economies & cultures chapter 18, lesson 2 p. 530 - 533
TRANSCRIPT
Economies & CulturesChapter 18, Lesson 2
P. 530 - 533
Economies of Central & Western Africa
Most African countries had traditional economies
Colonialism introduced market economies
Today, most African countries have market economies
Agriculture in Western & Central Africa
Most people in this region are subsistence farmers
Cash crops - grown only for to sell
Sugar cane, coffee, cacao
Ivory Coast - world’s largest producer of cacao
Ivory Coast – Chocolate Capital of the World
African Artisans
Some people craft items
Examples: iron hoes, leather shoes, art
Entertainers & Musicians
Musicians act as historians
African Minerals
Almost every type of mineral in the world can be found in Africa
Many Africans mine for a living
Diamonds, gold, petroleum, manganese, uranium
“Conflict Diamonds” - used to fund wars
Conflict Diamonds....
http://youtu.be/1Nb3f5Ugzqk
Some diamonds are also known as Blood Diamonds...
Watch the YouTube video constructed for a class at USC (University of Southern California).
Ways of Life in Western &Central Africa
More than 1,000 languages
More Africans are moving to cities
Strains traditional African family life and cultures
Extended families are typical - very large
Social Status
Older people have higher status and influence
Some age groups have specific responsibilities
Men - settle legal disputes, police the village
Women - punish behavior that harms women