Chapter 18 – Southern Africa
Section Notes
Video
Physical Geography
History and Culture
Southern Africa Today
Impact of Apartheid
Close-up
Cape Town
World Almanac
Tourism in Southern Africa
Quick Facts
Chapter 18 Visual Summary
Maps
Southern Africa: Political
Southern Africa: Physical
Southern Africa: Vegetation
Southern Africa
Madagascar: Climate
Images
Geography
History
Focus on Culture: Music of South
Africa
Biography: Nelson Mandela
Baobab Trees
Physical Geography
The Big Idea
Southern Africa’s physical geography includes a
high, mostly dry plateau, grassy plains and rivers,
and valuable mineral resources.
Main Ideas
• Southern Africa’s main physical feature is a large plateau
with plains, rivers, and mountains.
• The climate and vegetation of Southern Africa is mostly
savanna and desert.
• Southern Africa has valuable mineral resources.
Main Idea 1:
Southern Africa’s main physical feature is a
large plateau with plains, rivers, and
mountains.
Plateaus and
Mountains
• Most of Southern Africa lies on a large
plateau.
– An escarpment, the steep face at the edge of a
plateau, runs along this plateau.
• In the east, part of the escarpment is made up
of the Drakensberg Mountains.
• Other mountains can be found in the
northeast and the southwest.
Plains
• Grassy plains run along the coast and cover
the plateau.
• The plains are home to lions, leopards,
elephants, baboons, and antelope.
Rivers of Southern Africa
The Okavango River flows out of Angola to form a
swampy delta in Botswana that is home to many
animals.
The Orange River in South Africa flows over many
waterfalls before it reaches the Atlantic.
The Limpopo River flows to the Indian Ocean.
Waterfalls and other obstacles prevent ships from
sailing up the river.
Main Idea 2:
The climate and vegetation of Southern Africa
is mostly savanna and desert.
Savanna and Desert
• Open grasslands cover much of the region. In South Africa,
they are called the veld.
• The Namib Desert is the driest place in the region. It
receives as little as one half inch of rain each year.
• The Kalahari Desert of Botswana features sandy plains and
pans, or low, flat areas.
Tropical Forests
• Found in Madagascar, which is known for its lush vegetation
• Contains animals not found anywhere else in the world, such
as lemurs
Main Idea 3:
Southern Africa has valuable mineral
resources.
Rich in natural resources:
• Madagascar has timber.
• Rivers provide hydroelectricity.
• Farmers grow a variety of crops.
• South Africa produces most of the world’s gold.
• South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia produce diamonds.
• Other minerals include coal, platinum, copper, uranium,
and iron ore.
Mining is very important to the economy, but it can be
very damaging to the environment.
History and Culture
The Big Idea
Native African ethnic groups and European settlements
influenced the history and culture of Southern Africa.
Main Ideas
• Southern Africa’s history began with hunter-gatherers,
followed by great empires and European settlements.
• The cultures of Southern Africa are rich in different
languages, religions, customs, and art.
Main Idea 1:
Southern Africa’s history began with
hunter-gatherers, followed by great empires
and European settlements.
• The Khoisan were among the earliest people in Southern
Africa. They were hunter-gatherers and herders.
• The Shona, a Bantu group, built an empire in the 1400s.
– The Shona farmed, raised cattle, and traded gold.
– They also built Great Zimbabwe, a stone-walled town that was
their capital.
• Great Zimbabwe was the center of a great trading network.
– Trade made the city’s rulers rich and powerful.
– The Shona traded with people as far away as China and the East
Coast of Africa.
• In the 1400s the gold trade declined. By 1500 Great
Zimbabwe was no longer a major trading center.
Europeans in Southern Africa
Dutch
• The Portuguese
were the first to
explore Southern
Africa.
• The Dutch were
the first to
actually settle in
the area. They
set up a trade
station near the
Cape of Good
Hope.
Afrikaners and
Boers
• Afrikaners were
descendants of
Dutch, French,
and German
settlers in South
Africa. They
developed a
language called
Afrikaans.
• The Boers were
Afrikaner farmers
who were forced
north by the
British.
British
• As the British
forced the Boers
to move, they
came into
conflict with a
Bantu group
called the Zulu.
• The British
defeated the
Zulu in a long
series of battles.
• The slave trade
ended in the
1830s.
Modern History
Apartheid
• In the early 1900s South
Africa’s government
became increasingly racist.
Nearly all officials were
white.
• The government set up a
policy of separation called
apartheid.
• Apartheid placed
restrictions on how people
could live. For example,
black South Africans were
made to live in tiny clusters
of homes called
townships.
Independence
• Beginning in the 1960s
many former colonies
gained independence.
• Some countries won their
freedom peacefully. Others
had to fight for it.
• Namibia remained under
the control of South Africa
until 1990.
Main Idea 2:
The cultures of Southern Africa are rich in
different languages, religions, customs, and art.
• Hundreds of ethnic groups
People
• Some ethnic groups, such as the Zulu and the
Tswana, are very large.
• Other groups are small and not native to Africa.
• Most languages belong to either the Khoisan or
Bantu language families.
Languages
• Khoisan languages are known for the click
sounds they include.
• More than 200 Bantu languages are spoken
today.
• English is also common.
Southern African Culture
Religion
• Europeans introduced Christianity to the region,
and many people today are Christian.
• Most non-Christians in the region practice
traditional religions.
• South Africans celebrate many holidays:
– Heritage Day celebrates the country’s diversity.
– Christian holidays such as Christmas
Celebrations • The region’s art reflects its many cultures.
and Art
– South African artists paint ethnic designs.
– Artists in Lesotho make tapestries.
– Artists in Zimbabwe make stone statues.
– Artists in Botswana make ostrich eggshell
beadwork.
Southern Africa Today
The Big Idea
Countries of Southern Africa today are trying to use their
governments and resources to improve their economies
and deal with challenges.
Main Ideas
• South Africa ended apartheid and now has a stable
government and strong economy.
• Some countries of Southern Africa have good resources
and economies, but several are still struggling.
• Southern African governments are responding to issues
and challenges such as drought, disease, and
environmental destruction.
Main Idea 1:
South Africa ended apartheid and now has a
stable government and strong economy.
• Other countries put sanctions, or economic and political
penalties, on South Africa to convince the government to end
apartheid.
• People within South Africa also protested against apartheid.
• In the 1980s the government began to move away from its
apartheid system. It released political prisoners, including
Nelson Mandela, who was elected president in 1994.
• Today all races have equal rights in South Africa. Everyone is
free to attend any school or university. However, not everyone
is equal economically yet. White South Africans are still
generally wealthier than black South Africans.
South Africa Today
• Republic with an elected president
Government
• Many officials are working to guarantee both
political and economic equality for all races in
South Africa.
• South Africa has more resources and industry
than most African countries.
Economy
• World’s largest producer of several valuable
minerals—gold, platinum, and chromium
• Large cities also contribute to the economy:
– Johannesburg has Africa’s largest industrial area.
– Cape Town attracts many tourists.
Main Idea 2:
Some countries of Southern Africa have
good resources and economies, but
several are still struggling.
Lesotho and Swaziland
• Enclaves, small territories surrounded by foreign land
• Lesotho has few resources, so it is a poor country.
• Swaziland has mineral resources and cattle.
Namibia
• Gained independence from South Africa in 1990
• Now a republic with its capital at Windhoek
• Some of Africa’s richest mineral deposits are in Namibia’s
deserts. Despite these resources, most people are poor.
Other Countries of Southern Africa
Botswana
• Mineral resources (especially diamonds), stable government,
cattle ranching, and tourism have led to economic success.
• One of the world’s fastest growing economies
• Unemployment remains high.
Zimbabwe
• Zimbabwe has resources, but inflation and war have severely
hurt the economy.
• Whites make up less than 1 percent of the population, but
own most of the land. The government is working to fix this
problem by taking land from white farmers and giving it to
black residents.
Other Countries of Southern Africa
Mozambique
• One of the world’s poorest countries due to years of civil war
• Industries include shipping and agriculture
Madagascar
• Was ruled for more than 20 years by a socialist dictator
• Now has an elected president who wants to improve the
economy
• Most of the country’s income comes from exporting coffee,
vanilla, sugar, and cloves and from tourism.
Comoros
• Four tiny islands with few resources
• Struggling to improve education and promote tourism
Main Idea 3:
Southern African governments are
responding to issues and challenges such as
drought, disease, and environmental
destruction.
• One of the most serious challenges facing the region is
poverty. Droughts often destroy food crops. In addition, many
people are unemployed, so they have no way to escape
poverty.
• Disease is also a problem. Many people in the region are
infected with HIV. Governments are working to stop the
spread of this disease.
• Many countries also face environmental challenges. For
example, deforestation is a major problem in Madagascar.
– Countries are working to solve these problems. Namibia was the
first country in the world to include environmental protection in
its constitution.
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