Africa: Africa Is The World's Second-Largest and Second-Most-Populous
Africa: Africa Is The World's Second-Largest and Second-Most-Populous
Africa: Africa Is The World's Second-Largest and Second-Most-Populous
also
contains
the Nile
River system,
the
world's
longest,
and
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ETYMOLOGY
Afri was a Latin name used to refer to the Carthaginians, who dwelt in North
Africa in modern-day Tunisia. This name seems to have originally referred to a
native Libyan tribe. The name is usually connected with Phoenician afar, "dust", but
a 1981 hypothesis has asserted that it stems from the Berber ifri, "cave", in
reference to cave dwellers.
Under Roman rule, Carthage became the capital of Africa Province, which also
included the coastal part of modern Libya. The Latin suffix "-ica" can sometimes be
used to denote a land. The later Muslim kingdom of Ifriqiya, modern-day Tunisia,
also preserved a form of the name.
AFRICAN HISTORY
As for Africa, scientists have formerly concluded that it is the birthplace of mankind,
as large numbers of human-like fossils (discovered nowhere else) were found on the
continent, some dating back 3.5 million years.
About 1.75 million years ago, early man spread throughout parts of Africa. They
became aggressive hunters, lived in caves and used fire and their ability to create
stone tools just to survive.
In 3200 BC the Egyptian culture emerged along the lower reaches of the Nile River;
it was among the earliest civilizations and their tools and weapons were made of
bronze. They also pioneered the building of massive pyramids and temples.
Egyptians also developed mathematics, an innovative system of medicine, irrigation
and agricultural production techniques, writing and the first ships. In short, the
Egyptians left a lasting legacy upon the world.
Around 600 BC the use of metal tools spread across small population bases and
farming groups in North Africa, and their use gradually spread south into what is
now called South Africa.
Meanwhile, the Egyptians continued to spread their culture across Northern Africa,
and kingdoms were created in Ethiopia and Sudan.
Soon kingdoms emerged in Africa; they traded with the Arabs using gold plus a
valuable commodity - slaves. One of the first kingdoms was Ghana, located in what
is now southeastern Mauritania and western Mali.
As other organized kingdoms were formed in central and southern Africa, the
Portuguese began to explore the western coast of Africa. By 1445 they reached the
Cape Verde Islands and the coast of Senegal, and the mouth of the River Congo in
1482. They even sailed around the Cape of Good Hope.
The continent-changing 16th Century began with Europeans transporting African
slaves to the Americas for profit. A slave purchased on the African coast for the
equivalent of 14 English pounds in bartered goods could sell for 45 pounds in the
American market.
The best-known method of commerce at the time was called the Triangular
Trading System. It involved British and other European countries' manufactured
goods which were shipped to Africa, then slaves from there to the West Indies and
then sugar and other products back to Europe.
Strong movements to end slavery began in the late 18th century. France became
one of the first countries to abolish slavery in 1794. Britain banned slave trade in
1807, but it was not officially abolished for good until 1848. In some parts of Africa,
slave-like practices continue to this day and have proven difficult to eliminate.
Although Africa remains the world's poorest inhabited continent, there are
many bright spots in this land of over one billion people and its 2,000 +
languages. Significant economic and social gains have taken place over the last
few years, with South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco and Egypt leading the way.
All of Africa was colonized by foreign powers during the scramble for Africa,
except Ethiopia and Liberia.
There are 54 countries and one non self-governing territory, the Western
Sahara, in Africa.
Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in Africa; it is 355 feet high and one
mile wide.
Madagascar is the largest island in Africa and the fourth largest island in the
world. It is in the Indian Ocean off the East coast of Africa.
177,096,000
2. Ethiopia 86,614,000
3. Egypt
84,605,000
52,982,000
CULTURE OF AFRICA
74,618,000
POLITICS