CHAPTER SUMMARY
Section 1: Physical Geography
PHYSICAL FEATURES
Southern Africa is covered with grassy plains, steamy swamps, mighty rivers, rocky waterfalls,
and steep mountains and plateaus.
Most of Southern Africa lies on a large plateau. The steep face at the edge of a plateau or other
raised area is called an escarpment. In eastern South Africa, part of the escarpment is made up
of a mountain range called the Drakensberg. Farther north, the Inyanga Mountains separate
Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Many large rivers cross Southern Africas plains. The Okavango flows from Angola into a huge
basin in Botswana. The Orange River passes through the Augrabies Falls and flows into the
Atlantic Ocean.
CLIMATE AND VEGETATION
Southern Africas climates change from east to west. The east coast of the island of Madagascar
is the wettest place in the region. In contrast to the eastern part of Africa, the west is very dry.
Deserts along the Atlantic coast give way to plains with semiarid and steppe climates. Much of
Southern Africa is covered by a large savanna region. On this grassland plain, shrubs and short
trees grow. These grassland areas are known as the veld in South Africa.
The Namib Desert on the Atlantic Coast is the driest area in the region. The Kalahari Desert
covers most of Botswana. Here ancient stream have drained into low, flat areas, or pans. On
these pans, a glittering white layer forms when the streams dry up and leave minerals behind.
While the mainland is mostly dry, Madagascar has lush vegetation and tropical forests. Many
animals, such as lemurs, are found here and nowhere else in the world. Unfortunately, rain forest
destruction has endangered many of Madagascars animals.
RESOURCES
Rich in natural resources, Southern Africa has useful rivers, forests, and minerals. Its rivers
provide a source of hydroelectric power and irrigation for farming. Forests are a source of timber.
Mineral resources include gold, diamonds, platinum, copper, uranium, coal, and iron ore. Mining
is very important to Southern Africas economy. However, mining can harm the surrounding
natural environments.
Section 2: History and Culture
HISTORY
Bantu farmers moved from West Africa to Southern Africa about 2,000 years ago. In the 1700s,
Europeans settled on the Southern Africa coast. They changed the regions landscape and way
of life forever.
The Khoisan peoples lived in Southern Africa for centuries. They were hunter-gatherers and
herders. When the Bantu came to the area, they brought new languages and iron tools.
A Bantu group, the Shona, built an empire that reached its peak in the 1400s. The Shona farmed,
raised cattle, and traded gold. They also built Great Zimbabwe, a stone-walled capital made of
huge granite boulders and stone blocks. The city became a large trading center until the gold
trade slowed.
In the late 1400s Portuguese traders set up bases on the Southern African coast. These bases
served as a stopping place between Portugal and Asia. Other Europeans, including the Dutch,
arrived after the Portuguese. In 1652 the Dutch set up a trade station in a natural harbor near the
Cape of Good Hope. The Cape sits at the tip of Africa.
Other Europeans settled on the Cape. In South Africa, the Dutch, French, and German settlers
and their descendants were called Afrikaners.
The British took over the Cape area in the early 1800s. The Boers, Afrikaner frontier farmers,
tried to stop the British, but lost. At about this time, the Zulu became a powerful force in the
region. The Zulu were a Bantu-speaking group. However, the British defeated them and took over
this land, too.
When slavery ended in the British Empire in the 1830s, trade shifted from slaves to ivory. Then
trade shifted away from ivory, to diamonds and gold, which were found in South Africa in the
1860s.
South Africa was ruled by white Afrikaners and became more racist in the 1900s. Black South
Africans who opposed them formed the African National Congress (ANC). The white government
set up a policy called apartheid, which divided people into four groups: whites, blacks,
Coloureds, and Asians. Coloureds and Asians could only live in certain areas. Blacks had to live
in separate areas, called townships. They had few rights.
Starting in the 1960s, the Southern Africa colonies slowly gained independence from Europe.
CULTURE
Southern Africa has a rich and diverse culture. Its people belong to hundreds of different ethnic
groups. They speak many languages, most of which are related to Khoisan or Bantu. They
practice different religions, including Christianity and traditional African religions. Its arts reflect its
many cultures, using traditional ethnic designs and crafts.
Section 3: Southern Africa Today
SOUTH AFRICA
Today South Africa has made great progress, but challenges remain. Perhaps South Africas
biggest challenge has been ending apartheid. Many people objected to apartheid. As a result,
some countries put sanctions penalties to force a change in policyon South Africa. Protest
within the country increased as well. In response, the government outlawed the African National
Congress (ANC), a group defending the rights of black South Africans.
In the late 1980s, South Africa moved away from apartheid. In 1990 the government released its
political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela. He was elected South Africas president in 1994.
South Africas new government is a republic. Its constitution stresses equality and human rights.
South Africa has the regions strongest economy, with more resources and industry than most
African countries. Large cities such as J ohannesburg and Cape Town contribute to the
economy.
OTHER COUNTRIES OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
Surrounded by South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland are both enclaves. An enclave is a small
territory surrounded by a foreign territory. Both countries are kingdoms, but are governed by an
elected prime minister and a parliament.
Namibia gained independence in 1990. It is a republic. Most of its income comes from mineral
resources. Fishing and ranching are also important.
Botswana is rich in mineral resources and has a stable, democratic government. Cattle ranching
and diamond mining are its main economic activities.
Zimbabwe has a poor economy. It is also politically unstable. In 2000, the president began a land
reform program, taking land from white farmers and giving it to black residents. However, food
shortages resulted.
Mozambique is one of the worlds poorest countries. The economy was hurt by a civil war. It
relies on taxes collected on products shipped out of its ports from the interior of Africa.
Madagascar has an elected president, but the economy is struggling. The country is popular with
tourists because of its unique plants and animals. Comoros is made up of four tiny islands. It is
poor and politically unstable. However, the government hopes to improve education and promote
tourism.
ISSUES AND CHALLENGES
Southern Africa is doing better than most other African countries. Still the region faces many
challenges, especially poverty, disease, and environmental destruction. The African Union (AU) is
working to promote cooperation among African countries to try to solve these problems.
