How have Geographic challenges and resources shaped African cultures and history?
Why does Africa have so many problems?
How has Africa impacted the world?
Africa has impacted the world in multiple ways. Many of the foods that Americans eat every day originated in Africa. Some of the foods we see at stores or in restaurants are ; Yams, peanuts, rice, okra, sorghum, grits, black- eyed peas, and most commonly watermelon. African music has also influenced many other continents. Some children in America take lessons playing the banjo. The Banjo emerged in Africa and has spread to many other continents. Many of the music children in America have grown up and listened to on the radio, has its roots in Africa. Bre’r Rabbit, the famous folk story, was first composed in Africa. Bre’r Rabbit is about a trickster that is portrayed to be both a villain and a hero. Although the story may have changed little over the years, it still has the main idea that it had when it was first told in Africa. Although there are many more ways Africa has impacted the world these are just a few areas in which we see them in our culture today.
There are many Geographic challenges and resources that have shaped African cultures and history. One event that has shaped African cultures and history involves the Gold and Salt trade. The Gold and Salt trade occurred from 800 to 1600. The trade route stretched from North Africa to West Africa and traveled through the Sahara. The people exchanged scarce goods. Salt was vastly expensive and was in high demand through these particular years. The salt originated from the North Sahara and the Gold from West Africa. This trade helped to support strong kingdoms and empires. Slavery has also shaped African cultures and history in many ways. From the 1500’s to the 1800’s slaves were traded throughout Africa. Ten to fifteen million Africans were forced to move to the Americas to become slaves. It was extremely easy for other countries to either trade, or capture, slaves because there was an easy access from the Indian Ocean , the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to Africa. The slave trade disrupted the African Societies. When the raiders seized the young men and women there was no one to plant and harvest, so therefore the communities suffered greatly. European Imperialism led to great changes in Africa. Before the 1800’s the Europeans did not explore the internal geography of Africa. The Europeans relied on the Africans to bring goods, and slaves to the trading posts. This changed during age of Imperialism. Europeans began to explore the African rivers and claimed parts of Africa while converting some Africans to Christianity. Overall the the Gold/ Salt trade, slave trade, and later European Imperialism brought extensive changes to Africa.
Why does Africa have so many problems?
There are numerous explanations of why Africa has so many problems. Three of which are previous Colonization, Over population, and unbalanced economic structure. The negative effects of the previous European Colonization of Africa were loss of a traditional government, environmental exploitation, forced mixing of tribes and religions. Collectively, all these led to a destabilization of Africa. Many of the problems we see today include overpopulation, disease, and poverty. The unbalanced economic structure leads to devastating poverty. The gross national income per person in Ethiopia and Burundi is $90 in one year. North Africa is generally better than sub saharan Africa. When the economies are more stable, poverty is less prevalent. Possible solutions to this economic problem include reforming rules on debt, aid and trade. Decisions made in the past directly impact what we see today in Africa.
How has Africa impacted the world?
Africa has impacted the world in multiple ways. Many of the foods that Americans eat every day originated in Africa. Some of the foods we see at stores or in restaurants are ; Yams, peanuts, rice, okra, sorghum, grits, black- eyed peas, and most commonly watermelon. African music has also influenced many other continents. Some children in America take lessons playing the banjo. The Banjo emerged in Africa and has spread to many other continents. Many of the music children in America have grown up and listened to on the radio, has its roots in Africa. Bre’r Rabbit, the famous folk story, was first composed in Africa. Bre’r Rabbit is about a trickster that is portrayed to be both a villain and a hero. Although the story may have changed little over the years, it still has the main idea that it had when it was first told in Africa. Although there are many more ways Africa has impacted the world these are just a few areas in which we see them in our culture today.
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