Density: 56.2 people every square mile
Main language groups: Arabic, Hausa, Amharic, Yoruba Oromo, Nguni, Igbo, Akan, Berber, and Malagasy
Principle Religions: Christianity, Islam, tribal religions, and Baha'i
Literacy: 46.9%
Largest Cities: Cairo, Egypt; Kinshasa, Zaire, and Alexandria, Egypt
Natural Features
Mountain Ranges: Ahaggar, Atlas, Cristal, Drakensburg, Mitumda, Muchinga, Ruwenzori, Tibesti, Virunga.
Largest Lakes: Victoria (26,828 square miles), Tanganyika (12,700 square miles), Nyasa (11,430 square miles)
Climate: Regions: very hot deserts, tropical wet and dry, Mediterranian, humid, subtropical, marine, warm temperate upland, and mountain.
Economy
Agricultural Products: Crops consist of bananas, beans, cashews, cassava, citrus, fruits,cocoa, coffee, corn, cotton, dates, maniac, millet, olives, palm nuts and oil, peanuts, plantains, pulses, rice, sorghum, sugarcane, sweet potatoes and yams. Livestock consists of camels, cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, and sheep.
History
Around 5,000 B.C.to 1,100 B.C. an incredibly powerful and rich civilization existed in Africa. This civilization was ancient Egypt. Out of all of the ancient African civilizations, we know most about Egypt. The Egyptians got most of their water and fertile land from the Nile River. Since the Nile was their only source of water for miles around, the Egyptians designed an ingenious system called irrigation. Irrigation is a system in which water is flows through manmade canals therefore making the land it flows through rich and fertile. The Egyptians' ruler was called the Pharaoh. Everything in the Egyptian civilization was centered around the pharaoh. Most of the taxes went to him, most of the food went to him, and he was treated like a god. Egypt was a very powerful country because of its willingness to expand and conquer, and therefore gain power. There were three different time periods that Egypt is classified into. There was the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom. The Old Kingdom collapsed when huge building projects made the people and governors mad and they rebelled. Then there was the Middle Kingdom. Then the Middle Kingdom was ended when the Hyksos invaded the Nile delta. Then the pharaoh Ahmose reunited Egypt by fighting the Hyksos and taking the delta back. This marked the beginning of the New Kingdom. The New Kingdom collapsed when new armies challenged the pharoah and soon one of the most powerful and well-known empires in Egypt collapsed.
Another great culture in Africa besides Egypt was Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe was at its prime in the year 1400 A.D. It had great walls of stone and was greatly fortified against enemies. Unfortunately we do not know much about life in ancient Zimbabwe. We do know, however, that Zimbabwe was very large, with walls that twisted and curved like a snake. There were many houses and a marketplace. The inhabitants of Zimbabwe lived very well. Then, mysteriously, the Zimbabwe civilization started to die out. All that is left of that great civilization is ruins.
Another tragic part of Africa's history happened much more recently. Americans in the 18th century went over to Africa in great ships, and enslaved innocent Africans. The heartless Americans enslaved whole villages and tribes. They would beat the Africans, and stuff them in the holds of the ships. Then, they would go on the long journey across the Atlantic, and sell the Africans as slaves. Many of the slaves escaped from their masters and fled north, but many were tortured, killed, and forced to work to death. This was a tragic loss for Africa, and the heartlessness of the deep south slave owners will not soon be forgotten.
Africa Today
Today, Africa is considered to be a very exotic continent. With its incredible wildlife, deserts, and ancient ruins, it remains a great place to visit and learn about. Many people visit Africa to go on safaris, learn about African culture, or just to see this magnificent place. Unfortunately, Africa as a whole is a rather poor place. It is disease ridden in many places, and there is much suffering. Many people are working very hard to help African children and adults have a better chance at life. However, not all Africa is poor, and many Africans lead lives much like you or I do. Africa is a very diverse continent, with much to offer and enjoy.
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