Africa Today

Unit Review Sheet

Facts and Definitions

Lesson 1: Overview of Africa

• Africa is a continent made up of 54 countries.
• Africa's geography includes extremely different climates and terrains including deserts, rain forests, mountains, and grasslands.
• Africa is home to almost 1.5 billion people who represent over 3,000 different ethnic groups.

Lesson 2: Northwestern Africa

• The Sahara Desert covers much of northwestern Africa.
• Coastal regions of northwestern Africa are best suited for growing crops, and most of the population lives in these coastal plain areas.
• Northwestern Africa's population is growing rapidly, which has caused problems like housing shortages.

Lesson 3: Northeastern Africa

• Many of the countries of northeastern Africa have experienced devastation due to war as well as drought and famine in recent years.
• The Nile River is an important natural resource for several countries in northeastern Africa.
• The boundaries of the countries of northeastern Africa were drawn by colonial rulers. The people living within the borders of a given country may not share the same language or culture, and nomadic peoples may not use these borders as boundaries when moving with their herds.

Lesson 4: West Africa

• The climate and terrain of West Africa vary widely from north to south.
• Many of the folktales and cultural traditions of West Africa have traveled to other parts of the world and been incorporated into the cultural traditions of other continents.

Lesson 5: Central Africa

• European countries took over many parts of Africa and created colonies there from the 1880s through the early 20th century. Most African countries became independent in the 1960s.
• Central Africa includes countries that have created very successful systems after attaining their independence and countries that have been plagued with poverty, warfare, and governmental instability.
• Central Africa includes diverse environments including deserts, grasslands, and dense rain forests.

Lesson 6: Central East Africa

• The Great Rift Valley runs through central east Africa. Much of the rest of the region is grassland that is home to an amazing array of wildlife.
• Tourism related to the incredible landscapes and animals of central east Africa has become important to the economies of many countries.
• Many central east African countries have experienced violence and political instability. Other issues of concern include threats to endangered species, malaria, the spread of HIV and AIDS, and deforestation.

Lesson 7: Southern Africa

• African countries have many different forms of government, including some governments that are provisional or transitional at this time.

Final Project: African News Report

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