Southern Africa Study Guide
Use pages 809 - 830 in your textbook to answer the following question in complete sentences.
1. How is the geography of East Africa different from Southern Africa?
East Africa has mountains, plateaus, and highlands. While Southern Africa has more flat areas, like sandy and dry deserts.
2. What are the two driest regions of Southern Africa?
The two driest regions of Southern Africa are Namib and Kalahari.
3. List 3 serious challenges facing Southern Africa.
1. poverty
2. disease
3. Environmental problems
4. How do we know Great Zimbabwe traded with China and India?
Archaeologists have found Chinese porcelain and glass beads from India at Great Zimbabwe.
5. What helped the Bantu to become the dominant group in Southern Africa?
Iron working helped the Bantu become the dominant group in Southern Africa. (iron workers)
6. Which country has been most influenced by Bantu languages?
South Africa has been most influenced by Bantu languages.
7. Why did the European leaders want to divide Africa among themselves?
European leaders wanted to divide Africa among themselves for the natural resources. This meeting was called the Berlin Conference.
8. What is unique about the Khoisan languages?
The Khoisan languages are unique for the clicking sound they make when they speak.
9. Artists in Lesotho are famous for their woven tapestries.
10. In Zimbabwe, artists are known for their beautiful stone sculptures of birds and other animals..
11. Explain religion in Southern Africa.
Many people practice traditional African religions which include spirits. Europeans introduced Christianity to southern Africa. About half of Zimbabwe practices a combination of traditional African and Christianity.
12. How has Namibia attempted to promote environmental protection?
Namibia has attempted to promote environmental protection by adding and amendment to their constitution
13. What contributed to the government of South Africa’s decision to repeal all of its apartheid laws in the early 1990’s? Mention internal (within) and external (other countries) contributions.
South Africa’s decision to repeal all of its apartheid laws in the early 1990’s was largely because within the country, the African National Congress organized boycotts, strikes, and marches. From outside the country, the US and other nations placed sanctions on South Africa. Some countries banned trade or refused to invest money with South Africa. They were also banned from the Olympics for 30 years.
14. Describe the two causes of poverty in Southern Africa.
The two causes of poverty in Southern Africa are the following: Climate causes poverty in southern Africa because terrible droughts often destroy the crops grown by farmers. Second, a lack of jobs results in many South Africa’s people being unemployed, which leads to poverty.
Fill in the chart below
Southern Africa Countries
Countries
Economy
Government
South Africa
Valuable minerals, including gold, platinum and diamonds
Crude and refined petroleum
Republic with elected president
Lesotho
Few resources, little farming, relies on South Africa for jobs
Kingdom with elected prime minister and parliament
Swaziland (Eswantini)
Minerals, industries, cattle, farming, foreign trade
Kingdom with elected prime minister and parliament
Namibia
Minerals, fishing, and sheep ranching
Republic with elected president and legislature
Botswana
Mineral resources, cattle ranching, diamonds and tourism
democracy