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A F R I C A: H U M A N G E O G RA P H Y
CultureandPolitics
Forthecompleteencyclopedicentrywithmediaresources,visit:
http://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/africa-human-geography/
Africa,thesecond-largestcontinent,isboundedbytheMediterraneanSea,the
RedSea,theIndianOcean,andtheAtlanticOcean.Itisdividedinhalfalmost
equallybytheEquator.ThecontinentincludestheislandsofCapeVerde,
Madagascar,Mauritius,Seychelles,andComoros.
Africa’sphysicalgeography,environmentandresources,andhumangeography
canbeconsideredseparately.
Theoriginofthename“Africa”isgreatlydisputedbyscholars.Mostbelieveit
stemsfromwordsusedbythePhoenicians,Greeks,andRomans.Important
wordsincludetheEgyptianwordAfru-ika,meaning“Motherland”;theGreek
wordaphrike,meaning“withoutcold”;andtheLatinwordaprica,meaning
“sunny.”
Today,Africaishometomorecountriesthananyothercontinentintheworld.
Thesecountriesare:Morocco,WesternSahara(Morocco),Algeria,Tunisia,
Libya,Egypt,Sudan,Chad,Niger,Mali,Mauritania,Senegal,TheGambia,
Guinea-Bissau,Guinea,SierraLeone,Liberia,Côted’Ivoire,Ghana,BurkinaFaso,
Togo,Benin,Nigeria,Cameroon,CentralAfricaRepublic,EquatorialGuinea,
Gabon,Congo,DemocraticRepublicoftheCongo,Angola,Namibia,Botswana,
SouthAfrica,Lesotho,Swaziland,Mozambique,Zimbabwe,Zambia,Malawi,
Tanzania,Rwanda,Burundi,Uganda,Kenya,Somalia,Ethiopia,Djibouti,Eritrea
andtheislandcountriesofCapeVerde,Madagascar,Mauritius,Seychelles,and
Comoros.
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CulturalGeography
HistoricCultures
TheAfricancontinenthasauniqueplaceinhumanhistory.Widelybelievedto
bethe“cradleofhumankind,”Africaistheonlycontinentwithfossilevidenceof
humanbeings(Homosapiens)andtheirancestorsthrougheachkeystageof
theirevolution.TheseincludetheAustralopithecines,ourearliestancestors;
Homohabilis,ourtool-makingancestors;andHomoerectus,amorerobustand
advancedrelativetoHomohabilisthatwasabletowalkupright.
Theseancestorswerethefirsttodevelopstonetools,tomoveoutoftreesand
walkupright,and,mostimportantly,toexploreandmigrate.Whilefossilsof
AustralopithecinesandHomohabilishaveonlybeenfoundinAfrica,examplesof
HomoerectushavebeenfoundintheFarEast,andtheirtoolshavebeen
excavatedthroughoutAsiaandEurope.Thisevidencesupportstheideathatthe
speciesofHomoerectusthatoriginatedinAfricawasthefirsttosuccessfully
migrateandpopulatetherestoftheworld.
Thishumanmovement,ormigration,playsakeyroleintheculturallandscape
ofAfrica.Geographersareespeciallyinterestedinmigrationasitrelatestothe
waygoods,services,socialandculturalpractices,andknowledgearespread
throughouttheworld.
Twoothermigrationpatterns,theBantuMigrationandtheAfricanslavetrade,
helpdefinetheculturalgeographyofthecontinent.
TheBantuMigrationwasamassivemigrationofpeopleacrossAfricaabout
2,000yearsago.TheBantuMigrationisthemostimportanthumanmigrationto
haveoccurredsincethefirsthumanancestorsleftAfricamorethanamillion
yearsago.Lastingfor1,500years,theBantuMigrationinvolvedthemovement
ofpeoplewhoselanguagebelongedtotheKongo-Nigerlanguagegroup.The
commonKongo-Nigerwordforhumanbeingisbantu.
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TheBantuMigrationwasasoutheasternmovement.Historiansdonotagreeon
whyBantu-speakingpeoplemovedawayfromtheirhomesinWestAfrica’s
NigerDeltaBasin.Theyfirstmovedsoutheast,throughtherainforestsof
CentralAfrica.Eventually,theymigratedtothesavannasofthesoutheastern
andsouthwesternpartsofthecontinent,includingwhatistodayAngolaand
Zambia.
TheBantuMigrationhadanenormousimpactonAfrica’seconomic,cultural,
andpoliticalpractices.Bantumigrantsintroducedmanynewskillsintothe
communitiestheyinteractedwith,includingsophisticatedfarmingandindustry.
Theseskillsincludedgrowingcropsandforgingtoolsandweaponsfrommetal.
TheseskillsallowedAfricanstocultivatenewareasoflandthathadawide
varietyofphysicalandclimaticfeatures.Manyhunter-gatherercommunities
wereassimilated,oradopted,intothemoretechnologicallyadvancedBantu
culture.Inturn,Bantupeopleadoptedskillsfromthecommunitiesthey
encountered,includinganimalhusbandry,orraisinganimalsforfood.
ThisexchangeofskillsandideasgreatlyadvancedAfrica’sculturallandscape,
especiallyintheeastern,central,andsouthernregionsofthecontinent.Today,
mostofthepopulationlivingintheseregionsisdescendedfromBantumigrants
orfrommixedBantu-indigenousorigins.
ThethirdmassivehumanmigrationinAfricawastheAfricanslavetrade.
Betweenthe15thand19thcenturies,morethan15millionAfricanswere
transportedacrosstheAtlanticOceantobesoldasslavesinNorthandSouth
America.Millionsofslaveswerealsotransportedwithinthecontinent,usually
fromCentralAfricaandMadagascartoNorthAfricaandtheEuropeancolonyof
SouthAfrica.
MillionsofAfricansdiedintheslavetrade.Mostslavesweretakenfromthe
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isolatedinteriorofthecontinent.TheyweresoldintheurbanareasontheWest
Africancoast.Thousandsdiedinthebrutalprocessoftheircapture,and
thousandsmorediedontheforcedmigrationtotradingcenters.Evenmorelost
theirlivesonthetreacherousvoyageacrosstheAtlanticOcean.
TheimpactsofslaveryonAfricaarewidespreadanddiverse.Computerized
calculationshaveprojectedthatiftherehadbeennoslavetrade,thepopulation
ofAfricawouldhavebeen50millioninsteadof25millionin1850.Evidencealso
suggeststhattheslavetradecontributedtothelong-termcolonizationand
exploitationofAfrica.Communitiesandinfrastructureweresodamagedbythe
slavetradethattheycouldnotberebuiltandstrengthenedbeforethearrivalof
Europeancolonizersinthe19thcentury.
WhileAfricanssufferedgreatlyduringtheslavetrade,theirinfluenceontherest
oftheworldexpanded.SlavepopulationsinNorthandSouthAmericamade
tremendouseconomic,political,andculturalcontributionstothesocietiesthat
enslavedthem.ThestandardoflivinginNorthandSouthAmerica—builton
agriculture,industry,communication,andtransportation—wouldbemuchlower
ifitweren’tforthehard,forcedlaborofAfricanslaves.Furthermore,manyof
theWesternHemisphere’sculturalpractices,especiallyinmusic,food,and
religion,areahybridofAfricanandlocalcustoms.
ContemporaryCultures
ContemporaryAfricaisincrediblydiverse,incorporatinghundredsofnative
languagesandindigenousgroups.Themajorityofthesegroupsblendtraditional
customsandbeliefswithmodernsocietalpracticesandconveniences.Three
groupsthatdemonstratethisaretheMaasai,Tuareg,andBambuti.
MaasaipeoplesaretheoriginalsettlersofsouthernKenyaandnorthern
Tanzania.TheMaasaiarenomadicpasturalists.Nomadicpastoralistsarepeople
whocontinuallymoveinordertofindfreshgrasslandsorpasturesfortheir
livestock.TheMaasaimigratethroughoutEastAfricaandsurviveoffthemeat,
blood,andmilkoftheircattle.
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TheMaasaiarefamousfortheirstrikingredrobesandrichtraditionalculture.
YoungMaasaimenbetweentheagesof15and30areknownasmoran,or
“warriors.”Moranliveinisolationinunpopulatedwildernessareas,called“the
bush.”Duringtheirtimeasmoran,youngMaasaimenlearntribalcustomsand
developstrength,courage,andendurance.
Eventhoughsomeremainnomadic,manyMaasaihavebeguntointegrate
themselvesintothesocietiesofKenyaandTanzania.Modernranchingand
wheatcultivationarebecomingcommon.Maasaialsosupportmoretribal
controlofwaterresources.Womenarepressuringthetribeforgreatercivil
rights,astheMaasaiisoneofthemostmale-dominatedsocietiesintheworld.
TheTuaregareapastoralistsocietyinNorthandWestAfrica.Theharshclimate
oftheSaharaandtheSahelhasinfluencedTuaregcultureforcenturies.
TraditionalTuaregclothingserveshistoricalandenvironmentalpurposes.Head
wrapscalledchechesprotecttheTuaregfromtheSaharansunandhelp
conservebodyfluidsbylimitingsweat.Tuaregmenalsocovertheirfacewith
thechecheasaformalitywhenmeetingsomeoneforthefirsttime.
Conversationcanonlybecomeinformalwhenthemorepowerfulmanuncovers
hismouthandchin.
Light,sturdygownscalledbubusallowforcoolairflowwhiledeflectingheatand
sand.Tuaregsareoftencalledthe“bluemenoftheSahara”forthebluecoloredbubustheywearinthepresenceofwomen,strangers,andin-laws.
TheTuareghaveupdatedthesetraditionalgarments,bringinginmoderncolor
combinationsandpairingthemwithcustomsandalsandsilverjewelrythey
makebyhand.Theseupdatedstylesareperhapsbestseenduringtheannual
FestivalintheDesert.Thisthree-dayevent,heldinthemiddleoftheSahara,
includessingingcompetitions,concerts,camelraces,andbeautycontests.The
festivalhasrapidlyexpandedfromalocaleventtoaninternationaldestination
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supportedbytourism.
TheBambutiisacollectivenameforfourpopulationsnativetoCentralAfrica—
theSua,Aka,Efe,andMbuti.TheBambutiliveprimarilyintheCongoBasinand
IturiForest.Sometimes,thesegroupsarecalled“pygmies,”althoughthetermis
oftenconsideredoffensive.Pygmyisatermusedtodescribevariousethnic
groupswhoseaverageheightisunusuallylow,below1.5meters(5feet).
TheBambutiarebelievedtohaveoneoftheoldestexistingbloodlinesinthe
world.AncientEgyptianrecordsshowthattheBambutihavebeenlivinginthe
sameareafor4,500years.GeneticistsareinterestedintheBambutiforthis
reason.Manyresearchersconcludethattheirancestorswerelikelyoneofthe
firstmodernhumanstomigrateoutofAfrica.
Bambutigroupsarespearheadinghumanrightscampaignsaimedatincreasing
theirparticipationinlocalandinternationalpolitics.TheMbuti,forinstance,are
pressuringthegovernmenttoincludetheminthepeaceprocessofthe
DemocraticRepublicoftheCongo.Mbutileadersarguethattheirpeoplewere
killed,forcedintoslavery,andeveneatenduringtheCongoCivilWar,which
officiallyendedin2003.MbutileadershaveappearedattheUnitedNationsto
gatherandpresenttestimonyonhumanrightsabusesduringandafterthewar.
TheireffortsledtothepresenceofU.N.peacekeepingforcesintheIturiForest.
PoliticalGeography
Africa’shistoryanddevelopmenthavebeenshapedbyitspoliticalgeography.
Politicalgeographyistheinternalandexternalrelationshipsbetweenvarious
governments,citizens,andterritories.
HistoricIssues
ThegreatkingdomsofWestAfricadevelopedbetweenthe9thand16th
centuries.TheKingdomofGhana(GhanaEmpire)becameapowerfulempire
throughitsgoldtrade,whichreachedtherestofAfricaandpartsofEurope.
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Ghanaiankingscontrolledgold-miningoperationsandimplementedasystemof
taxationthatsolidifiedtheircontroloftheregionforabout400years.
TheKingdomofMali(MaliEmpire)expandedtheKingdomofGhana’strade
operationstoincludetradeinsaltandcopper.TheKingdomofMali’sgreat
wealthcontributedtothecreationoflearningcenterswhereMuslimscholars
fromaroundtheworldcametostudy.ThesecentersgreatlyaddedtoAfrica’s
culturalandacademicenrichment.
TheKingdomofSonghai(SonghaiEmpire)combinedthepowerfulforcesof
Islam,commercialtrade,andscholarship.Songhaikingsexpandedtraderoutes,
setupanewsystemoflaws,expandedthemilitary,andencouraged
scholarshiptounifyandstabilizetheirempire.Theireconomicandsocialpower
wasanchoredbytheIslamicfaith.
ColonizationdramaticallychangedAfrica.Fromthe1880stothe1900s,almost
allofAfricawasexploitedandcolonized,aperiodknownasthe“Scramblefor
Africa.”EuropeanpowerssawAfricaasasourceofrawmaterialsandamarket
formanufacturedgoods.ImportantEuropeancolonizersincludedBritain,
France,Germany,Belgium,andItaly.
ThelegacyofcolonialismhauntsAfricatoday.Colonialismforced
environmental,political,social,andreligiouschangetoAfrica.Natural
resources,includingdiamondsandgold,wereover-exploited.European
businessownersbenefittedfromtradeinthesenaturalresources,whileAfricans
laboredinpoorconditionswithoutadequatepay.
Europeanpowersdrewnewpoliticalbordersthatdividedestablished
governmentsandculturalgroups.Thesenewboundariesalsoforceddifferent
culturalgroupstolivetogether.Thisrestructuringprocessbroughtoutcultural
tensions,causingdeepethnicconflictthatcontinuestoday.
InAfrica,IslamandChristianitygrewwithcolonialism.Christianitywasspread
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throughtheworkofEuropeanmissionaries,whileIslamconsolidateditspower
incertainundisturbedregionsandurbancenters.
WorldWarII(1939-1945)empoweredAfricanstoconfrontcolonialrule.Africans
wereinspiredbytheirserviceintheAllies’forcesandbytheAllies’commitment
totherightsofself-government.Africans’beliefinthepossibilityof
independencewasfurthersupportedbytheindependenceofIndiaandPakistan
in1947.MahatmaGandhi,anIndianindependenceleaderwhobeganhiscareer
inSouthAfrica,said:“IventuretothinkthattheAllieddeclarationthattheAllies
arefightingtomaketheworldsafeforthefreedomoftheindividualandfor
democracysoundshollowsolongasIndia,andforthatmatterAfrica,are
exploitedbyGreatBritain.”
By1966,allbutsixAfricancountrieswereindependentnation-states.Funding
fromtheSovietUnionandindependentAfricanstateswasintegraltothe
successofAfrica’sindependencemovements.RegionsinAfricacontinueto
fightfortheirpoliticalindependence.WesternSahara,forinstance,hasbeen
underMoroccancontrolsince1979.TheUnitedNationsiscurrentlysponsoring
talksbetweenMoroccoandaWesternSahararebelgroupcalledthePolisario
Front,whichsupportsindependence.
ContemporaryIssues
Managinginter-ethnicconflictcontinuestobeanimportantfactorin
maintainingnational,regional,andcontinent-widesecurity.Oneofthechief
areasofconflictisthestrugglebetweensedentaryandnomadicgroupsover
controlofresourcesandland.
TheconflictinSudan’sDarfurregion,forexample,isbetweennomadicand
sedentarycommunitieswhoarefightingoverwaterandgrazingrightsfor
livestock.Theconflictalsoinvolvesreligious,cultural,andeconomictensions.In
2003,theSudanLiberationArmy(SLA)andJusticeandEqualityMovement
(JEM),groupsfromDarfur,attackedgovernmenttargetsinSudan’scapital,
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Khartoum.
TheSLAandJEMwerefromdifferentreligiousandculturalbackgroundsthan
thegovernmentofSudan.TheDarfuriansweremostlyChristians,whilethe
SudanesegovernmentismostlyMuslim.Darfuriansaremostly“black”Africans,
meaningtheirculturalidentityisfromaregionsouthoftheSahara.The
SudanesegovernmentisdominatedbyArabs,peoplefromNorthAfricaandthe
ArabianPeninsula.TheSLAandJEMweremostlyfarmers.Theyclaimedtheir
landandgrazingrightswereconsistentlybeingtrespassedbynomadicArab
groups.
TheSudanesegovernmentrespondedviolentlytotheattacksbytheSLAand
JEM.Manyinternationalorganizationsbelievethegovernmenthadadirect
relationshipwiththeArabJanjaweed.TheJanjaweedaremilitias,orindependent
armedgroups.TheJanjaweedroutinelystolefrom,kidnapped,killed,andraped
Darfurianstoforcethemofftheirland.TheUnitedNationssaysupto300,000
peoplehavediedasaresultofwar,hunger,anddisease.Morethan2.7million
peoplehavefledtheirhomestoliveininsecureandimpoverishedcamps.
Theinternationalcommunity’sresponsetothisconflicthasbeenextensive.
ThousandsofAfricanUnion-UnitedNationpeacekeepersremainintheregion.
Othergroupshaveorganizedpeacetalksbetweengovernmentofficialsand
JEM,culminatingina2009peacedealsignedinQatar.TheInternational
CriminalCourtinTheHaguehasissuedanarrestwarrantforSudanese
PresidentOmaral-Bashirforwarcrimesandcrimesagainsthumanity.
AsaresultofethnicconflictsliketheoneinDarfur,Africahasmoreinternally
displacedpeople(IDPs)thananyothercontinent.IDPsarepeoplewhoare
forcedtofleetheirhomebutwho,unlikearefugee,remainwithintheir
country’sborders.In2009,therewereanestimated11.6millionIDPsinAfrica,
representingmorethan40percentoftheworld’stotalIDPpopulation.
Regionalandinternationalpoliticalbodieshavetakenimportantstepsin
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resolvingthecausesandeffectsofinternaldisplacement.InOctober2009,the
AfricanUnionadoptedtheKampalaConvention,recognizedasthefirst
agreementintheworldtoprotecttherightsofIDPs.
FutureIssues
Africa’smostpressingissuescanbeframedthroughtheUnitedNations’
MillenniumDevelopmentGoals(MDGs).All192membersoftheUnitedNations
andatleast23internationalorganizationshaveagreedtomeetthegoalsby
2015.Thesegoalsare:
1)eradicateextremepovertyandhunger;
2)achieveuniversalprimaryeducation;
3)promotegenderequalityandempowerwomen;
4)reducechildmortalityrates;
5)improvematernalhealth;
6)combatHIV/AIDS,malaria,andotherdiseases;
7)ensureenvironmentalsustainability;
8)developaglobalpartnershipfordevelopment.
TheseissuesdisproportionatelyaffectAfrica.Becauseofthis,theinternational
communityhasfocuseditsattentiononthecontinent.
ManypartsofAfricaareaffectedbyhungerandextremepoverty.In2009,22
of24nationsidentifiedashaving“LowHumanDevelopment”ontheU.N.’s
HumanDevelopmentIndexwerelocatedinSub-SaharanAfrica.Inmany
nations,grossdomesticproductperpersonislessthan$200peryear,withthe
vastmajorityofthepopulationlivingonlessthan$1perday.
Africa’scommitteefortheMillenniumDevelopmentGoalsfocusesonthreekey
issues:increasingagriculturalproductivity,buildinginfrastructure,andcreating
nutritionandschoolfeedingprograms.Keygoalsincludedoublingfoodyieldsby
2012,halvingtheproportionofpeoplewithoutaccesstoadequatewatersupply
andsanitation,andprovidinguniversalaccesstocriticalnutrition.
Scholars,scientists,andpoliticiansbelieveclimatechangewillnegativelyaffect
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theeconomicandsocialwell-beingofAfricamorethananyothercontinent.
Risingtemperatureshavecausedprecipitationpatternstochange,cropsto
reachtheupperlimitsofheattolerance,pastoralfarmerstospendmoretimein
searchofwatersupplies,andmalariaandotherdiseasestospreadthroughout
thecontinent.
Internationalorganizationsandagreements,suchastheCopenhagenAccord,
haveguaranteedfundingformeasurestocombatorreducetheeffectsof
climatechangeinAfrica.ManyAfricanpoliticiansandscholars,however,are
criticalofthisfunding.Theysayitaddressestheeffectsofclimatechangeafter
theyoccur,ratherthancreatingprogramstopreventglobalwarming,the
currentperiodofclimatechange.Africanleadersalsocriticizedeveloped
countriesfornotmakingmoreofaninternalcommitmenttoreducingcarbon
emissions.Developedcountries,notAfrica,aretheworld’slargestproducersof
carbonemissions.
WhatiscertainisthatAfricawillneedforeignassistanceinordertosuccessfully
combatclimatechange.LeaderswithinAfricaandoutsideitwillneedtoseek
greaterinternationalcooperationforthistobecomeareality.
Vocabulary
Term
adequate
Africanslave
trade
Partof
Definition
Speech
adjectivesuitableorgoodenough.
(1500-1888)exchangeofgoodsandservicesfrom
noun
EuropeandtheAmericasinexchangeforhumanbeings
fromAfrica.AlsocalledtheAtlanticslavetrade.
(acquiredimmunedeficiencysyndrome)diseasethat
AIDS
noun
debilitatestheimmunesystem,makingthevictim
vulnerabletoinfections.
11of17
Term
Partof
Definition
Speech
allianceofcountriesthatopposedtheAxisduringWorld
Allies
noun
WarII.TheAllieswereledbytheU.S.,theUnited
Kingdom,andtheSovietUnion.
ancestor
noun
Arab
noun
assimilate
verb
carbon
emission
Christianity
organismfromwhomoneisdescended.
peopleandculturenativetotheArabianPeninsula,
NorthAfrica,andWesternAsia.
toadopttheculturaltraitsofanothergroupor
community.
carboncompound(suchascarbondioxide)released
noun
intotheatmosphere,oftenthroughhumanactivitysuch
astheburningoffossilfuelssuchascoalorgas.
noun
climatechangenoun
religionbasedontheteachingsofJesusofNazareth.
gradualchangesinalltheinterconnectedweather
elementsonourplanet.
spreadingofaspeciesintoanewhabitatorecosystem,
colonization
noun
commercial
havingtodowiththebuyingandsellingofgoodsand
adjective
services.
andestablishingahealthypopulationthere.
communicationnoun
sharingofinformationandideas.
continent
oneofthesevenmainlandmassesonEarth.
crimesagainst
humanity
noun
severeactsofviolencesupporteddirectlyorindirectly
noun
bythegovernmentorotherauthority,usuallyagainst
groupsofpeople.
crop
noun
agriculturalproduce.
cultivate
verb
toprepareandnurturethelandforcrops.
noun
studyoftheimpactofhumancultureonthelandscape.
cultural
geography
systemoforganizationorgovernmentwherethepeople
democracy
noun
diverse
adjectivevariedorhavingmanydifferenttypes.
decidepoliciesorelectrepresentativestodoso.
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Term
Partof
Definition
Speech
economic
adjectivehavingtodowithmoney.
empire
noun
environment
noun
Equator
noun
evolution
noun
changeinheritabletraitsofapopulationovertime.
excavate
verb
toexposebydigging.
exploit
verb
touseortakeadvantageofforprofit.
fossil
noun
remnant,impression,ortraceofanancientorganism.
funding
noun
moneyorfinances.
geneticist
noun
geographer
noun
globalwarmingnoun
groupofnations,territoriesorothergroupsofpeople
controlledbyasingle,morepowerfulauthority.
conditionsthatsurroundandinfluenceanorganismor
community.
imaginarylinearoundtheEarth,anotherplanet,orstar
runningeast-west,0degreeslatitude.
scientistwhostudiesthechemistry,behavior,and
purposesofDNA,genes,andchromosomes.
personwhostudiesplacesandtherelationships
betweenpeopleandtheirenvironments.
increaseintheaveragetemperatureoftheEarth'sair
andoceans.
government
noun
systemororderofanation,state,orotherpoliticalunit.
grassland
noun
ecosystemwithlarge,flatareasofgrasses.
HIV
noun
human
geography
noun
(humanimmunodeficiencyvirus)virusthatisacauseof
AIDS(anti-immunedeficiencysyndrome).
thestudyofthewayhumancommunitiesandsystems
interactwiththeirenvironment.
basicfreedomsbelongingtoeveryindividual,including
humanrights
noun
therightstosocialandpoliticalexpression,spirituality,
andopportunity.
huntergatherer
husbandry
noun
noun
personwhogetsfoodbyusingacombinationof
hunting,fishing,andforaging.
artandscienceofmanaginganimals.
13of17
Term
hybrid
Partof
Definition
Speech
noun
theendresultoftwodifferentsourcesofinput.
impoverished adjectiveverypoor.
independence noun
stateorsituationofbeingfree.
indigenous
adjectivecharacteristictoorofaspecificplace.
industry
noun
infrastructure noun
activitythatproducesgoodsandservices.
structuresandfacilitiesnecessaryforthefunctioningof
asociety,suchasroads.
in-law
noun
personrelatedbymarriage.
integrate
verb
tocombine,unite,orbringtogether.
international
adjectivehavingtodowithmorethanonecountry.
Islam
noun
kingdom
noun
language
noun
religionbasedonthewordsandphilosophyofthe
prophetMohammed.
typeofgovernmentwithakingorqueenasitsleader,
orthelandruledbythatkingorqueen.
setofsounds,gestures,orsymbolsthatallowspeopleto
communicate.
material,ideas,orhistorypasseddownor
legacy
noun
communicatedbyapersonorcommunityfromthe
past.
noun,
livestock
plural
animalsraisedforsaleandprofit.
noun
infectiousdiseasecausedbyaparasitecarriedby
malaria
noun
migrate
verb
tomovefromoneplaceoractivitytoanother.
military
noun
armedforces.
militia
noun
Muslim
havingtodowithIslam,thereligionbasedonthewords
adjective
andphilosophyoftheprophetMohammed.
mosquitoes.
groupofarmed,ordinarycitizenswhoarecalledupfor
emergenciesandarenotfull-timesoldiers.
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Term
nomadic
pasturalist
Partof
noun
nutrition
noun
pasture
noun
physical
geography
political
geography
Definition
Speech
noun
noun
farmerwhoconstantlyorseasonallyherdslivestockto
freshpastures.
processbywhichlivingorganismsobtainfoodor
nutrients,anduseitforgrowth.
typeofagriculturallandusedforgrazinglivestock.
studyofthenaturalfeaturesandprocessesofthe
Earth.
studyofthespatialrelationshipsthatinfluence
governmentorsocialpolicies.
politics
noun
artandscienceofpublicpolicy.
poverty
noun
statusofhavingverylittlemoneyormaterialgoods.
precipitation
noun
rainforest
noun
ranching
noun
rape
verb
allformsinwhichwaterfallstoEarthfromthe
atmosphere.
areaoftall,mostlyevergreentreesandahighamount
ofrainfall.
practiceofraisinglivestockforhumanuse,suchasfood
orclothing.
toforceapersontohavesex.
matterthatneedstobeprocessedintoaproducttouse
rawmaterial
noun
refugee
noun
religion
noun
resource
noun
sanitation
noun
promotionofhygiene,health,andcleanliness.
savanna
noun
typeoftropicalgrasslandwithscatteredtrees.
scholar
noun
educatedperson.
security
noun
safetyorstability.
sedentary
adjectivestayinginoneplace.
orsell.
personwhofleestheirhome,usuallyduetonatural
disasterorpoliticalupheaval.
asystemofspiritualorsupernaturalbelief.
availablesupplyofmaterials,goods,orservices.
Resourcescanbenaturalorhuman.
15of17
Term
slave
Partof
Definition
Speech
noun
personwhoisownedbyanotherpersonorgroupof
people.
sophisticated adjectiveknowledgeableorcomplex.
(1922-1991)largenorthernEurasiannationthathada
SovietUnion
noun
communistgovernment.AlsocalledtheUnionofSoviet
SocialistRepublics,ortheUSSR.
moneyorgoodscitizensprovidetogovernmentin
tax
noun
tourism
noun
traderoute
noun
transport
verb
treacherous
adjectiveverydangerous.
returnforpublicservicessuchasmilitaryprotection.
theindustry(includingfood,hotels,andentertainment)
oftravelingforpleasure.
pathfollowedbymerchantsorexplorerstoexchange
goodsandservices.
tomovematerialfromoneplacetoanother.
developed,denselypopulatedareawheremost
urbanarea
noun
inhabitantshavenonagriculturaljobs.
Articles&Profiles
NationalGeographicNews:5-CountryConservationAreaWouldAidAfrica's
LargestElephantHerd
NationalGeographicNews:GlobalWarmingMayUnleash‘SandSeas’inAfrica
NationalGeographicNews:JasonCarterDiscussesSouthAfrica
Audio&Video
NationalPublicRadio:ProtectingAfricanLions—HuntersTurnedGuardians
PBSFrontlineWorld:SouthAfrica:ThePlayPump
Images
NationalGeographicNews:SurvivingDarfur—AfricanRefugeeLife
Interactives
PBS:Africa—ExploretheRegions
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Maps
NationalGeographicEvents:GiantTravelingMapofAfrica
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NationalGeographicTravel:Africa
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