GOOGLESCHOLAR: GEO assignment 5
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module_5_overview.docxModule 5 Overview
Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa/Southwest Asia Realms and Regions
This module will focus on the overall geography (topography, historical, economic, political, and cultural/human) of Sub-Saharan Africa and MENA (Middle East and North Africa). You will learn about the historical geography and will compare and contrast the political geography of Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa/Southwest Asia with the rest of the world. In addition, you will analyze the diverse religions of Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa/Southwest Asia.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this module, you should be able to:
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2J |
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explain Africa’s unique plateau-like surface, unusual river patterns, and lack of interior highlands in terms of plate tectonics theory. |
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3E |
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describe African historical evolution in geographic context and interpret Africa’s nature-society relationships involving wildlife and farming. |
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5I |
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describe the geography of oil, its huge concentration in North Africa/Southwest Asia, and the enormous impact is has made in this realm. |
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6C |
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examine the Africa’s medical geography, including pandemics, epidemics, and the distribution of major diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS. |
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6D |
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describe the major cultural-geographic features of Africa along with the environmental and human geography. |
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6E |
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examine the North Africa/Southwest Asia realm. |
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6F |
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evaluate the emergence, evolution, and expansion of Islam from Saudi Arabia to much of the rest of the world. |
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6G |
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analyze Islam’s basic Sunni/Shi’ite split and its evolution into modern times, including the rise of fundamentalism (revivalism) in recent years. |
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6H |
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examine the physical, human, cultural, and political geographies of Egypt, Sudan, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, and the surrounding countries. |
Module 5 Reading Assignment
de Blij, H. J., & Muller, P. O. (2012). Geography: Realms, regions, and concepts (15th ed.). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Chapters 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7B.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Topography of Sub-Saharan Africa
Geographers divide Africa into five regions: North, South, Central, East, and West. North Africa will be discussed later on along with the Middle East (MENA). South, Central, and East Africa is called Sub-Saharan Africa. It is made up of 48 individual countries. Please watch the Africa - National Geographic Education video.
Sub-Saharan Africa is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east. This region has many climatic extremes. The northern and southern parts are very dry and hot due to the sub-tropical high pressure systems. The central part of this region is very hot and moist due to the very high sun angle creating the equatorial low pressure systems. There are also seasonal rainy and dry periods due to the changing sun angle and the movement of these two different pressure systems.
The majority of Sub-Saharan Africa is a plateau. The extreme northern part is called the Sahel, which borders the Sahara Desert. The western region is made up of the Cameroon Mountains and the Fouta Diallon Highlands. The eastern region has some of the highest mountains and greatest geologic activity. This region is called the East Africa Rift Valley. Geologic activity is causing parts of this eastern region to move away from the rest of Africa. This rift has caused many large lakes to form in this region. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in all of Africa, and is also volcanic. The largest lake is called Victoria, which is also located in East Central Africa.
The Congo River dominates the central part of this region, whereas the Nile River has its headwaters in East Central Africa and flows north into the Mediterranean Sea. The island of Madagascar, which is located off of this region’s southeastern coast, has some of the most diverse fauna and flora because of geographical isolation from the main land. And finally, the southern region is dominated by the Kalahari Desert.
Historical Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa
Many anthropologists and archeologists believe that all modern day humans have evolved out of this region - more specifically, the east-central region near Java. European colonialism dominated this region with trade and the export of many resources. This region has always been struggling with political instability, strife, and unrest. Therefore, this region still needs a great deal of help in order to become more prosperous.
Many diseases like malaria and AIDs have really impacted the people of this region. Life expectancy rates in this region are some of the lowest in the world. Also, some of the poorest people in the world live in this region. Slavery and civil war also played a major role in this region’s history. Please watch the Africa: Historical Georgraphy video.
Political Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa
Political instability still dominates this region, but recent efforts have helped. Most of the political conflict was the result of border disputes and the ever growing need for food and resources. Africa is often stereotyped as being poverty-stricken and disease-ridden, but this is not the case as there are some areas that are more developed. Please visit the Subsaharan Africa website for some additional information on the political geography of Africa.
Economical Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa
Recently, more trade links have been established in this region, which have benefited the countries and people. Minerals, oil, and manufacturing goods are the sources of their overall economy. Please visit the Economic Geography and Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa website for more information.
Religions of Sub-Saharan Africa
This region is very diverse, religiously. Many diverse and traditional beliefs such as animist are common in this region - about 10%. Christianity and Islam are also very popular in this region. In general, the northern part of this region is mostly dominated by Islam, and the central and southern parts are more Christian. There have been some Christian-Islam conflicts in this region. Please visit the Sub-Saharan Africa Religion Database website for more information.
Cultural Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa
This region has some of the most diverse languages in the world. In addition, this region has some of the most unique dress, foods, traditions, rituals, music, and dance, which have all spread worldwide due to slavery.
The Middle East and North Africa
Topography of the Middle East and North Africa
The Middle East and North Africa are often referred to as MENA in the field of geography. Most of MENA is semi-arid to arid (desert). The Atlas Mountains tower over the extreme northwestern portion of MENA into Morocco and Algeria. The Sahara Desert stretches east of the Atlas Mountains into Algeria, Libya, Egypt, and into the Sudan. The Atlantic Ocean is located to the west of this region, with the Mediterranean, Red, and Caspian Seas to the north. The Red Sea separates Egypt and the Sudan from Saudi Arabia. The Arabian Desert and Iranian Plateau make up most of the eastern portion of this region. The Persian Gulf separates Saudi Arabia and Oman from Iran. Eastward from the Persian Gulf is the Indian Ocean.
Historical Geography of the Middle East and North Africa
Historically, MENA has always been known as the “cradle of civilization” with the early Roman and Byzantine Empires. The very first civilizations and writings have come from this region. The area has been stricken with all forms of strife historically, and even into current times. Religion and politics are some of the major causes of this strife.
Political Geography of the Middle East and North Africa
Sharia or Islamic law controls most of the politics in this region because the majority of the people in this region are of the Muslim faith. This makes for a region that is very political due to religion. Many say that politics and religion often do not mix, and this region serves an example. Currently, there is still deep political and religious strife in the Middle East region - more specifically and currently, with Iran and Israel. There is still conflict between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. The two major conflicts in the Persian Gulf and Iraq have also caused much political conflict and strife in this region. The recent “Arab Spring” and uprising have only decreased the stability in this region. And finally, strife with Iran over nuclear ambitions has caused much of the political challenges in this region in addition to many failed attempts of peace in these regions from outside interests like the USA.
Economical Geography of the Middle East and North Africa
Oil still controls most of the economics in this region. Many cities have drastically grown over the past few years due to this wealth from oil sales.
Religions of the Middle East and North Africa
The founding and spread of all three major world religions (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism) started in this region and has now gone throughout the world. Islam is clearly the most dominant of these three religions in this region. Currently, Islam is spreading the quickest globally of all of the major world religions. Please watch the History of Religion animation.
Cultural Geography of the Middle East and North Africa
Islamic law imposes many restrictions on the women in this region. The food, dress, beliefs, and culture of this region are very unique, diverse, and complex. The scarcity of water and extreme weather also plays a major influence in the cultural geography of this region.
Required Presentations:
Click on each of the following links in order to view the presentations.
