Chapter 20 – North Africa Section Notes

Video

Physical Geography History and Culture North Africa Today

Impact of the Nile River

Close-up A Sahara Oasis

World Almanac Egypt’s Population

Maps North Africa: Political North Africa: Physical Egypt: Population North Africa: Agriculture North Africa Assessment Map: North Africa

Images

Quick Facts Chapter 20 Visual Summary

Geography Great Sphinx Focus on Culture: The Berbers An Egyptian Pyramid Algiers, Algeria

Physical Geography The Big Idea North Africa is a dry region with limited water resources. Main Ideas • Major physical features of North Africa include the Nile River, the Sahara, and the Atlas Mountains. • The climate of North Africa is hot and dry, and water is the region’s most important resource.

Main Idea 1: Major physical features of North Africa include the Nile River, the Sahara, and the Atlas Mountains. • The Nile River is the longest river in the world. – Flows more than 4,000 miles northward through the desert – Formed by the union of two rivers, the Blue Nile and the White Nile – Empties into the Mediterranean Sea

• The land along the Nile is very fertile. – Floods on the river deposit silt, or finely ground fertile soil, all along the river. – Before it reaches the sea, the Nile fans out into a huge fertile delta.

• The Aswan High Dam controls flooding on the Nile. – Because of the lack of silt, farmers need to use fertilizer to grow crops.

Other Physical Features of North Africa The Sinai and Suez Canal • The Sinai Peninsula is east of the Nile. It is mostly rocky and barren. • The Suez Canal separates the Sinai peninsula from the rest of Egypt. Ships carry oil and goods from the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea through the canal. Mountains • Several mountain ranges can be found in the Sahara. • The highest mountains are the Atlas Mountains in the northwest, near the Mediterranean Sea. They rise to 13,600 feet (4,160 m) above sea level.

The Sahara Largest desert in the world, covering most of North Africa Very dry, so very few people live there

Nearly every settlement in the Sahara is located near an oasis, a wet and fertile area in a desert where a spring or well provides water. Common features in the Sahara include broad gravel plains, tall sand dunes, and dry streambeds.

Main Idea 2: The climate of North Africa is hot and dry, and water is the region’s most important resource. Climate • Three main climates: – Desert: very dry, with temperatures ranging from mild to very hot – Mediterranean: found along the coast; mild winters and warm summers – Steppe: found between the coast and the desert

Resources • Because rain is rare, water is a valuable resource. • Oil and gas are found in Libya, Algeria, and Egypt. • Morocco has iron ore. • Coal, oil, and natural gas are found in the Sahara.

History and Culture The Big Idea North Africa is rich in history and Islamic culture. Main Ideas • North Africa’s history includes ancient Egyptian civilization. • Islam influences the cultures of North Africa and most people speak Arabic.

Main Idea 1: North Africa’s history includes ancient Egyptian civilization. • Egyptian civilization began after 3200 BC. • The Egyptians are most famous for building huge stone monuments, especially pyramids. – The pyramids were built as tombs for pharaohs, or Egyptian kings. – The largest pyramid is called the Great Pyramid. It is still standing today.

• The Egyptians also developed a writing system called hieroglyphics. – Used pictures to represent words or ideas

– Often carved on monuments to record pharaohs’ deeds

Later North African History Greek and Arab Influence • The Greeks under Alexander the Great invaded Egypt. • They built a city, Alexandria, that became a center of trade and culture. • In the 600s the Arabs conquered much of North Africa. • They brought the Arabic language and Islam to the region. European Influence • By 1912 European countries such as Britain, Spain, France, and Italy had taken over North Africa. • North Africa regained independence beginning in the 1920s. The last country to become free was Algeria in 1962.

Modern North Africa • Since independence the countries of North Africa have tried to build stronger ties with other Arab countries.

Main Idea 2: Islam influences the cultures of North Africa and most people speak Arabic. People and Language • Egyptians, Berbers, Bedouins, and people of mixed ancestry live in North Africa. • The majority of people in the region speak Arabic.

Religion • Most North Africans are Muslims, people who practice Islam. • Islam influences many aspects of life in North Africa.

• A small percentage of people in the region practice Christianity or other non-Islamic religions.

North African Culture Foods • Grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts are common. • Couscous—dish made from wheat served with meat or vegetables • Fuul—Egyptian dish made from fava beans, olive oil, garlic, and lemons

Holidays and Customs • Most holidays are religious. • Cafes are gathering places. • People greet each other by shaking hands and touching their hearts. • Traditional clothes are long and loose.

The Arts and Literature • Traditional arts include wood carving and weaving. • Egypt has a movie industry.

• Music is very popular. • Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz won the Nobel Prize in 1988.

North Africa Today The Big Idea Many people of North Africa are farmers, and oil is an important resource. Main Ideas • Many of Egypt’s people are farmers and live along the Nile River. • People in the other countries of North Africa are mostly pastoral nomads or farmers, and oil is an important resource in the region.

Main Idea 1: Many of Egypt’s people are farmers and live along the Nile River. Egypt is the most populous country in North Africa with more than 75 million people. Most of them are poor farmers. Government Egypt is a republic, though its government is influenced by Islamic law. People are torn over how much influence Islam should have and how much the government should participate in foreign affairs.

Society Most people are very poor and do not have clean water. • Disease is common.

• About half of all Egyptians cannot read or write. • The Egyptian government has made great progress in improving people’s lives.

Egypt Today Resources and Economy • Limited resources • Nearly all farming takes place along the Nile. The land is very fertile and good for growing cotton. • Shipping through the Suez Canal brings money to Egypt.

Cities and Rural Life • Close to 99 percent of Egypt’s population lives in the Nile Valley and Delta. • Cairo is the largest city and capital. It has a mixture of modern buildings, historic mosques, and mud houses. The city is very crowded.

• Petroleum exports and tourism also make money.

• Alexandria, the secondlargest city, is also poor and crowded.

• Many Egyptian families depend on money sent by relatives in other countries.

• More than half of all Egyptians live in villages and rural areas.

Main Idea 2: People in the other countries of North Africa are mostly pastoral nomads or farmers, and oil is an important resource in the region. • Together, western Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco are called the Maghreb, from the Arabic for ―west.‖

Government • Governments are torn over how much influence Islam should have in the running of countries.

Economy • Oil is the most important resource in Libya and Algeria. Money from oil pays for schools, health care, and military equipment. • Farmers in the region grow wheat, olives, fruits, and nuts. • Tourism is also an important activity.

North African Cities •

Many North African cities have large marketplaces called souks. –

Merchants in souks sell goods like spices, carpets, and copper products.

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A souk is often located in the old section of a city called the Casbah.

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Cities in Libya and Tunisia are mostly on the coast. The largest cities are Benghazi and Tripoli, Libya, and Tunis, Tunisia.

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Morocco’s largest cities are Casablanca and Tangier. Both are tourist attractions, and Tangier is a free port, a city in which goods are not heavily taxed.

The Countries of North Africa Libya

Algeria

• Ruled since 1969 by General Mu’ammar alGadhafi, a dictator, or ruler with complete power

• In the 1990s violence broke out between the government and Islamic groups.

• Gadhafi supported violence against Israel, so many other countries limit their relations with Libya.

• Today Algeria is working to recover from the violence and strengthen its economy.

Tunisia • Close economic relations with many European countries • Tunisian women have more rights than others in the region.

Morocco • Only country in North Africa with little oil • Important producer and exporter of fertilizer

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