Chapter 20: The Transition Zone

nile river

2 major tributaries of this famous river pass throufh

Berlin Conference, cut

A conference, known as the ___ ____, was held between 1884 and 1885 to regulate European colonization. All of the Sahel was under European control by 1914. European rulers knew little about Africa's political and social systems, and no Africans participated at the Berlin Conference. As a result, Europeans created colonial boundaries that often __ across cultural, religious, or traditional boundaries, merging animist cultures with Muslim societies. Animist cultures believe all elements of nature, such as animals and mountains, have spirits. The introduction of Christianity added to the tension. Religious friction set African peoples against one another and strengthened European rule.

D

A culture that believes that elements of nature have spirits is A.a nomadic culture. B.a Christian culture. C.an Islamic culture. D.an animist culture.

D

A key factor in the high mortality rates and number of infectious diseases in the Transition Zone is A.language barriers. B.religious practices. C.large rural populations. D.lack of sanitation.

Darfur

A peace agreement was finally signed in 2005, which provided considerable independence for Sudan's southern provinces. Although the agreement ended the conflict between the north and the south, it did not address the conflict in the western __ region of the country. The civil war in ___ occurred because non-Arab Sudanese accused the government of favoring Sudanese Arabs. Finally, in 2011, the southern provinces of Sudan held a referendum and voted for independence. South Sudan is now an independent country, with Juba as its capital.

forms

African art comes in many ______, from ritual masks to rhythmic drum music to folktales. These various art forms often express traditional religious beliefs. Visual arts include the ceremonial masks and wooden figures of the Dogon people of Mali. Music is also an important part of Dogon culture. Traditionally, the Dogon use music at ceremonies honoring their loved ones who have died. Rich musical traditions of the region include percussion and the five-string guitar. The talking drum is also popular, so called because it can reproduce the tone changes that are part of the Dogon language. By combining different tones and rhythms, the drumming creates messages that can be understood like the language.

B

An area where a river, such as the Niger River, slows down and spreads out into smaller channels is A.a mouth. B.a delta. C.a floodplain. D.a tributary.

sahel

Arabic meaning "shore or coast"

chaotic rainfall

Because of _ ____ some years are too wet and some years are too dry.

rainfall, low-growing grasses

Because the Sahel receives little __, only _ ___ ___, shrubs, and acacia trees can grow there.

crop, conservation

Better ______ varieties and water _______ technologies are ways to improve water management

Chad

Chari River, Logone River, Yobe River, feed Lake ______.

Border

Conflicts also arose between countries in the Sahel. ____ disputes have lasted for years between Somalia and Ethiopia. The collapse of governments as a result of warring factions, drought, and famine further weakened the newly independent countries. While some countries in the African Transition Zone continue to struggle, new opportunities from the discoveries of oil, gas, and uranium deposits may help to bring stability if governments can manage these resources properly.

water

Decreasing rainfall makes scarce ___ even more precious

planting pits

Farmers in Burkina Faso experimented with traditional _____ ___ to reclaim severely dry land

deforestation, drought

Farming and nomadic herding are threatened by _________ and _________.

Harmattan

Hot, dry ___ winds in Jan. and Dec.

arid to tropical

How does the climate change in the transition zone?

little

How much rainfall does the transition zone receive?

Transition zone

In Africa's ___ __, the physical characteristics change from arid to tropical

C

In western Africa, why is the harmattan sometimes considered invigorating? A.because it is cool B.because it is hot C.because it is dry D.because it is humid

B

In which of the following parts of the Transition Zone are you most likely to find patriarchal families? A.in cities B.rural areas C.near the Sahara D.in Mali

Volta

Lake ___ in Ghana is one of the largest human-made lakes in the world.

Chad, wetland

Lake ____ was once the second-largest ___ in Africa, but now is shrinking since a drought that occurred in the 1970s.

Volta

Lake _______ in Ghana is one of the world's largest human-made lakes.

south

Lake chad is at the _________ end of the Sahara.

extended,clans, nuclear

No matter how different their ways of life, most Africans in the Transition Zone value strong family ties. Most people still live in ______ families in rural areas. Women are very involved in supporting the family, often doing much of the farmwork. However, most families are patriarchal, or headed by a male family member, and descent is traced through the male line. Families are organized into ____, large groups of people descended from an early common ancestor. People often marry only within their clan. In the cities, however, extended families are more difficult to maintain. As a result, the _____ family—made up of husband, wife, and children—is rapidly replacing the extended family.

herding, subsistence fariming

Nonetheless, most people make their living in the traditional economies of the Transition Zone, primarily semi nomadic _____ and ________ _________.

infrequent

One of the causes of desertification in the TZ is ________ rainfalll

Farming, nomadic herding

People earn their living by ___ and ____ ____, But drought and deforestation are making it more difficult to do this.

lake chad

Shrinking body of water at southern edge of Sahara

true

T/F Berlin COnference regulated European colonization

false

T/F Darfur was formed from southern provinces in Sudan

F

T/F Desertification is inevitable in this extremely dry area.

F

T/F Farmers in Burkina Faso developed farming methods that improved soil fertility and used water more efficiently, but decreased the crop yield produced

true

T/F Fulani and Berber peoples both live in the sagel

false

T/F Mansa Musa was a famous ruler of the Songhai

F

T/F Most freshwater in the subregion comes from the five large aquifers in the Sahel.

True

T/F Muslim cultures are mainly located in in the north

F

T/F Overgrazing is the natural reaction of wild animals durning extreme drought conditions

F

T/F Planners of the Great Green Wall expect the barrier to block desert winds and will help hold moisture in te soil, reducing soil erosion.

F

T/F Senegal has begun adding bacteria to sand dunes to calcify the sand and create a hard wall to divide the desert and semi-arid land on the other side.

F

T/F Small scale efforts by local farmers have been the most successful of the various efforts to address water management problems in the subregion.

T

T/F THe transition zone only grows short grasses, shrubs, and acacia trees.

F

T/F The Great Green Wall was an ambitious project that was completed in the 1980s in response to the severe drought that killed hundreds of thousands of people over 20 years

false

T/F The Sahara was once entirely submerged underwater

false

T/F The kush river civilization dominated ancient Mali

T

T/F This region is an area of dryness, infrequent rainfall, and drought.

T

T/F This region is one of the world's largest pastoral and herding zones

true

T/F Timbuktu was an important historic trading center.

F

T/F Well-intentioned humanitarian aid during the severe 20 year drought that began in the 1960s ended up exacerbating water management problems in the region

1960s, 1980s

THere was a severe drought that lasted from the late ________ until the ____

religious, life

The African Transition Zone is more than just a geographical transition—it is also a cultural transition between Muslim North Africa and the animist and Christian south. Many different cultural groups inhabit the changing environment of the Transition Zone. There are not only differences in _______ beliefs, but also differences in ways of ____. Herders, farmers, nomads, and city dwellers make up the people of the Transition Zone.

Senegal, Djibouti

The Green Wall project will stretch 4,970 miles from ___ to __________.

B

The Mali Empire prospered due to A.agriculture. B.trade. C.colonization. D.Islam.

1973, 9

The Permanent Interstate COmmittee for Drought Control in the Sahel was established in _____ and is made up of ______ countries

Lakes, rivers, wetlands

The Sahel has ___, ____, and ____.

Niger

The __ river is the main waterway in western Africa

Sahel, sand

The __, another name for this area, is the place where _ marks the border of the Sahara.

Green Wall, Sahara

The ____ ______ project is based on the idea that trees will help stop the southward spread of the _________.

population

The ________ of the Sahel has greatly increased since the 1960s.

precipitation

The amount of __ has deceased in the last centruy

May, August

The climate has two hot seasons, with rainy season between the months of ___ and )))))

north, south, Muslims, subsistence

The countries in the Transition Zone are teeming with cultural differences. At times, these differences have led to conflicts such as between Sudan's ___ and ____. Arabic-speaking _____ live mostly in the northern cities and favor Islamic-oriented governments. People in the south live mostly in rural areas, are focused on a _____ economy, and prefer a secular government. These differences led to a conflict in which nearly 300,000 people died and an estimated 2.7 million people were displaced between 1983 and 2005.

oil and gas, oil

The empires that once occupied this region built their kingdoms with trade. Salt and gold added to the wealth of empires such as Mali. Today, the subregion also has rich deposits of ____ ____ _____, iron, phosphates, copper, tin, and uranium to explore and develop. ___- has been particularly important in attracting outside investment.

Mansa Musa

The most famous ruler of the Mali Empire was ____ ___. A Muslim, ___ ____ enhanced the prestige and power of Mali through a famous pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca). Accompanied by a huge entourage, ___ ____ apparently dispensed so much gold on his journey to Makkah that the price of gold fell drastically in places he visited.

Atlantic, Indian

The topography is mainly flat with a series of plateaus, and runs in a band from the __ Ocean in the west to the ____ Ocean in the east

diverse

The transition zone has a _________ population of plants and animals

widest

The transition zone is the _______ part of Africa.

sahel

The transition zone is the geographical region known as the __________.

plateaus

This region is has flat topography with series of ________

overgrazing

This region is prone to __________.

Atlantic, Indian

This region runs from the __________ Ocean in the west to __________ Ocean in the east

C

Too many animals feeding too long in one area causes A.water management problems. B.biodiversity. C.overgrazing. D.deforestation.

Tributaries, blue, white

Two ___ of the Nile pass through the Transition Zone: the ___ Nile and the __ NIle

hot

Two ____ seasons: Feb.-Apr. and Sept.-Oct.

6

Volta RIver system is shared by _____ countries

The Berlin Conference

WHat was the outcome when Europe became aware of the wealth of African Kingdoms?

A

What are domesticated animals? A.animals that are tame B.animals that are hunted C.animals that live on the savannah D.animals that are wild

B

What gave rise to Egyptian civilization? A.the gold and salt trade B.the fertile Nile Valley C.changes in climate D.the downfall of the Kush river civilization

D

What has desertification led to for many of the people of the Transition Zone? A.crop variety B.cleaner water resources C.smaller livestock herds D.food insecurity

D

What is desertification? A.the feeding of livestock for too long in one area B.a lack of water resources in an area C.dramatic climate change D.destruction of land in arid and semi-arid climates

B

What is the main source of conflict between and within countries in the Transition Zone? A.economic differences B.cultural differences C.educational differences D.language differences

D

What is the meaning of the Arabic word Sahel? A.sands B.boundary C.ocean D.shore

conflict between cultures

What were the effects of the Berlin Conference (1884-1885)?

C

Which of the following best describes the Sahel? A.temperature forest B.tundra C.steppe D.rainforest

C

Which of the following cultures is dominant in North Africa? A.Sahel B.animist C.Islamic D.Christian

C

Which of the following describes average annual rainfall in the Sahel over the last century? A.It has remained the same. B.It has increased. C.It has decreased. D.It has doubled.

A

Which of the following groups is made up of countries in the Transition Zone working to improve food security and living conditions? A.the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel B.the International Atomic Energy Association C.the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification D.the Great Green Wall project

C

Which of the following groups is most impacted by desertification? A.village residents B.urban people C.farmers D.city dwellers

B

Which of the following has the best possibility of repairing some of the damage done by desertification? A.building on desert land B.improving land use practices C.planting only one type of crop D.increasing the population

A

Which of the following has the biggest effect on determining climate, and therefore vegetation, in the Transition Zone? A.rain B.sunlight C.latitude D.prevailing winds

A

Which of the following human activities has NOT worsened desertification? A.improved agricultural practices B.stripping of trees for firewood C.poorly planned irrigation projects D.deforestation

C

Which of the following is an example of a benefit of Lake Volta? A.It eliminated annual floods. B.It has changed the ecology of the Volta River. C.It supports fisheries. D.It has increased disease.

B

Which of the following is one of the main causes of desertification? A.new farming methods B.lack of water C.increased temperatures D.food insecurity

B

Which of the following is the main reason that population in the Transition Zone is not evenly distributed between herders, farmers, nomads, and city dwellers? A.The population is growing exponentially. B.Only a small part of the land is usable for agriculture. C.Herders and farmers are reluctant to give up their way of life. D.Nomads are constantly moving locations.

A

Which of the following is the major characteristic of a transition zone? A.a radical change in the land B.a drastic change in religion C.a sudden change in cultures D.an immediate change in temperature

C

Which of the following ways of life in the Transition Zone has existed the longest? A.mining B.empire rule C.subsistence farming D.trade

Victoria

While Nile originates in the mountains to west of lake _________

Port Sudan

While there are relatively few cities, there are several important ones. The ancient city of Timbuktu, now known as Tombouctou, is still standing. Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, has a population of about 710,000 people. Sudan has two important cities as well. Khartoum, its capital, has a population of over 5 million. The second, _____ _____, handles the bulk of Sudan's external trade.

Khartoum

While there are relatively few cities, there are several important ones. The ancient city of Timbuktu, now known as Tombouctou, is still standing. Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, has a population of about 710,000 people. Sudan has two important cities as well. _______, its capital, has a population of over 5 million. The second, Port Sudan, handles the bulk of Sudan's external trade.

Nouakchott

While there are relatively few cities, there are several important ones. The ancient city of Timbuktu, now known as Tombouctou, is still standing. ________, the capital of Mauritania, has a population of about 710,000 people. Sudan has two important cities as well. Khartoum, its capital, has a population of over 5 million. The second, Port Sudan, handles the bulk of Sudan's external trade.

Timbuktu

While there are relatively few cities, there are several important ones. The ancient city of _______, now known as Tombouctou, is still standing. Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, has a population of about 710,000 people. Sudan has two important cities as well. Khartoum, its capital, has a population of over 5 million. The second, Port Sudan, handles the bulk of Sudan's external trade.

B

Why are farming and nomadic herding traditional economies of the Transition Zone? A.Water is difficult to access. B.There are few natural resources. C.It is generally dry. D.Drought has damaged the land.

B

Why are some water resources in the African Transition Zone shrinking? A.The desert is expanding. B.Annual precipitation is decreasing. C.Fisheries and irrigation use too much water. D.The Niger River spreads out, flooding lands.

D

Why did people in farming communities in northern Africa begin moving south around 2000 B.C.? A.Northern Africa gave rise to cities. B.Northern Africa became a savannah. C.Northern Africa experienced flooding. D.Northern Africa became hotter and drier.

D

With which of the following methods have local people had success in improving soil fertility and production? A.better management of aquifers B.the Great Green Wall project C.building walls between deserts and semi-arid land D.modified planting pits

human activity

_____ ______ in the TZ, such as overgrazing, has made desertification worse

Niger

______ rivers in western Africa empties into the Gulf of Guinea

rainy

______ season: May-Aug.

Blue

__________ Nile expected to have Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in 2017

Senegal

__________ river in West Africa has Manatali Dam and Diama Dam

patriarchal

a family that is headed by a male family member

nuclear family

a family unit made up of a husband, wife, and children

area

a geographical region; the amount of space that the surface of a place covers

harmattan

a hot, dry wind that blows from the northeast or east in the western Sahara

clan

a large group of people descended from the same ancestor

transition zone

an area in which the properties of the land undergo a radical change

circumstance

an event or fact that accompanies or determines another

delta

an often triangular-shaped section of land formed as the waters of a river slow down and split into many channels as they deposit sand and silt that has been carried downriver

indian ocean

body of water east of the sahel region

subsistence farming

farming that provides the basic needs of a family with little surplus

Baobab

kind of tree found in the sahel

niger river

known by many names but all mean "great river"

lake Volta

large, human-made lake found in Ghana

animist

pertaining to traditional religious beliefs in which nature and objects, such as animals and mountains, are thought to have spirits

potential

possible or likely

stress

pressure or strain

harmattan

referred to as "the doctor" for invigorating dryness

sahel

steppe region extending from Senegal to Somalia that receives little rainfall

desertification

the destruction of land in arid and semi-arid climates

sanitation

the disposal of waste products

oral tradition

the practice of passing down stories from generation to generation by word of mouth

beneit

to gain

enhance

to improve or increase

domesticate

to tame

desertification

water shortages in arid and semi-arid areas often lead to __________

rainfall

yearly ___ in the Sagel has decreased and become erratic.