Physical Geography
Where are many countries of Central Africa located?
Near the equator.
A valuable resource that attracted many Europeans to the region in the late 1400s was __________________.
Ivory
Since independence, the countries of the region still experience effects of ___________ rule.
European
Name the capital and largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Kinshasa
What is inflation?
The rise in prices that occurs when currency loses its buying power
An important transportation route to the interior of the region is the ______________________.
Congo River
When did European countries divide Central Africa into colonies?
in the late 1800s
What is a dialect?
A regional variety of language.
Define malnutrition.
Not getting enough nutrients from food.
Two environmental problems facing the region today are ______________________ and _____________________.
logging, open-pit mining
What is a major barrier to travel on Central Africa's main rivers?
Rapids and waterfalls
What religion is most common in former British colonies?
Protestant Christianity
What is a Central African resource that Europeans used for making furniture and jewelry?
Ivory
Define malaria.
The disease spread by mosquitoes that causes fever and pain
Stopping the spread of _____________ and _____________ is a key challenge for the region.
malaria, AIDS
Name the river in the southern part of the region that many rivers and Lake Nyasa flow into.
Zambezi
Since independence, a problem within many countries in the region has been _______________________________.
fighting among ethnic groups
What is significant about Kongo?
It was one of the most important kingdom's in Central Africa's early history.
About what percent of people in Central Africa are under the age of 15?
50%
Name three reasons the region's economies have had slow growth.
Disease, environmental problems, and wars.
Name Central Africa's most valuable resource in the time of King Leopold
Rubber
How did the colonial borders drawn by Europeans cause problems for the countries of the region after independence?
Borders separated ethnic groups from each other and led to ethnic conflicts and civil wars within countries. These conflicts have slowed efforts to build nationalism and strong national governments.
In what way did the US and the Soviet Union involve Central Africa in the Cold War?
They supported different allies in small wars throughout the region.
Why haven't Central African countries benefited more from their valuable energy and mineral resources?
They lack the money, technology, infrastructure, and political stability to develop the resources
What has helped Cameroon develop a growing economy?
Political stability, oil reserves, good conditions for farming, and a good system of roads and railways.