, blacks, Coloureds, & Asians• Each group given rural “homeland”
• Not good for farming, mining, or did not have natural resources
• Blacks: had bad housing, healthcare, & schools• Whites: had best stuff• Coloureds: ok, better than blacks
• Townships:• Where blacks lived• Overcrowded clusters of tiny home
• Blacks worked in white industries, mines, farmers, & shops
Independence
• Independence came peaceful for some, but most often resulted after fighting
Culture
• Diverse culture created• Both European & African influences
• 100s of different ethnic groups
Language
• Many different languages• Related to Khoisan or Bantu
• Khoisan: series of click sounds; live in remote areas of Botswana and Namibia
• Bantu: 200 languages; 11 are official languages of South Africa
• European languages are spoken as well
Religion
• Europeans brought Christianity• Traditional African religions
• Ancestors & spirits of dead have divine powers
• Mix of Christianity & traditional African religion
Celebrations and Art
• Day of independence celebrated • Christian holidays are important• Many cultures reflected in art
• Ethnic designs in clothing, lamps, linens, etc.
Diamonds, Gold, & Colonies
• 1860s diamonds were discovered• 1886 gold was discovered in Transvaal, a
Boers controlled area• Thousands of British & others came
• Railroads were built to connect the interior with the coast
• As the British moved north the Boers moved north into Botswana
• Botswana rulers asked the British for protection from the Boers• 1885 Botswana came under British
control• Southern Africa became divided between
British, Germans
South Africa
• 1899 tensions over land & mineral wealth led to war between the Boers & British
• Usually out numbered Boers held off British armies for three years
• 1920 following the defeat of Germany in WWI Namibia was placed under South Africa’s control
Section 3
South Africa Today
South Africa
• Stable gov’t & strong economy
• New rights & freedoms
• Resolving problems from the past
• Still many challenges
End of Apartheid
• Has been biggest challenge• People around the world objected to apartheid
laws• Sanctions were imposed on South Africa
• Banned trade, refused to invest money, scientific & sports organization excluded South Africans in meetings & competitions
• Isolated South Africa• Protest within increased
• African National Congress (ANC) outlawed• Formed to protect the rights of black South
Africans; members of ANC were jailed or forced to leave the country
• Protests continued• 1980s
• South Africa began to move away from apartheid system
• 1990• Political prisoners released (i.e.: Nelson
Mandela)• Mandela became president in 1994
• Today• All races have equal rights• Schools, universities, hospitals, &
transportation open to all• Economic equality is moving slower
Government & Economy• Positioned to create better future for country• Republic & elected president• Constitution emphasizes equality & human rights• Government is trying to create jobs & better working
conditions• Especially black workers & farmers• Most of industries still controlled by wealthy whites• Fear of rapid reform could weaken the economy• Drive educated & wealthy whites to leave the country
• Resources• Coal & hydroelectric power• Uranium mines provide fuel for nuclear power plants• Gold & diamonds, copper, platinum, iron ore, &
chromium
Other Countries of Southern Africa
• Lesotho & Swaziland• Influenced by South Africa• Both enclaves: small territory surrounded by foreign territory• Lesotho has few resources or ag. Land
• Many work in South Africa• Highest female literacy rate in Africa
• Swaziland• Mineral deposits & industry• Cattle raising & farming• Good transportation system helps with foreign trade
• Both are kingdoms• Each has a king, but governed by an elected prime
minister & parliament
Namibia
• Gained independence from South Africa in 1990
• Republic w/ elected president & legislature• Few live in the deserts
• Deserts have rich mineral deposits• Diamonds, copper, uranium, lead, &
zinc• Fishing in Atlantic Ocean & sheep
ranching are important sources of income• Strong economy, but most people are poor
Botswana
• Big Success story• Thanks to: Mineral resources & stable
democratic gov’t• Main economic activities
• Diamond mining & cattle ranching• International industries built recently• Tourism is increasing• High unemployment rate, but world’s
highest rates of economic growth since 1960s
Zimbabwe• Poor economy & political instability• Does not lack resources
• Gold & copper mines and agriculture & manufacturing• High inflation, debts, & war have hurt economy
• Much inequality• Whites make up less than 1% of population but own
most of large farms & ranches• 2000 gov’t program started to take land away from
white farmers & give to black residents• Many white farmers have left country & caused
food shortages• Land reform attempt, poor economy, & violent acts against
political opponents have made people upset w/ president• Re-elected in 2002, but people think election was
flawed
Mozambique
• One of world’s poorest countries• Economy damaged by civil wars, but is
improving• Ports ship products from interior of Africa
• Taxes on shipments is important part of economy
• Plantations grow cashews, cotton, & sugar for export• Imports more than it exports• Relies on foreign aid
Madagascar & Comoros• Madagascar
• Ruled by socialist dictator for more than 20 years• Today elected president working to improve
economy• Income comes from exports of coffee, vanilla,
sugar, & cloves• Some manufacturing• Tourism is important
• Comoros• Made up of 4 tiny islands• Lack of resources & political instability
• Struggling to improve education & promote tourism
Issues & Challenges
• Poverty is a serious challenge of the region• Droughts often destroy food crops• Many people are unemployed
• Disease• High number of people w/ HIV• Gov’t trying to educate people to slow
the spread• Environmental destruction
• Deforestation = soil erosion• African Union working to promote
cooperation among African countries
Section 4
The Other Southern African Countries
Namibia• Most live in savannas of the north or in the
cooler central highlands• 6% is white mainly German descent
• Rest of population is divided among several ethnic groups
• Most are Christian• English is the official language• 1990 white farmers held most of the productive
land• Income from mining of diamonds, copper, lead,
zinc, & uranium• Fishing & sheep ranching also important• Culture show many different influences
• Ancient rock engravings & paintings of Khoisan• Beer & pastries reflect German colonization
Botswana• Large, landlocked, semiarid country• Mineral resources & stable politics have made it successful• Cattle ranching & mining of copper and diamonds are main
economic activities• International companies have set up factories here• Belongs to the Organization of African Unity (OAU)
• Founded in 1963, tries to promote cooperation between African countries
• 79% belong to Tswana ethnic group• Most live in savanna & steppe climate in east & south
• 15% are Christian• Rest follow traditional African religions
• Okavango River flows through Botswana• Home to elephants, crocodiles, antelope, lions, hyenas
• Tourists come to see these animals• Ostrich-eggshell beadwork & woven baskets are traditional
crafts
Zimbabwe• 1980 became independent• Has since struggled to create a equal distribution
of land & wealth• 1% whites
• Still own most of large farms & ranches• Exports: gold, copper, chrome, nickel, tin,
tobacco, corn, sugar, & beef• Manufactures: shoes, batteries, radios• AIDS epidemic has killed hundreds of thousands
• Make economic growth harder• Malaria & Tuberculosis are also deadly diseases• Tensions exist between Shona & Ndebele ethnic
groups
Mozambique• One of world’s poorest countries• Economy: badly damaged by civil war• Ports ship products from interior Africa
• Taxes from shipments helps countries revenue
• Energy: coal & hydroelectric dams• Plantations grow cotton, cashews,
sugar, & tea• Various Bantu ethnic groups found
here• Each with own language
• 30% are Christian & 20% are Muslim• Famous for pepper or periperri sauces
Madagascar• Former French colony• Socialist dictator rules until 1990s
• New political system struggled with countries poverty• Voted former dictator back into power
• People are very poor• Little industry• Economy based on exports of coffee, sugar, vanilla, &
cloves• Depend on subsistence farming• Animals
• Many found no where else• 40 species of lemurs
• Destruction of rain forests threatens many animals• Malagasy & French are the spoken languages• 52% follow traditional African religions• 41% are Christian• 7% are Muslim