SUBSAHARAN AFRICA CHAPTER 20 HUMAN GEOGRAPHY OF TRANSITION

SUBSAHARAN AFRICA

CHAPTER 20: HUMAN GEOGRAPHY OF TRANSITION ZONE

HISTORY • C. 4000 B. C. : climate shift occurs and creates Saharan desert • C. 2000 B. C. : Kush kingdom becomes powerful (Sudan today) • Flourished until 300 A. D. • Taken over by Axum (Ethiopia)

MALI EMPIRE • King Sundiata Keita expanded trade routes for gold and salt • King Mansa Musa was most famous king • Major city: Timbuktu

SONGHAI EMPIRE • Present day Ghana • Took over Mali and expanded east • Prospered on gold and salt trade until c. 1600 A. D. • The wealth of gold caught the attention of the Europeans…

COLONIZATION • 1884 -1885: Berlin Conference held to regulate European colonization of Africa • No Africans were represented • This is the Age of Imperialism • Euros created colonial boundaries that cut through cultural, religious, or traditional boundaries

COLONIZATION CONT • Animist religions (believe in elements of nature) merge with Muslims • Christianity is introduced and creates more tension • This kept the Africans fighting one another

COLONIZATION CONT • Mid-1900 s: African nations begin to gain independence • Euros had created economies that served Euro needs and did not involve Africans in government • Many of the European boundaries were maintained which leads to civil wars

SUDAN • Arabic-speaking Muslims lived mostly in northern cities • Preferred Islamic-oriented govts • Ppl in south preferred secular govt • 1983 -2005: conflict kills 300, 000 and displaces 2. 7 million

SUDAN • Peace agreement reached in 2005 • 2011: southern provinces hold referendum and vote for independence • New country of South Sudan is created