In the Middle Ages, tribes lived in the forests of Central Africa who hunted and gathered, preferred to build huts and shelters from leaves and trees, and did not know about iron. These were tribes of Bushmen and Pygmies.

In Southern Sahara there were nomads who raised livestock and exchanged it for the things they needed and food products. The rest of the continent's settlers were engaged in agriculture. Most often they grew rice, beans, sugar cane, cotton, and coconut palms.

Western Sudan and the state of Mali

Western Sudan was considered one of the most developed territories in Africa. Many different trade routes passed through it, so the rulers of Sudan levied large duties on caravans that were forced to carry goods through their lands.

The powerful state of Western Sudan was Ghana, which flourished in the 10th century. The king and the nobility of this power were very rich, and a luxurious royal quarter, mosques and beautiful houses of Arab merchants were built in the capital of Ghana.

But the Sultan of the Arab state of Morocco managed to destroy Ghana at the end of the 11th century. The Sultan demanded that the king, together with the nobility, pay him a special tribute. The population managed to get rid of the Moroccans, but Ghana still submitted to the state of Mali. TO XIII century the state of Mali managed to conquer neighboring lands, which significantly strengthened its position.

Other states

A number of strong states also emerged on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. They are all singled out by the state of Benin. And closer to the 13th century, the state of Congo was formed in the south.

The state of Aksum is also known, which began to actively develop by the 4th-5th centuries. It was located on the territory of present-day Ethiopia and maintained constant contacts with the Roman Empire and Byzantium.

The heyday of Aksum was marked by the adoption of the Christian faith and the advent of writing. But the Arabs managed to attack Aksum in the 7th century, after which the state disintegrated into principalities. From that time on, a constant struggle for the throne began between the princes, and by the 10th century the state of Aksum had disappeared.

And in the city-states located on the eastern coast of Africa, many Arabs, Indians and Iranians settled. Merchants of these states often set sail across the Indian Ocean, and many ships were built here to trade with India and other Asian countries.

Culture, education and science

The culture and beliefs of the peoples of Africa in the Middle Ages can be judged by legends and fairy tales, which represent valuable historical material. The level of culture in Western Sudan is most often mentioned; architecture was developed here, as many mosques were built, public buildings and royal palaces.

The development of education was also at a fairly high level: Muslim schools and even higher schools were created, in which law, history, astronomy and mathematics were studied in detail. Libraries were built to store handwritten books, and the books themselves could be purchased in shops.

African works of art speak of the significant development of culture. In the Middle Ages, bronze sculptures were created here using special casting; most often among them there are images of kings and noble people, scenes of court life and war.

1. Development of the peoples of Africa

In our lesson we will talk about states Medieval Africa, ways of their development, history and culture. Previously (even before the end of the 19th century), scientists believed that the history of the African continent began with the appearance of settlers there from European territories. But subsequent archaeological excavations and further research refuted this theory; it turned out to be anti-scientific.

During the Middle Ages, the development of the peoples of Africa in different parts continent occurred unevenly. On the territory of Central Africa there were tribes of Bushmen and Pygmies who lived under the conditions of a primitive communal system. They hunted and gathered, did not know about iron, and settled in primitive dwellings made of leaves and branches. More developed nomadic tribes lived in Southern Sahara, whose main occupation was cattle breeding. Other settlers of the continent lived sedentary lives and farmed the land. Most often, they grew crops such as rice, millet, beans, sugar cane, cotton and coconut palms, and exchanged surpluses with neighboring tribes.

2. Western Sudan in the Middle Ages

Western Sudan, located on a plain in the interfluve, on the territory of the current states of Nigeria and Senegal, was considered one of the most developed and richest territories in Africa. Many precious metals and stones were mined on these lands, and, in addition, numerous important trade routes from the Gulf of Guinea to Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, the rulers of Sudan had the right (and did) to levy large trade duties on caravans that were forced to carry goods through their lands. Thus, considerable funds flowed into the treasury of the states included in Western Sudan.

The most ancient and powerful state in Western Sudan was Ghana, which flourished in the 10th century. The ruler and noble people of this country were extremely rich, profiting from the trade in gold and salt - in those days, salt was not much cheaper than gold. In the capital of Ghana, a luxurious royal quarter with a palace and sanctuary, mosques and beautiful houses of Arab merchants were built; many sights have survived to this day.

But the Sultan of the Arab state of Morocco from North Africa managed to capture and destroy Ghana at the end of the 11th century. The Sultan demanded that the king, together with the nobility, pay him personally a special tribute in gold and, moreover, convert to Islam. The population of Ghana rebelled against the invaders, and, in the end, they managed to get rid of the Moroccans, but the territory of the country was greatly reduced, and subsequently Ghana completely fell under the control of the state of Mali. The ruler of Mali and his subjects, as well as the Moroccans, professed the Islamic religion. By the 13th century, Mali had reached its peak thanks to the conquest of nearby lands, where gold, salt and gems, which significantly strengthened his financial position.

3. Kongo and the Kingdom of Aksum in the Middle Ages

In the 12th century, a number of strong states formed on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, of which Benin especially stood out. And by the beginning of the 13th century, the state of Congo was formed in southern Africa.

Around the end of the 1st century. BC e., in the north of the present state of Ethiopia (Abyssinia), the kingdom of Aksum arose. The heyday of the state occurred at the beginning of the 4th-5th centuries. and was marked, first of all, by the adoption of the Christian faith and the advent of writing. Aksum maintained constant trade and cultural ties with the Roman Empire, and later with the Byzantine Empire. In the 7th century, Arab tribes managed to attack Aksum and take away its possessions in Southern Arabia, as a result of which the state disintegrated into specific principalities. Since then, a constant struggle for the throne began between numerous petty princes, and by the 10th century, after countless internecine wars, the state of Aksum ceased to exist.

Meanwhile, many Arabs, Indians and Iranians settled on the east coast of Africa, where they created unique city-states. Merchants of these countries often set sail across the Indian Ocean, and many ships were built here to trade with India, the countries of Asia and Europe.

4. Development of African culture

The culture and beliefs of the peoples of Africa in the Middle Ages can be judged by legends, traditions, folk songs and fairy tales, which are of great interest to researchers. High level Western Sudan was distinguished by culture, where architecture was especially developed, since many mosques, public buildings and royal palaces were erected by order of Muslim rulers. Muslim schools were built, in the city of Timbuktu there was even a higher school for young men of noble families, in which they studied law, history, theology, astronomy and mathematics in detail, so that after graduation educational institution occupy any prominent government positions. Libraries were created where handwritten books were stored. Books were in great demand, and they could be purchased in special shops.

African works of art speak of the significant development of culture. In the Middle Ages, with the help special techniques Foundry created bronze sculptures, among which there are often images of kings and noble people, scenes of court life and war. Also during the excavations, numerous wooden and bronze masks of African rulers were discovered.

5. Brief summary of the lesson

Thus, we can conclude that public life and the culture in many African states was not at all primitive. On the contrary, especially with the adoption of monotheistic religion, African states began to develop intensively, and the level of medieval African culture increased significantly. Trade with the countries of the African continent attracted many merchants from all over the world, from ancient times to modern times.

Attached to the lesson is the file “This is interesting!” and the file "Test". You can download files at any time convenient for you.

Used sources:
http://znaika.ru/catalog/6-klass/istoriya/

Africa is a place where people live, adhering to the rules of life, traditions and culture that developed several centuries ago, have reached the present day almost unchanged and are a clear guide to the everyday life of the population. The inhabitants of Africa still successfully exist through fishing, hunting and gathering, without feeling the need or acute need for the objects of modern civilization. This does not mean that they are not familiar with all the innovations of civilization, they simply know how to do without them, leading a secluded lifestyle, without making contact with the outside world.

Peoples inhabiting Africa

The African continent has sheltered many different tribes with different levels development, traditions, rituals and outlook on life. The largest tribes are Mbuti, Nuba, Oromo, Hamer, Bambara, Fulbe, Dinka, Bongo and others. Over the past two decades, tribal residents have been gradually adapting to a commodity-money system, but their priority is to provide themselves and their families with the necessary food products in order to prevent prolonged famine. We can say that the tribal population has practically no economic relations, which is why various conflicts and contradictions often arise, which can even end in bloodshed.

Despite this, there are also tribes that are more loyal to modern development, entered into economic relations with other large nations and are working to develop public culture and industry.

The population of Africa is quite large, so on the continent, from 35 to 3000 people live on one square kilometer, and in some places even more, since due to the lack of water and the unfavorable climate of the deserts, the population here is unevenly distributed.

In northern Africa live Berbers and Arabs, who, over ten centuries of living in this territory, have conveyed local residents your language, culture and traditions. Arab ancient buildings still delight the eye, revealing all the subtleties of their culture and beliefs.

There are practically no inhabitants in the desert area, but there you can meet a large number of nomads who lead entire caravans of camels, which is their main source of life and an indicator of wealth.

Culture and life of the peoples of Africa

Since the population of Africa is quite diverse and consists of more than several dozen tribes, it is very obvious that the traditional way has long lost its primitiveness and in some aspects borrowed culture from neighboring inhabitants. Thus, the culture of one tribe reflects the traditions of another and it is difficult to determine who was the founder of certain rituals. The most important value in the life of a tribal people is the family; it is with it that most beliefs, traditions and rituals are associated.

In order to marry one of the girls of the tribe, the guy must compensate his parents for the damage. Often these are domestic animals, but recently ransom has also been accepted in monetary terms. It is believed that this tradition helps families unite, and also in the case of a good ransom amount, the bride’s father is convinced of the wealth of his son-in-law and that he will be able to properly provide for his daughter.

The wedding should only take place on the night of full moon. It is the moon that will indicate what the marriage will be like - if it is bright and clear, then the marriage will be good, prosperous and fertile, if the moon is dim - this is a very bad sign. The family in the tribes of Africa is characterized by polygamy - as soon as a man becomes financially wealthy, he can afford several wives, which does not bother the girls at all, since they equally share the responsibilities of housework and childcare. Such families are surprisingly friendly and direct all their efforts for the benefit of the tribe.

Upon reaching a certain age (it is different for each tribe), young people must undergo an initiation rite. Boys and sometimes girls are circumcised. It is very important that the guy does not scream or cry during the ceremony, otherwise he will forever be considered a coward.

Traditions and customs of the peoples of Africa

Africans spend a lot of time trying to protect themselves from evil spirits and get closer to good gods. To do this, they perform ritual dances (making rain, fighting pests, receiving blessings before hunting, etc.), getting tattoos, carving masks that are supposed to protect them from evil spirits.

Sorcerers and shamans play a special role in the life of the tribe. They are considered servants of spirits, it is to them that tribal leaders listen and common people come to them for advice. Shamans have the right to bless, heal, they conduct weddings and bury the deceased.

Residents of Africa are especially enthusiastic about honoring their ancestors, performing a number of rituals to worship them. Often this is the worship of deceased ancestors, after whose death more than a year has passed; with the help of certain ritual actions, they are invited back to the house, allocating them a separate place in the room.

Before marriage, girls are taught a special language for married women that only they know and understand. The bride must come to the groom's house on foot and bring her dowry. Marriage can be concluded from the age of 13.

Another feature of tribal culture is the application of scars to the body. It is believed that the more there are, the the best man warrior and hunter. Each tribe has its own drawing techniques.

Egypt is not the only state in Africa where high culture has existed and developed since ancient times. Many peoples of Africa have long been able to smelt and process iron and other metals. Maybe they learned this before the Europeans. Modern Egyptians speak Arabic, and a significant part of them do come from the Arabs, but the ancient population of Egypt came to the Nile Valley from the Sahara Desert, which in ancient times had abundant rivers and rich vegetation. In the center of the Sahara, on the plateaus, there are preserved drawings on the rocks, carved sharp stone or painted. From these drawings it is clear that in those days the population of the Sahara was engaged in hunting wild animals, breeding livestock: cows, horses.

On the northern African coast and the adjacent islands lived tribes who knew how to make large boats and successfully fishing and other marine industries.

In the 1st millennium BC. e. The Phoenicians, and later the Greeks, appeared in ancient settlements on the shores of North Africa. The Phoenician city-colonies - Utica, Carthage, etc. - grew stronger over time and, under the rule of Carthage, united into a powerful state.

Carthage's neighbors, the Libyans, created their own states - Numidia and Mauritania. From 264 to 146 BC. e. Rome fought with the Carthaginian state. After the destruction of the city of Carthage, the Roman province of Africa was created on the territory that belonged to it. Here, through the labor of Libyan slaves, a strip of coastal desert was turned into a flourishing land. Slaves dug wells, built stone cisterns for water, built large cities with stone houses, water pipes, etc. Subsequently, the cities of Roman Africa suffered from the invasions of German Vandals, and later these areas became a colony of the Byzantine Empire, and finally, in the 8th-10th centuries. this part of North Africa was conquered by Muslim Arabs and became known as the Maghreb.

In the Nile Valley, south of the territory of ancient Egypt, the Nubian kingdoms of Napata and Meroe existed even before our era. To this day, the ruins of ancient cities, small pyramids similar to ancient Egyptian ones, as well as monuments of ancient Meroitic writing have been preserved there. Subsequently, the Nubian kingdoms were conquered by the kings of the powerful state of Aksum, which emerged in the first centuries of our era on the territory of what is now South Arabia and Northern Ethiopia.

Sudan stretches from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the Nile itself.

It was possible to penetrate from North Africa to the country of Sudan only along ancient caravan roads that passed along the dried up beds of ancient rivers of the Sahara Desert. During scanty rains, some water sometimes collected in the old riverbeds, and in some places wells were dug by the ancient Saharawis.

The people of Sudan grew millet, cotton and other plants; raised livestock - cows and sheep. They sometimes rode bulls, but they did not know how to plow the land with their help. The soil for crops was cultivated with wooden hoes with iron tips. Iron in Sudan was smelted in small clay blast furnaces. Weapons, knives, hoe tips, axes and other tools were forged from iron. Initially, blacksmiths, weavers, dyers and other artisans were simultaneously engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding. They often exchanged surplus products of their craft for other goods. Bazaars in Sudan were located in villages on the borders of the territories of various tribes. The population of such villages grew rapidly. Part of it grew rich, seized power and gradually subjugated the poor. Military campaigns against neighbors, if successful, were accompanied by the capture of prisoners and other military booty. The prisoners of war were not killed, but forced to work. Thus, slaves appeared in some settlements that grew into small towns. They began to be sold in bazaars, like other goods.

Ancient Sudanese cities often fought among themselves. The rulers and nobles of one city often brought several surrounding cities under their rule.

For example, around the 9th century. n. e. in the very west of Sudan, in the area of ​​Auker (the territory of the northern part of the modern state of Mali), the state of Ghana, strong at that time, was formed.

Ancient Ghana was the center of trade between Western Sudan and North Africa, which was very important for the prosperity and power of this state.

In the 12th century. Muslim Berbers from the Maghreb state of the al-Moravids, in northern Africa, attracted by the wealth of Ghana, attacked it and destroyed the state. The remote southern region of Mali suffered the least from the defeat. One of the rulers of Mali, named Sundiata, who lived in the middle of the 13th century, gradually captured the entire former territory of Ghana and even annexed other lands to it. After this, the state of Mali began to occupy a significantly larger territory than Ghana. However, the continuous struggle with neighbors gradually led to the weakening of the state and its collapse.

In the XIV century. The scattered and weak cities of the state of Mali were captured by the rulers of the city of Gao - the center of the small state of the Songhai people. The Songhai kings gradually united under their rule a vast territory on which there were many large cities. One of these cities, which existed during the times of the state of Mali, Timbuktu became the cultural center of the entire Western Sudan. The inhabitants of the Songhai state were Muslims.

Medieval Muslim scholars from Timbuktu became known far beyond Western Sudan. They were the first to create writing in the languages ​​of Sudan, using characters from the Arabic alphabet. These scientists wrote many books, including chronicles - books on the history of the states of Sudan. Sudanese architects built large and beautiful houses, palaces, and mosques with six-story minarets in Timbuktu and other cities. The cities were surrounded by high walls.

In the 16th century The sultans of Morocco repeatedly tried to conquer the state of Songhai. They eventually conquered it, destroying Timbuktu and other cities in the process. Wonderful libraries with valuable ancient manuscripts perished in the burning of Timbuktu. Many architectural monuments were destroyed. Sudanese scientists-architects, doctors, astronomers, taken into slavery by the Moroccans, almost all died on the way through the desert. The remnants of the cities' wealth were plundered by their nomadic neighbors - the Tuaregs and Fulani. The huge state of Songhai fell apart into many small and weak states.

From this time on, the trade caravan routes running from Lake Chad through the interior of the Sahara - Fezzan - to Tunisia were of primary importance. In the northern part of the territory of modern Nigeria until the 19th century. There were independent small states (sultanates) of the Hausa people. The Sultanate included a city with surrounding countryside. The richest and most famous city was Kano.

The western part of tropical Africa, located off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, was discovered by Portuguese, Dutch and English sailors of the 15th-18th centuries. was named Guinea. For a long time, sailors did not suspect that densely populated areas with large, populous cities were hidden behind the wall of tropical vegetation of the Guinea coast. European ships landed on the shore and traded with the coastal population. Ivory, valuable wood, and sometimes gold were brought here from the interior regions. European merchants also bought prisoners of war, who were taken from Africa, first to Portugal, and later to the Spanish colonies in Central and South America. Hundreds of slaves were loaded onto sailing ships and transported across the Atlantic Ocean with almost no food or water. Many of them died along the way. Europeans in every possible way incited wars between the tribes and peoples of Guinea in order to get more slaves. European merchants of the XV-XVI centuries. I really wanted to penetrate into the rich interior regions of Guinea ourselves. However, tropical forests and swamps, as well as the resistance of strong, well-organized states, prevented this for several centuries. Only a few people managed to get there. When they returned, they talked about large, well-planned cities with wide streets, about the rich palaces of the kings, well-armed troops maintaining order, wonderful bronze and stone works of art by local craftsmen, and about many other amazing things.

The cultural values ​​and historical monuments of these ancient states were destroyed by Europeans in the 19th century. during the colonial partition of West Africa. In our century, in the forests of Guinea, researchers discovered remains ancient culture Africans: broken stone statues, heads made of stone and bronze, ruins of palaces. Some of these archaeological sites date back to the 1st millennium BC. e., when most of Europe was still inhabited by wild tribes.

In 1485, the Portuguese navigator Diego Cano discovered the mouth of the high-water African Congo River. During the following voyages, the Portuguese ships ascended the river and reached the state of Congo. They brought with them ambassadors from the Portuguese king, as well as monastic preachers who were tasked with converting the population of the Congo to Christianity. Portuguese monks left records that tell about the medieval state of Congo and neighboring states - Lunda, Luba, Kasongo, Bushongo, Loango, etc. The population of these countries, like Guinea, was engaged in agriculture: they grew yams, taro, sweet potatoes and other plants .

Local craftsmen were famous for the art of making various wood products. Blacksmithing was of great importance.

All these states fell into decay and collapsed as a result of long wars with the Portuguese, who tried to conquer them.

The eastern coast of Africa is washed by Indian Ocean. In winter, the wind (monsoon) blows here from the coast of Asia to the coast of Africa, and in the summer in the opposite direction. Since ancient times, the peoples of Asia and Africa have used monsoon winds for merchant shipping. Already in the 1st century. on the eastern coast of Africa there were permanent trading posts where the local population exchanged ivory, tortoiseshell shields and other goods for metal tools, weapons and fabrics from Asian merchants. Sometimes merchants from Greece and Egypt sailed here across the Red Sea.

Later, when some trading settlements grew into large cities, their inhabitants - Africans (the Arabs called them “Swahili”, i.e. “coastal”) - began to sail to Asian countries themselves. They traded in ivory, copper and gold, the skins of rare animals and valuable wood. The Swahili bought these goods from peoples who lived far from the ocean shores, in the depths of Africa. Swahili merchants bought elephant tusks and rhino horns from the leaders of various tribes, and exchanged gold in the country of Makaranga for glass, porcelain and other goods brought from overseas.

When merchants in Africa collected so much cargo that their porters could not carry it, then they bought slaves or took with them by force people from some weak tribe. As soon as the caravan reached the shore, the merchants sold the porters into slavery or took them to sell overseas.

Over time, the most powerful cities on the East African coast subjugated the weaker ones and formed several states: Pate, Mombasa, Kilwa, etc. Many Arabs, Persians and Indians moved to them. Scientists in East African cities created writing in the Swahili language, using, as in Sudan, signs of Arabic writing. There were literary works in the Swahili language, as well as chronicles of the history of cities.

During Vasco da Gama's voyages to India, Europeans first visited the ancient Swahili cities. The Portuguese repeatedly conquered and again lost East African cities, while many of them were destroyed by the invaders, and the ruins were overgrown with thorny tropical bushes over time. And now only in folk legends are the names of ancient African cities preserved.

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Africa, whose history is full of secrets, mysteries in the distant past and bloody political events in the present, is a continent called the cradle of humanity. The huge continent occupies one fifth of all the land on the planet, its lands are rich in diamonds and minerals. In the north there are lifeless, harsh and hot deserts, in the south - virgin tropical forests with many endemic species of plants and animals. It is impossible not to note the diversity of peoples and ethnic groups on the continent; their number fluctuates around several thousand. Small tribes numbering two villages and large nations are the creators of the unique and inimitable culture of the “black” continent.

How many countries are on the continent, where they are located and the history of the study, countries - you will learn all this from the article.

From the history of the continent

The history of the development of Africa is one of the most pressing issues in archaeology. Moreover, if Ancient Egypt has attracted scientists since the ancient period, the rest of the mainland remained in the “shadow” until the 19th century. The continent's prehistoric era is the longest in human history. It was on it that the earliest traces of hominids living in the territory of modern Ethiopia were discovered. The history of Asia and Africa followed a special path; due to their geographical location, they were connected by trade and political relations even before the onset of the Bronze Age.

It is documented that the first trip around the continent was made by the Egyptian pharaoh Necho in 600 BC. In the Middle Ages, Europeans began to show interest in Africa and actively developed trade with eastern peoples. The first expeditions to the distant continent were organized by a Portuguese prince; it was then that Cape Boyador was discovered and the erroneous conclusion was made that it was the southernmost point of Africa. Years later, another Portuguese, Bartolomeo Dias, discovered the Cape of Good Hope in 1487. After the success of his expedition, other major European powers flocked to Africa. As a result, by the beginning of the 16th century, all territories of the western sea ​​coast were discovered by the Portuguese, British and Spaniards. At the same time, the colonial history of African countries and the active slave trade began.

Geographical position

Africa is the second largest continent, with an area of ​​30.3 million square meters. km. It stretches from south to north over a distance of 8000 km, and from east to west - 7500 km. The continent is characterized by a predominance of flat terrain. In the northwestern part there are the Atlas Mountains, and in the Sahara Desert - the Tibesti and Ahaggar highlands, in the east - the Ethiopian, in the south - the Drakensberg and Cape Mountains.

The geographical history of Africa is closely connected with the British. Having appeared on the mainland in the 19th century, they actively explored it, discovering stunning beauty and grandeur natural objects: Victoria Falls, lakes Chad, Kivu, Edward, Albert, etc. In Africa there is one of the largest rivers in the world - the Nile, which since the beginning of time has been the cradle of Egyptian civilization.

The continent is the hottest on the planet, the reason for this is its geographical position. The entire territory of Africa is located in hot climatic zones and crossed by the equator.

The continent is exceptionally rich in mineral resources. The whole world knows the largest deposits of diamonds in Zimbabwe and South Africa, gold in Ghana, Congo and Mali, oil in Algeria and Nigeria, iron and lead-zinc ores on the northern coast.

Beginning of colonization

The colonial history of Asian and African countries has very deep roots, dating back to ancient times. The first attempts to subjugate these lands were made by Europeans back in the 7th-5th centuries. BC, when numerous Greek settlements appeared along the shores of the continent. This was followed by a long period of Hellenization of Egypt as a result of the conquests of Alexander the Great.

Then, under the pressure of numerous Roman troops, almost the entire northern coast of Africa was consolidated. However, it underwent very little Romanization; the indigenous Berber tribes simply went deeper into the desert.

Africa in the Middle Ages

During the period of the decline of the Byzantine Empire, the history of Asia and Africa made a sharp turn in the direction completely opposite to European civilization. The activated Berbers finally destroyed the centers of Christian culture in North Africa, “clearing” the territory for new conquerors - the Arabs, who brought Islam with them and pushed back the Byzantine Empire. By the seventh century, the presence of early European states in Africa was practically reduced to zero.

A radical turning point came only in the final stages of the Reconquista, when mainly the Portuguese and Spaniards reconquered the Iberian Peninsula and turned their gaze to the opposite shore of the Strait of Gibraltar. In the 15th and 16th centuries they pursued an active policy of conquest in Africa, capturing a number of strongholds. At the end of the 15th century. they were joined by the French, English and Dutch.

Due to many factors, the new history of Asia and Africa turned out to be closely interconnected. Trade south of the Sahara Desert, actively developed by the Arab states, led to the gradual colonization of the entire eastern part of the continent. West Africa survived. Arab neighborhoods appeared, but Moroccan attempts to subjugate this territory were unsuccessful.

Race for Africa

The colonial division of the continent in the period from the second half of the 19th century until the outbreak of the First World War was called the “race for Africa.” This time was characterized by fierce and intense competition between the leading imperialist powers of Europe to conduct military operations and research in the region, which were ultimately aimed at capturing new lands. The process developed especially strongly after the adoption of the General Act at the Berlin Conference in 1885, which proclaimed the principle of effective occupation. The division of Africa culminated in the military conflict between France and Great Britain in 1898, which occurred in the Upper Nile.

By 1902, 90% of Africa was under European control. Only Liberia and Ethiopia managed to defend their independence and freedom. With the outbreak of the First World War, the colonial race ended, as a result of which almost all of Africa was divided. The history of the development of colonies followed different paths, depending on whose protectorate it was under. The largest possessions were in France and Great Britain, with slightly smaller ones in Portugal and Germany. For Europeans, Africa was an important source of raw materials, minerals and cheap labor.

Year of Independence

The year 1960 is considered a turning point, when one after another young African states began to emerge from the control of the metropolises. Of course, the process did not begin and end in such a short period. However, it was 1960 that was proclaimed “African”.

Africa, whose history did not develop in isolation from the rest of the world, found itself, one way or another, also drawn into the Second world war. The northern part of the continent was affected by hostilities, the colonies were struggling to provide the mother countries with raw materials and food, as well as people. Millions of Africans took part in the hostilities, many of them subsequently “settled” in Europe. Despite the global political situation for the “black” continent, the war years were marked by economic growth; this was the time when roads, ports, airfields and runways, enterprises and factories, etc. were built.

The history of African countries received a new turn after the adoption by England, which confirmed the right of peoples to self-determination. And although politicians tried to explain that they were talking about peoples occupied by Japan and Germany, the colonies interpreted the document in their favor as well. In matters of gaining independence, Africa was far ahead of the more developed Asia.

Despite the undisputed right to self-determination, the Europeans were in no hurry to “let” their colonies float freely, and in the first decade after the war, any protests for independence were brutally suppressed. A precedent-setting case was when the British in 1957 granted freedom to Ghana, the most economically developed state. By the end of 1960, half of Africa had achieved independence. However, as it turned out, this did not guarantee anything.

If you pay attention to the map, you will notice that Africa, whose history is very tragic, is divided into countries by clear and even lines. The Europeans did not delve into the ethnic and cultural realities of the continent, simply dividing the territory at their own discretion. As a result, many peoples were divided into several states, others united in one along with sworn enemies. After independence, all this gave rise to numerous ethnic conflicts, civil wars, military coups and genocide.

Freedom was gained, but no one knew what to do with it. The Europeans left, taking with them everything they could take. Almost all systems, including education and healthcare, had to be created from scratch. There were no personnel, no resources, no foreign policy connections.

Countries and dependent territories of Africa

As mentioned above, the history of the discovery of Africa began a very long time ago. However, the invasion of Europeans and centuries of colonialism led to the fact that modern independent states on the mainland were formed literally in the mid-second half of the twentieth century. It is difficult to say whether the right to self-determination has brought prosperity to these places. Africa is still considered the most backward continent in development, yet it has all the necessary resources for a normal life.

IN this moment The continent is inhabited by 1,037,694,509 people - this is about 14% of the total population of the globe. The mainland is divided into 62 countries, but only 54 of them are recognized as independent by the world community. Of these, 10 are island states, 37 have wide access to the seas and oceans, and 16 are inland.

In theory, Africa is a continent, but in practice it is often joined by nearby islands. Some of them are still owned by Europeans. Including the French Reunion, Mayotte, Portuguese Madeira, Spanish Melilla, Ceuta, Canary Islands, English Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Ascension.

African countries are conventionally divided into 4 groups depending on southern and eastern. Sometimes the central region is also isolated separately.

North African countries

North Africa is a very vast region with an area of ​​about 10 million m2, most of which is occupied by the Sahara Desert. It is here that the largest mainland countries by territory are located: Sudan, Libya, Egypt and Algeria. There are eight states in the northern part, so the SADR, Morocco, and Tunisia should be added to those listed.

The modern history of the countries of Asia and Africa (northern region) is closely interconnected. By the beginning of the 20th century, the territory was completely under protectorate European countries, they gained independence in the 50-60s. last century. Geographical proximity to another continent (Asia and Europe) and traditional long-standing trade and economic ties with it played a role. In terms of development, North Africa is in a much better position compared to South Africa. The only exception, perhaps, is Sudan. Tunisia has the most competitive economy on the entire continent, Libya and Algeria produce gas and oil that they export, Morocco mines phosphate rocks. The predominant share of the population is still employed in the agricultural sector. An important sector of the economy of Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco is developing tourism.

The largest city with more than 9 million inhabitants is Egyptian Cairo, the population of others does not exceed 2 million - Casablanca, Alexandria. Most northern Africans live in cities, are Muslim and speak Arabic. In some countries, French is considered one of the official languages. The territory of North Africa is rich in monuments of ancient history and architecture, and natural objects.

The development of the ambitious European Desertec project is also planned here - the construction of the large system solar power plants in the Sahara Desert.

West Africa

The territory of West Africa extends south of central Sahara, washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and is limited in the east by the Cameroon Mountains. Savannas and tropical forests are present, as well as a complete lack of vegetation in the Sahel. Before the Europeans set foot on the shores, states such as Mali, Ghana and Songhai already existed in this part of Africa. Guinea region for a long time was called a “grave for whites” because of dangerous diseases unusual for Europeans: fever, malaria, sleeping sickness, etc. Currently, the group of West African countries includes: Cameroon, Ghana, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Benin, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Liberia, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Niger, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Senegal.

The recent history of African countries in the region is marred by military clashes. The territory is torn by numerous conflicts between English-speaking and French-speaking former European colonies. Contradictions lie not only in the language barrier, but also in worldviews and mentalities. There are hot spots in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Road communications are very poorly developed and, in fact, are a legacy of the colonial period. West African countries are among the poorest in the world. While Nigeria, for example, has huge oil reserves.

East Africa

The geographic region that includes countries east of the Nile River (excluding Egypt) is called the Cradle of Humankind by anthropologists. This is where, in their opinion, our ancestors lived.

The region is extremely unstable, conflicts turn into wars, including very often civil ones. Almost all of them are formed on ethnic grounds. East Africa is inhabited by more than two hundred peoples belonging to four linguistic groups. During colonial times, territory was divided without regard this fact, as already mentioned, cultural and natural ethnic boundaries were not respected. The potential for conflict greatly hinders the development of the region.

TO East Africa The following countries include: Mauritius, Kenya, Burundi, Zambia, Djibouti, Comoros, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, Mozambique, Seychelles, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea.

South Africa

The Southern African region occupies an impressive part of the continent. It contains five countries. Namely: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, South Africa. They all united to form the South African Customs Union, producing and trading mainly in oil and diamonds.

The recent history of Africa in the south is associated with the name of the famous politician Nelson Mandela (pictured), who dedicated his life to the fight for the freedom of the region from the metropolises.

South Africa, of which he was president for 5 years, is now the most developed country on the mainland and the only one that is not classified as a “third world”. Its developed economy allows it to take 30th place among all countries according to the IMF. Has very rich reserves natural resources. Botswana's economy is also one of the most successful in terms of development in Africa. In the first place are livestock breeding and agriculture, and mining of diamonds and minerals is carried out on a large scale.