Questions & Answers: Geography - Africa

Briefly describe the geographic realm of Sub-Saharan Africa.
The geographic realm of Sub-Saharan Africa is composed of the territory between the southern border of the Sahara Desert and the southernmost coast of the country of South Africa. The boundary between the North Africa realm and the Sub-Saharan realm is a prime example of a transition zone; several states straddle this hypothetical divide. This area of the globe constitutes a fairly distinctive cultural realm, due to a fusion of traditional African beliefs and cultures with the influences of European colonialism. Many countries in this realm exhibit export-oriented transport systems and European concepts of political geography while retaining their traditional languages, religions, and social practices. The realm of Sub-Saharan Africa is the least developed realm in the world, and the majority of its residents engage in agricultural production. This realm is made up of four regions: West Africa, East Africa, Equatorial Africa, and Southern Africa.

Briefly describe the geographic realm of North Africa/Southwest Asia.
The size and geographic diversity of the geographic realm of North Africa/Southwest Asia have spawned a number of different labels for the region, none of which are completely satisfactory. These labels include the Islamic realm, the Arab World, the dry world, and Afrasia. Though Islam and aridity do dominate the religious and climatic aspects of the realm, that domination is not complete, and the heterogeneity within these groups alone problematizes the notion of referring to the realm by a single characteristic. The use of relative location is seen as less divisive. The North Africa realm is composed of three regions (Egypt, North Africa, and the Southwest), and Southwest Asia is composed of four (the Middle East [this label is also disputed, due to what some see as the pejorative connotations of the term], the Arabian Peninsula, the North, and the East).

Describe the general economic geography of Sub-Saharan Africa.
The economic geography of the realm of Sub-Saharan Africa is primarily agricultural. Though many raw materials useful to industrialized countries (such as oil and diamonds) are located within this realm, most residents of Sub-Saharan Africa have little or no access to the technology needed to extract these resources, or to the world economy. Agriculturalists in this realm generally produce at the subsistence level (partially due to the harsh physical conditions—hot, dry weather—of the realm). Grain crops are produced more easily in drier areas, while root crops are grown in relatively wetter areas. Peoples in Sub-Saharan Africa also depend on pastoralism (especially the raising of goats, cattle, and chicken) and fishing for their livelihoods. Though this realm is the least developed in the world, farmers are attempting to better their situations by introducing cash crops to their land. Still, many in the area (which has the highest rate of population growth in the world) remain malnourished.

Describe the general economic geography of North Africa/Southwest Asia.
The economic geography of the realm of North Africa/Southwest Asia is primarily agricultural. Through much of the fertile farmland associated with Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent (another ancient culture hearth characterized by its advanced agricultural activity) has dried up, many residents of this realm continue to produce resilient crops (particularly cereals), mostly at subsistence levels. Another important aspect of the economic geography of this realm is the vast oil reserves located on the southern Arabian Peninsula, in North Africa, and near the Caspian Sea. While oil is considered one of the most important natural resources on our planet, its presence in North Africa/Southwest Asia has improved the quality of life for only a small portion of the population. This realm exhibits a large gap between the rich and the poor.