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58 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is the large desert in northern Africa?
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The Sahara desert.
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What is the mountain range in northwest Africa called?
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The Atlas Mountains
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What is Africa’s highest peak and where is it?
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Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania
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What is Africa’s largest lake?
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Lake Victoria. It is surrounded by Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya.
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What is the world’s longest river called?
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The Nile.
The ultimate source of the Nile is in Burundi. The White Nile and Blue Nile merge to form the river Nile near Khartoum, Sudan, The Nile then flows through Sudan and Egypt before entering the Mediterranean Sea in north-east Egypt. |
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What is Africa’s second longest river?
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The Congo River.
It starts in Zambia and flows into the Atlantic. It is the world's deepest river> |
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Define savanna
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A savanna is a large area of grasslands. (Africa is more than 40% covered by savannas).
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Define plateau
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A plateau is an elevated area of flat land. (Africa is one large plateau broken by a few mountain ranges).
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Define steppe
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A steppe is very dry grasslands. They have few trees and are on the fringes of deserts.
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Define wadi
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A wadi is a dry riverbed.
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Define a cataract.
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A cataract (as along the Nile River) is a waterfall or rapids.
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Define a delta.
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A delta is a triangular deposit of soil formed at the mouth of some rivers. For example, the Nile River forms a delta.
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Define a tropical rain forest.
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A tropical rain forest is a vast forested area that receives more than a 100 inches of rainfall each year. They are warm all year and are near the equator. They are said to be home to about half of all animal and plant species in the world. In Africa they are found in western and central areas.
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Define a jungle.
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Jungle is the thick growth of plants found on the forest floor in parts of the tropical rain forests. They tend to be found on the edge of rain forests where the canopy is not so thick and some light penetrates to ground level.
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Define a cape.
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A cape is a point of land which juts out into the water. (e.g. Africa's Cape of Good Hope).
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What is the climate like in Africa?
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Most of Africa has ether a warm or a hot climate. The humidity and rainfall vary greatly according to the region. Desert areas receive little rain whereas the coastal regions and the forests of the Congo basin receive rain all the year around. Most of Africa, however, has one or two rainy seasons separated by dry seasons.
“Its northern half is primarily desert or arid, while its central and southern areas contain both savanna plains and very dense jungle (rainforest) regions. In between, there is a convergence where vegetation patterns such as steppe dominate.” (Wikipedia) |
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What is the Great Rift Valley
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The Great Rift Valley is a series of long parallel cracks that form deep, steep-sided valleys. This region extends from the Red Sea coast through Ethiopia to Mozambique, running 4500 miles through Africa.
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Where is Timbuktu located and what is the meaning of the phrase "as far as Timbuktu."
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Timbuktu is in Mali on the Niger river.
Many years ago it was an important trade centre that was visited by traders from as far away as Italy. It was on a east-west trade route and a north-south route. In the 1300s it became a centre for the arts and education bringing scholars from all over the world. |
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What are some of Africa's natural resources?
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Minerals include copper, diamonds, gold and petroleum. There are valuable forests In agriculture it produces most of the world's cassava, cocoa beans and yams.
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What are hieroglyphics?
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An ancient form of Egyptian writing.
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What is papyrus?
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A plant which the Egyptians used to make items such as baskets and boxes and, most importantly paper.
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What is a dynasty?
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A family that rules for several or more generations.
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What is mummification?
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The process of preserving dead bodies.
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What benefits did the Nile River give to the ancient Egyptians?
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The Nile provided the soil and water needed to grow an abundance of food. It provided a place for fishing and for the hunting of waterfowl. Egypt is called the gift of the Nile as without its yearly flooding Egypt would have been a wasteland.
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Why did the Egyptians build pyramids?
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Pyramids were built as tombs to hold the dead. As the Egyptians believed in an afterlife the tombs were filled with items that the deceased would need in their next life.
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Why did the Egyptians build pyramids?
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Pyramids were built as tombs to hold the dead. As the Egyptians believed in an afterlife the tombs were filled with items that the deceased would need in their next life.
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What was the Rosetta stone?
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The Rosetta Stone was discovered in 1799 by Napoleon's army. The writings were in three languages: Greek, demotic and hieroglyphic. By using the Greek to translate the two ancient Egyptian writings, the hieroglyphic code was broken, thus allowing the translation of numerous other ancient Egyptian texts.
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How is Ancient Egypt's history divided?
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The Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom.
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Briefly describe Ancient Egypt's Old Kingdom?
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Coming soon!
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Briefly describe Ancient Egypt's Middle Kingdom?
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Coming soon!
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Briefly describe Ancient Egypt's New Kingdom?
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Coming soon!
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Define clan?
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A clan is a group of people who are descended from a common ancestor.
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Define tribe?
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A tribe is two or more clans living together in a community.
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Define oral tradition?
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Oral tradition is poems, songs, or stories which are passed on by word of mouth from one generation to the next.
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Define Imperialism.
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The building of empires by a country.
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Define abolition?
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Doing away with or putting an end to. (eg slave trade).
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Who was the head of the tribe in early African communities?
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The father.
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What function or purpose did the 'witch doctor'have in the tribe?
(Remember that witch doctor is what European explorers/settlers called these people; it is not what the Africans called them!) |
The witch doctor was the religious leader and his power was sought to cure both physical and spiritual problems.
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What is the oral tradition?
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The oral tradition is important in cultures where there is no written language. For that cultures history, traditions, and ancestry to be handed down to the next generation, it had to be told orally in a way that it would be remembered. Children learned about their heritage through stories which they would learn off by heart so they could pass them on. In these cultures the 'story-teller' was important.
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During the 19th century serious exploration of the African interior began to take place. What difficulties faced these explorers?
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Extreme heat and humidity, thick vegetation, tropical diseases unknown to them, hostility from slave traders, wild animals, rugged terrain and untrustworthy guides.
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As so many early explorers, settlers and missionaries died during the early years of European settlement in Africa, what was the nickname that became attached to Africa?
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The "White Man's Grave."
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Which continent was responsible for the colonisation of Africa?
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Europe.
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What were some of the reasons that meant that the Europeans were interested in Africa and colonised it?
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The oral tradition is important in cultures where there is no written language. For that cultures history, traditions, and ancestry to be handed down to the next generation, it had to be told orally in a way that it would be remembered. Children learned about their heritage through stories which they would learn off by heart so they could pass them on. In these cultures the 'story-teller' was important.
Extreme heat and humidity, thick vegetation, tropical diseases unknown to them, hostility from slave traders, wild animals, rugged terrain and untrustworthy guides. As so many early explorers, settlers and missionaries died during the early years of European settlement in Africa what was the nickname that became attached to Africa? The African colonies held great wealth in their mineral reserves (e.g. gold and diamonds) as well as items such as ivory, spices and ebony. The Europeans were interested in finding out all they could about this unknown land. They followed rivers to their sources, took notes on animals and plants and studied the deserts and jungles. They wanted to share civilization and bring what they saw as order and government to the continent. |
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Who was probably Africa's greatest explorer? In what other roles did he serve. When he died what unusual thing was done with his body?
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Dr David Livingstone was a doctor and missionary as well as an explorer. When he died his body was sent back to England to be buried but his heart was removed and buried in Africa by his African friends.
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Describe the situation in Africa that led to the European slave trade?
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African tribes were often at war with each other. Slaves were those from the captured tribe who were sold by the victor tribe to African or Arab slave traders. With the settlement of the Americas and the development of large plantations, manpower was needed to do the vast amount of work on these large farms. The slaves being offered for sale in Africa were seen as the answer. A slave trade industry quickly developed with Britain, France and Portugal being the main traders.
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Where did opposition to the slave trade begin?
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The opposition to the slave trade began in Europe. Some Europeans saw the cruelty of the slave trade. The drive to abolish the slave trade began in the UK. They abolished their involvement in the trade in 1807 and other countries followed their example.
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What is the "Great Trek" and why did it take place?
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After the British took over the Cape of Good Hope (which had been held by the Dutch) the Dutch settlers (Boers) moved in great numbers to the northern regions. The Great Trek took place in the 1830s and 1840s.
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Why was the Boer war (1899 to 1902) fought?
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Many years after the Great Trek, gold and diamonds were discovered in the land occupied by the Boers. When the British wanted greater control of this area the Boers defended their land, independence and wealth. The British eventually won and the Republic of South Africa was formed.
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Befor World War 1, which European powers controlled most of the African continent?
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Great Britain, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Germany.
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What, according to some, were some of the benefits of this foreign control to Africa?
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This time of foreign control saw strong missionary work in Africa and the abolition of some barbaric customs (eg the murder of twins). Schools and colleges were founded. Roads, railways and hospitals were constructed. There was also an increase in the development of cities.
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When did most of this foreign rule end?
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The colonial power of European countries in Africa ended in the 1950s and 1960s.
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What was apartheid in South Africa?
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Apartheid was a legal system of racial separation. The minority whites were allowed greater advantaged whereas the majority black and mixed races were penalised and treated as 'second-class' citizens.
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What does Polytheism mean?
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Polytheism means believing in more than one god.
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What does Monotheism mean?
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Monotheism means believing in one god.
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What does Animism mean?
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Animism means believing that natural objects (eg trees) and forces (eg lightning) are inhabited by spiitual forces. Often these forces are seen as being malignant and evil.
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Describe the religion of the typical Afrcan tribal community?
(Remember that it is hard to have something that is typical in a continent as large and varied as Africa!) |
There was a belief in a god who created the world and in lesser gods and spirits who decided what would happen to the people. Sacrifices and rituals were performed to win the favour of these lesser gods in order to receive various blessings.
There was a belief that dead ancestors were still an active part of the family and that their spirits influenced those still alive. |
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Why were masks worn during religious ceremonies?
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Masks were made by African craftsmen to represent the faces of spirits or animals. During the religious ceremonies, the dancer wearing the mask supposedly became that spirit or animal. Each mask has a special purpose.
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How is African tribal art reflected in their religion?
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Objects or figures carved from wood, stone or other material were believed to represent political or religious powers. Charms were also made for people to carry with them for their good luck.
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