The main stages in the formation of the political map of the world from ancient times to the present. A political map of the World

Enormous scale of problems and relatively weak interest. States without nations. The genesis of African states = the collapse of colonial empires. Colonialism and interstate borders. Reasons for the “failure” of states. The role of colonial administrations and state building in Africa.

Territorial structures at different historical stages: Ancient stage, Middle Ages, colonial division of Africa, decolonization.

Democracy and Africa.

African subregions. North Africa. West Africa ( case- study: Nigeria). Central Africa. East Africa. South Africa ( case- study: SOUTH AFRICA).

Causes and typology of territorial conflicts in Africa.

Angola. Democratic Republic of the Congo. Sudan. Rwanda. Burundi. Somalia. Sierra Leone. Ethiopia and Eritrea. Senegal. Mali.

The problem of external intervention in conflicts.

Seminar. Political map of Africa and territorial conflicts.

Questions for the seminar:

What are the reasons for the collapse of the colonial system in Africa? The role of colonial administrations in state building.

What is the geography of colonial possessions in Africa (show on map)?

List the main territorial problems and hotbeds of conflict on the African continent, name their causes and show them on the map.

Topic 6. Formation of the political map and territorial structures of North America.

Colonization of North America. The Thirteen Colonies: Genesis and Internal Differences. "Anglo-Saxon America". Settlement of New England - Mayflower. War for independence. 1776 – formation of the USA. Adoption of the Constitution. "Federalist" by Hamilton, Madison and Jay. War between North and South. Management of the South.

Stages of settlement of North American territory. Ordinance of 1787 Homestead Act. Frontier problem.

"New France". Ontario and Quebec. Canada: the formation of a modern federal structure of the state. Quebec problem. Colonial policies of Great Britain and France on the North American continent: a comparative aspect.

USA: internal territorial political-cultural differences. Northeast (New England, Megalopolis, Upper New York, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania). Midwest (Ozerye region, Ohio Plains, St. Louis, corn and wheat belts). American South (Old and Deep South, Florida, Cajun Gulf, Ozarks, Frontier and New South). West (Mountain West, Northwest, California). Alaska and Hawaii.

Seminar. Formation of the political map of North America.

Questions for the seminar:

How did the USA “begin”? List and show on the map the first colonies.

What were the stages of settlement of the North American continent?

What are the differences between the colonial policies of Great Britain and France on the North American continent?

Explain the territorial structure of the USA and Canada.

Topic 7. Formation of the political map of Latin America.

What is Latin America - features of its economic and geographical location. Political and geographical “divisions” of the macroregion. Discovery, exploration and capture of territories and states of Latin America. Mysterious civilizations: Mayans and Aztecs – “Greeks” and “Romans” of the New World. Christopher Columbus. Spanish-Portuguese colonization and decolonization. Population composition. Geography of independence. Typology of Latin American countries. US role in Central America

Main features of the economy of Latin American states. Features of political regimes and political culture. Federalism in Latin American states.

Latin America as a “special path”?

Latin American subregions. Mexico. Central America and West Indies. Andean countries (Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia). La Plata Group (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay), “Guiana Triangle” (Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana). Brazil.

Seminar. Formation of the political map and subregions of Latin America.

Questions for the seminar:

List the main milestones in the formation of the system of nation states in Latin America?

List and give a brief description of the main subregions of Latin America (based on the map).

What types of countries form Latin America?

Why did federalism “take root” in Latin America and “not take root” on the African continent?

The stages of formation of the political map of the world are a very complex and long process, divided into certain periods. It began already when the first states began to appear. The changes never stopped. They will happen as long as there is a person. In order to make it easier to navigate, scientists have divided the formation of the political map of the world into stages.

Classification of changes

Each state has certain criteria. They include political regime, economics, history of development, geographical location and more. The stages of formation of the political map of the world depend on many factors. Depending on this, changes are divided into 2 types.

Quantitative. In this case, the territory of the state changes. Such changes are associated with various historical events, wars, exchanges of territories, collapses and unifications of countries. An unusual example is the artificial islands in the United Arab Emirates.

Quality. If previous changes are associated with an increase or decrease in area, then these depend more on the political situation. Qualitative changes are cases when a country gains or loses sovereignty, gets rid of internal conflicts (civil war), leaves or enters any international unions, or changes its political system.

What is a political map

Geography, like any other science, is divided into many sections. Each of them needs its own cards. Political geography studies the borders of all countries, their political system and internal structure. The object of her attention is any changes: formations and collapses, regime changes and much more. On political map it is precisely all these moments that are displayed.

Division into stages

From school course everyone knows that history is divided into certain periods. Today, scientists identify only 4 stages in the formation of the political map of the world: ancient, medieval, new and modern.

Each of them has its own characteristics. They are connected with world progress. The faster man and society developed, the shorter the time intervals between them became.

Ancient period

The largest in the history of mankind. It begins from the moment when the world's first states appeared. Its end comes in the 5th century AD. But this is relevant for the European world. Other cultures have their own classification. For example, the ancient stage in East Asia ends back in the 2nd century BC. In America, it is associated with the discovery of the continent by Europeans and the beginning of its development.

The most significant event was the emergence of the first great states. They arose on the territory of Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt and Ancient India. Most scientists believe that they began to form at the end of the 4th millennium BC. In East Asia, the first state was Ancient China. It arose at the end of the 3rd millennium BC.

It was during this period of history that the foundations of the state were developed. In those days they relied on slavery. The period is also famous for its instability, as some kind of wars were constantly fought. Large states captured smaller ones to turn them into their provinces.

One of the most significant in that period was the Roman Empire. This is the only state in all periods of history that owned the entire Mediterranean coast. The borders of the Roman Empire extended from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Caspian Sea in the east.

Middle Ages

One of the darkest periods in human history. Constantly associated with changes on the political map of the world. The beginning of the medieval period is considered to be the era after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire (476). It lasted until the 17th century.

The medieval state was based on feudalism. During this era, states such as Byzantium flourished, Kievan Rus, Golden Horde, Arab Caliphate. Almost all of modern Europe was divided between other countries.

The Middle Ages were characterized by certain processes. They are actively starting to develop Agriculture and crafts. The foundations of market relations are laid. There is a strengthening of the role of the church in the life of the country.

Due to the weakening of the central government, feudal fragmentation began. Large landowners led an almost autonomous life. They controlled all branches of government. The medieval political map consisted of separate small and large territories that belonged to specific lords (feudal lords). They were passed down by inheritance. Traditionally, the center was the castle or manor in which the feudal lord lived.

New period

In the 17th century, humanistic ideas began to strengthen in society. A change in worldview led to the Renaissance. To show such changes, scientists decided to call this period New. The center was no longer God, but man.

One of the important factors that influenced the geography of Europe was the creation of strong centralized states. An example is Spain. Keeping power in the hands of a single monarch allowed the country to achieve considerable results.

A characteristic feature of this period is the Great Geographical Discoveries. They helped not only the development of navigation and cartography, but also the emergence of a new system - the colonial one. The impetus for the beginning of a new era of great geographical discoveries was the capture of the Eastern Roman Empire by the Turks. After the Muslims blocked the route to India, Europeans had to look for new ways to get to the riches of the East.

The year 1492 was very significant and led to great changes on the political map of the world. The so-called New World was discovered. The development of America lasted several centuries - from the very discovery of the continent until the end of the 18th century. During this time, many blank spots that were then on the maps were filled in.

The processes of reformation and counter-reformation were also important. Large religious masses opposed the moral decay of the church. Protestantism influenced many aspects in the life of society. Thanks to him, science began to develop faster. He also had a great influence on politics.

A significant event for England and all of Europe was the famous English Revolution of the 17th century. She changed the political system of this country. After its completion it was installed a constitutional monarchy, which replaced the absolute one. Now the king's rights were more limited. They were regulated by parliament. This event served as the basis for the start of the industrial revolution and the emergence of capitalist relations.

Recent period

One of the most interesting, since humanity still lives in it. This period began at the end of the First World War. It continues to this day. The 20th century is filled with many changes that influenced the political map of the whole world. The newest period can be divided into 3 stages.

First

A characteristic feature of it was the collapse of centuries-old empires - Russian and Austro-Hungarian. Thanks to their collapse, many previously enslaved nations received a chance to create their own state. Therefore, Poland, Estonia, Finland, and Czechoslovakia soon appeared on the maps. Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan declared their independence. But it did not last long, as the communists established their power there with the help of military occupation. On the ruins of the old Russian Empire a new state was created - the USSR.

Second

This stage is associated with the Second World War. After Germany's defeat, its colonial possessions passed to other countries. Trying to impose their vision, the USA and the USSR occupied some states. The world is divided into 2 rival camps - communist and capitalist. Many colonial countries declared their independence.

Third

Associated with the destruction of the communist system. Germany reunited, and the countries of the socialist camp disintegrated. An important step was the end cold war and the transition to commonwealth.

Under the term "political map" usually understand two meanings - in the narrow and broad sense. In a narrow sense, this is a cartographic publication that shows modern borders states of the world and their territories. In a broad sense, the political map of the world is not only the state borders of countries plotted on a cartographic basis. It contains information about the history of the formation of political systems and states, about the relationship between states in the modern world, about the uniqueness of regions and countries in their political structure, about the influence of the location of countries on their political structure and economic development. At the same time, the political map of the world is a historical category, since it reflects all changes political structure and state boundaries resulting from various historical events.

Changes on the political map can be: quantitative, in the case when the outlines of the country’s borders change as a result of the annexation of lands, territorial losses or conquests, cession or exchange of areas of territory, “conquest” of land from the sea, the unification or collapse of states; quality, when we are talking about changes in the political system or the nature of international relations, for example, during a change in historical formations, the acquisition of sovereignty by a country, education international unions, changing forms government system, the emergence or disappearance of centers of international tension.

In its development, the political map of the world went through several historical periods: Ancient period(before the 5th century AD), characterized by the development and collapse of the first states: Ancient Egypt, Carthage, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome.

IN ancient world The first great states entered the arena of main events. You all probably remember them from history. This is the glorious Ancient Egypt, powerful Greece and the invincible Roman Empire. At the same time, there were less significant, but also quite developed states in Central and East Asia. Their historical period ends in the 5th century AD. It is generally accepted that it was at this time that the slave system became a thing of the past.

Medieval period(V-XV centuries), characterized by overcoming the isolation of economies and regions, the desire of feudal states for territorial conquests, in connection with which large parts of the land were divided between the states of Kievan Rus, Byzantium, the Moscow State, the Holy Roman Empire, Portugal, Spain, England .

Over the period from the 5th to the 15th centuries, many changes have occurred in our consciousness that cannot be covered in one sentence. If historians of that time had known what a political map of the world was, the stages of its formation would have already been divided into separate parts. After all, remember, during this time Christianity was born, Kievan Rus was born and collapsed, and the Moscow state began to emerge. Big ones are gaining strength in Europe feudal states. First of all, these are Spain and Portugal, which are vying with one another to make new geographical discoveries.

At the same time, the political map of the world is constantly changing. The formation stages of that time will change the future fate of many states. For several more centuries the powerful Ottoman Empire will exist, which will capture the states of Europe, Asia and Africa.

New period(XV-XVI centuries), characterized by the beginning of European colonial expansion.

From the end of the 15th to the beginning of the 16th centuries, a new page began in the political arena. This was the time of the beginning of the first capitalist relations. Centuries when huge colonial empires began to emerge in the world, conquering the whole world. The political map of the world is often changed and redone. The stages of formation constantly replace each other.

Gradually Spain and Portugal are losing their power. It is no longer possible to survive by robbing other countries, because more developed countries are moving to a completely new level of production - manufacturing. This gave impetus to the development of such powers as England, France, the Netherlands, and Germany. After the American Civil War, a new and very large player joins them - the United States of America. The political map of the world changed especially frequently at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The stages of formation during this period depended on the outcome of successful military campaigns. So, if back in 1876 European countries captured only 10% of the territory of Africa, then in just 30 years they managed to conquer 90% of the entire territory of the hot continent. The whole world entered the new 20th century practically divided between the superpowers. They controlled the economy and ruled alone. Further redistribution was inevitable without war. This is how it ends new period and the newest stage in the formation of the political map of the world begins.

Recent period(from the beginning of the 20th century), characterized by the end of the First World War and practically completed by the beginning of the 20th century with the redivision of the world.

The redivision of the world after the First World War made enormous adjustments to the world community. First of all, four powerful empires disappeared. These are Great Britain, the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire and Germany. In their place many new states were formed. At the same time, a new movement appeared - socialism. And a huge state appears on the world map - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. At the same time, powers such as France, Great Britain, Belgium and Japan are strengthening. Some lands of the former colonies were transferred to them. But this redistribution does not suit many, and the world again finds itself on the verge of war. At this stage, some historians continue to write about the modern period, but it is now generally accepted that with the end of the Second World War, the modern stage of the formation of the political map of the world begins.

Second World War outlined for us those boundaries, most of which we see today. First of all, this applies to European countries. The greatest result of the war was that the colonial empires completely disintegrated and disappeared. New independent states emerged in South America, Oceania, Africa, and Asia. But the largest country in the world, the USSR, still continues to exist. With its collapse in 1991, another important stage appears. Many historians distinguish it as a subsection of the modern period. Indeed, after 1991, 17 new independent states were formed in Eurasia. Many of them decided to continue their existence within the borders of the Russian Federation. For example, Chechnya defended its interests for a long time until the government won as a result of military operations powerful country. At the same time, changes continue in the Middle East. There is a unification of some Arab states there. In Europe, a united Germany emerges and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia disintegrates, resulting in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro.

We have presented only the main stages in the formation of the political map of the world. But the story doesn't end there. As the events of recent years show, soon it will be necessary to allocate a new period or redraw the maps. After all, judge for yourself: just two years ago, Crimea belonged to the territory of Ukraine, and now all atlases need to be completely redone in order to change its citizenship. And also problematic Israel, drowning in battles, Egypt on the verge of war and redistribution of power, incessant Syria, which might even be wiped off the face of the Earth by powerful superpowers. All this is our modern history.

Homework.
Fill out the table "Stages of formation of the political map of the world"

The term “political map” is usually understood in two meanings - in a narrow and broad sense. In a narrow sense, this is a cartographic publication that shows the modern borders of the states of the world and the territories belonging to them. In a broad sense, the political map of the world is not only the state borders of countries plotted on a cartographic basis. It contains information about the history of the formation of political systems and states, about the relationship between states in the modern world, about the uniqueness of regions and countries in their political structure, about the influence of the location of countries on their political structure and economic development. At the same time, the political map of the world is a historical category, since it reflects all changes in the political structure and borders of states that occur as a result of various historical events.

The era, later called the era of great geographical discoveries, began at the end of the 15th century; in fact, it was a period of economic and political development of new lands by Europeans. Then the Reconquista is liberation Iberian Peninsula could not stop from the Arab conquest and grew into the Conquest - the conquest of new lands.

Rice. 72. Africa: European exploratory voyages and trans-Saharan trade

In 1415, the Portuguese captured the first overseas territory - the city of Ceuta on the coast of modern Morocco (today a city under Spanish rule), a rich port, the end point of the trans-Saharan trade route (Fig. 72). Gold was brought to Ceuta, purchased by Arab merchants in exchange for fabrics and salt.

The riches of Ceuta stimulated the search for new treasures in West Africa. There were two ways to get to them. The first lay across the Sahara, where the invaders were trapped by heat, sand, lack of water and warlike tribes of nomads. The second route - sea - was more preferable. This was facilitated by the successes of the Portuguese in navigation, navigation, and ship building.

By 1425, the Portuguese reached Cape Verde, the westernmost tip of Africa. In addition to purely economic goals, they were interested in searching for the supposed western tributary of the Nile, which was supposed to flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Another important reason for the expeditions was the search for the Christian king-priest John, who allegedly sent a letter to the Pope asking for help from an unknown eastern country.

The actual economic development and political dominance of Europeans in Africa was preceded by exploration of the coasts and interior of the continent.

At the end of the 15th century. The Spaniards began sailing along the coast of West Africa, reaching the mouth of the Congo River, and then to the mouth of the Great Fish River in southern Africa. During these expeditions, astronomical research was carried out, observations of the weather, flora and fauna were carried out, the shores were mapped, and the life of the tribes of the coastal strip was studied.

In 1652, 90 Dutchmen landed at Table Bay and began building Cape Town as a stopping point on their way to India.

Slave trade

The slave trade began in the 16th century, and by end of the 19th century c., when the sale of people was officially prohibited, according to various estimates, 100-200 million people became its victims. During this period, the share of Africans in the world population fell from 18 to 7.5%.

The main area for the export of slaves was West Africa - the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, the territory of modern Angola, Congo. Slaves were brought here from the interior.

The supply of African slaves to America became one of the sides of the “triangle” of world trade, which included the directions of the most profitable trade flows. Alcoholic beverages, hardware and tools, firearms, glass beads and other jewelry were brought from Europe to America. Rum, sugar, cotton, tobacco, and later coffee and cocoa, as well as gold and silver were exported from the American colonies. These goods were produced mainly by African slaves. The slave trade not only reduced the population of Africa and interrupted the progressive socio-economic development of the continent, but also determined the peculiarities of the formation of the ethnic composition of the population of the countries of the New World.

Today, European sailors, planters, and... the inhabitants of the Dark Continent themselves have been found guilty of the slave trade. In conditions of a subsistence economy and constant hostility between tribes, it was economically unprofitable to capture those defeated in inter-tribal fights. As a rule, those captured were killed. When Europeans appeared on the political arena of the continent, they provided invaluable “services” to coastal agricultural tribes in wars with their neighbors - mainly pastoralists from the interior arid regions. Often one or two European guns decided the outcome of a battle. Captured prisoners were exchanged for needed goods or sold to Europeans. So supply began to determine demand.

By the beginning of the 17th century. Africa was mainly discovered by Europeans. On maps of that time, the outlines of the continent almost corresponded to modern ones, but the interior regions remained terra incognita (“unknown land”) for more than a century. The vague ideas of Europeans about Africa are evidenced by geographical maps on which most of the continent is occupied by scenes of battles between one-eyed Cyclops and people (Fig. 73). This, however, did not prevent the development of an intensive slave trade.

Rice. 73. Europeans' ideas about Africa. Engraving from Sebastian Münster's Universal Cosmography, Basel, 1554.

Europeans did not find centralized states in Africa, as, for example, in Latin America. Before the arrival of Europeans, there were separate feudal states in Africa: in West Africa - Kano and Katsina, Mali, Songhai; in East Africa - Aksum; in the Southeast - Monomotapa (Fig. 74). Some of them were fabulously wealthy and played a significant role in the world politics and economics of the Middle Ages. However, by the time the Europeans arrived, these states were experiencing a period feudal fragmentation and could not resist the Europeans. Many of them fell apart due to civil strife even before the arrival of the colonialists.

Rice. 74. Map of Africa in the 18th century.

The economic colonization of Latin America, which began earlier, led to the need for labor force, which was replenished by black slaves from the African continent. The Indians were brutally exterminated; they were not suitable for working on plantations and mines.

Stages of formation of the political map of Africa. The modern political map of Africa was formed mainly under the influence of European colonization and decolonization.

By the middle of the 19th century. Northern Africa was controlled by the Ottoman Empire. European powers owned no more than 10% of the continent's territory: the Portuguese owned a narrow coastal strip in the west and southeast, the Dutch owned the Cape Colony in southern Africa. Native African states fell into disrepair.

In 1885, spheres of influence in Africa were divided according to the decisions of the Berlin Conference. By the beginning of the 20th century. 90% of the continent's territory was in the possession of European powers. French colonies were located mainly in Western and Central Africa(about 38% of the continent): Algeria, coastal areas of Somalia, Comoros, Madagascar, Western Sahara, Tunisia, French West Africa, French Congo. Eastern Sahara was also a sphere of French influence.

British colonies(about 30% of the continent's area) were located mainly in East Africa, Great Britain tried to control the entire space “from Cairo to Cape Town”: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Basutoland, Bechuanaland, British East Africa, British Central Africa, Ascension Island, Gambia, Egypt, Zanzibar and Pemba, Gold Coast, Cape Colony, Libyan Desert, Mauritius, Natal, Nigeria, Rhodesia, St. Helena, Seychelles, British Somalia, Sierra Leone, Tristan da Cunha, Uganda.

Portugal belonged to Angola, the Azores, Portuguese Guinea, the Cape Verde Islands, Madeira, Sao Tome and Principe, and Mozambique.

Germany(before its defeat in the First World War) belonged to the territories of the modern states of Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, Togo, Ghana and Cameroon; Belgium - Zaire; Italy - Eritrea and part of Somalia; Spain - Spanish Guinea (Rio Muni), Canary Islands, Presidios, Rio de Oro with Ifini.

In 1822, freed slaves from the United States were settled on lands purchased by the American Colonization Society from local leaders, and in 1847 the Republic of Liberia was formed on this territory.

By the beginning of the 50s. XX century there were only four legally independent states on the continent - Egypt, Ethiopia, Liberia, South Africa.

The collapse of the colonial system began in the north of the continent. Libya became independent in 1951, followed by Morocco, Tunisia and Sudan in 1956. In 1957-1958 Ghana and Guinea gained independence.

In 1960, which went down in history as the “Year of Africa,” 17 colonies achieved independence. In the mid-70s. XX century all Portuguese colonies gained independence, in 1990 - Namibia, in 1993 after 30 years of struggle for self-determination - Eritrea, in 2011 - South Sudan (based on the results of a referendum).

In 2010-2011 In the Arab countries of North Africa (Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Western Sahara, Sudan, Mauritania), there were mass protests and revolutions (“Arab Spring”), which led to the overthrow of several heads of state.

Forms of government and government. At the beginning of the 21st century. There were about 60 states and territories in Africa. Most of them are unitary republics. Federal Republics- Nigeria, South Africa, Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia.

Monarchies- Lesotho, Morocco, Swaziland.

Non-Self-Governing Territories- the islands of Reunion and Mayotte (French overseas departments), St. Helena Island (a British colony), the cities of Ceuta and Melilla (possessions of Spain), Western Sahara.

Independent member states of the Commonwealth- Botswana, Gambia, Ghana, Zambia, Zimbabwe (admitted in 2003), Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique (admitted in 1995), Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda (admitted in 2009), Swaziland, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, South Africa.

Main events of the 20th century.

1902- as a result of the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), the former Boer republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal Republic of South Africa became the British colonies of the Orange Republic and the Transvaal.

1904- the so-called “Cordial Agreement” was concluded between France and Great Britain: Great Britain recognized France’s rights to Morocco, ceded to France part of the territory in the Gambia River region and the border areas between the British and French colonies in Eastern Nigeria.

1906- division of Abyssinia (modern Ethiopia) into spheres of influence: the northwestern and western parts were ceded to Great Britain; Italy - the northern part and territories west of Addis Ababa; France - areas adjacent to French Somalia.

The union of the British possessions of Lagos and Southern Nigeria into the colony of Southern Nigeria.

1907- the British protectorate of Nyasaland (since 1893 called British Central Africa) adopted its former name.

1908- the French possession of the Comoros Islands was included in the colony of Madagascar.

The Belgian Parliament declared the Congo Free State a colony of the Belgian Congo. In 1885-1908. The Congo was considered the personal possession of King Leopold II, who ruled it alone.

1910- the formation of the Union of South Africa (SAA) as part of the British possessions: the Cape Colony, the colonies of Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Republic. South Africa received the status of a dominion of the British Empire.

French Congo is renamed French Equatorial Africa.

1911- France transferred to Germany part of French Equatorial Africa (275 thousand km 2) as compensation for the establishment of a French protectorate in Morocco.

1912- Morocco is declared a protectorate of France. The Spanish protectorate zone consisted of two parts in the north and south of Morocco. A “special regime” has been established in the city of Tangier and the surrounding areas.

The colony of Italian Libya was formed on the territory of the Ottoman Empire's possessions of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica.

1914- an English protectorate was established over Egypt (occupied by Great Britain in 1882, but considered a province of the Ottoman Empire).

The unification of the British possessions of Northern and Southern Nigeria into a single Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.

Division of the colony of French Sudan, formation of the colony of Upper Volta as part of French West Africa.

Changes on the political map of Africa after the First World War are associated with the loss of Germany's colonies and their transfer under the mandate of the League of Nations to the victorious powers. Part of German East Africa - Tanganyika - was transferred to Great Britain. Togoland and Cameroon (West Africa) were divided between France (Togo and East Cameroon) and Great Britain (Ghana and West Cameroon). South Africa was given German South-West Africa (Namibia), Belgium - part of German East Africa (Rwanda-Urundi territory), Portugal - the “Kionga Triangle” (part of German East Africa in the area of ​​the Ruvuma River near the borders of Mozambique).

1920- part of British East Africa became known as the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya.

1921- formation of the Republic of the Rif (northern part of Spanish Morocco); defeated in 1926 by the combined forces of Spain and France.

1922- abolition of the British protectorate over Egypt, declaring Egypt an independent kingdom.

Formation of the colony of Niger as part of French West Africa. The British possession of Ascension Island is included in the colony of St. Helena.

1923- the city of Tangier and its surrounding areas are declared an international zone.

1924- transfer by Great Britain of part of Kenya (Jubaland) to Italian control.

The actual elimination of the condominium (joint management) over the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, the establishment of the exclusive power of Great Britain.

1932- annexation of the French colony of Upper Volta to the colony of the Coast Ivory.

Changes on the political map of Africa after World War II.

1935- Italy's seizure of Ethiopia. The unification of Eritrea, Italian Somalia and captured Ethiopia into the colony of Italian East Africa.

1941- the liberation of Ethiopia by allied troops and the return of its independence.

1945- French Sudan received the status of an overseas territory of France.

1946- the French government passed a law granting the status of overseas departments to colonies, including Reunion and French Somalia.

Former mandate territories (German colonies transferred to the victorious powers after the First World War) received the status of trust territories.

The Comoros Islands, previously administratively united with Madagascar, became an independent administrative unit (a colony of France).

1949- South West Africa (Namibia) is included in the territory of the Union of South Africa.

1950- transfer of Somalia (formerly a UN trust territory) to Italian control for a period of 10 years.

1951- declaration of independence of the Kingdom of Libya. Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe received the status of overseas provinces of Portugal.

1952- overthrow of the monarchy in Egypt (a republic was proclaimed in 1953).

The UN decision to annex the former Italian colony of Eritrea to Ethiopia as an autonomous state. Creation of the Federation of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

1953- formation of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland from three British possessions - Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia and Nyasaland (dissolved in 1964). The Federation became part of the Commonwealth.

1956- the independence of the Republic of Sudan (previously an Anglo-Egyptian possession, then a colony of Great Britain) and the French zone in Morocco was proclaimed, the formation of the Kingdom of Morocco. The Spanish-Moroccan declaration of independence of Spanish Morocco and its annexation to the Kingdom of Morocco was signed.

Abolition of the French protectorate over Tunisia, formation of the Kingdom of Tunisia (since 1957 - a republic).

Declaration of French Togo as an autonomous republic within the French Union.

1957- the independence of the British colony of the Gold Coast was proclaimed, the state of Ghana was formed (since 1960 - a republic).

The international zone of Tangier became part of Morocco.

1958- Ifni and the Spanish Sahara (formerly part of Spanish West Africa) received the status of Spanish provinces and were declared an integral part of Spain (now Ifni is an administrative district in Morocco).

Creation of the United Arab Republic, including Egypt and Syria (Syria left the UAR in 1961).

Independence was granted to French Guinea and the Republic of Guinea was formed.

The following countries received the status of republics - members of the French Union: Ivory Coast, Upper Volta, Dahomey, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, French Sudan (formerly part of Middle Congo, Equatorial Africa), Gabon, Middle Congo, Ubangi-Shari, Chad (formerly - French Equatorial Africa), Madagascar. Middle Congo was renamed the Republic of the Congo, Ubangi-Shari - Central Africa, French Somalia received the status of an overseas territory.

1959- Equatorial Guinea received the status of an overseas province of Spain.

1960- former French colonies gained independence and were proclaimed republics: Togo (previously a UN trust territory under French rule), the Federation of Mali consisting of Senegal and French Sudan, the Republic of Malagasy (Republic of Madagascar), Dahomey (Benin), Niger, Upper Volta (Burkina- Faso), Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire), Chad, Central Africa (CAR), Republic of the Congo, Mauritania, Gabon, Somali Republic (former British Protectorate of Somalia and Italian Trust Territory of Somalia reunited).

The British colonies of Nigeria and British Somalia gained independence; Belgian colony - Congo (Zaire, since 1997 - Democratic Republic of the Congo); Cameroon (a trust territory administered by France and Great Britain).

The Mali Federation split and the independence of Senegal and Mali was declared.

1961- as a result of the referendum, the southern part of Western Cameroon joined Cameroon, and the northern part joined Nigeria.

Formation of the Federal Republic of Cameroon as part of Eastern and Western Cameroon.

The Comoros Islands received the status of an overseas territory of France. Proclamation of independence of Sierra Leone, Tanganyika.

1962- the independence of the Kingdom of Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Algeria was proclaimed.

1963- internal self-government was introduced in Gambia, Kenya, Nyasaland; Kenya was granted independence.

Independence was granted to the Sultanate of Zanzibar (formerly a British colony).

1964- independence was granted to Zambia (a state within the Commonwealth), Malawi (Nyasaland).

The unification of Tanganyika and Zanzibar into the United Republic of Tanzania.

Local self-government was introduced in Equatorial Guinea.

1965- declaration of independence of the Gambia (since 1970 - a republic).

The islands of Aldabra, Farquhar and others were torn away from the Seychelles colony by Great Britain, which, together with the Chagos Archipelago, became “British Indian Ocean Territory”.

1966- independence was granted to Botswana (formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland), Lesotho (formerly the British protectorate of Basutoland).

Overthrow of the monarchy in Burundi, proclamation of a republic.

1967- The French Coast of Somalia (an overseas territory of France) became known as the French Territory of the Afars and Issa.

1968- The Comoros Islands received internal self-government (previously an overseas territory of France).

Independence was granted to Mauritius (formally the head of state is the Queen of England, represented by the Governor-General), Swaziland, and Equatorial Guinea.

1972- the Portuguese colonies of Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe received local autonomy rights, Mozambique - state rights.

Formation of the unitary United Republic of Cameroon (since 1984 - Republic of Cameroon).

1973- Guinea-Bissau was granted independence.

1974- the fall of the monarchy in Ethiopia, the proclamation of a republic.

1975- Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe gained independence.

1976- Spain transferred Western Sahara to the control of Morocco and Mauritania, which divided it among themselves. The Polisario Front proclaimed the creation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara).

Independence was granted to the Seychelles, and the territories seized by Great Britain in 1965 were returned.

The “independence” of the puppet national states, the Bantustans of South Africa, was proclaimed, unrecognized by the international community: Transkei (1976), Bophuthatswana (1977), Venda (1979), Ciskei (1981).

The Central African Republic was transformed into an empire (the republic was restored in 1979).

1977- declaration of independence of Djibouti (formerly French Afar and Issa Territory).

1980- Declaration of independence of Zimbabwe.

1981- creation of the Senegambia confederation consisting of Senegal and Gambia (collapsed in 1989).

1990- declaration of independence of Namibia.

1993- the separation of Eritrea from Ethiopia as a result of a referendum and the proclamation of the independent state of Eritrea.

1997 - Zaire is renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

1998- changing the form of government in Ethiopia (became a federal republic).

2011- declaration of independence of South Sudan (based on the results of the referendum).

Territorial disputes and ethnic conflicts. Today's state borders in Africa are the result of the policies of European powers. The colonial division and borders in Africa were approved by the metropolises at the Berlin Conference in 1885.

The causes of modern border conflicts in Africa are associated with the recognition (or non-recognition) by modern states of borders drawn during the colonial period by agreement between the metropolises. The borders were drawn without taking into account the areas of settlement of tribes: 44% of state borders run along meridians and parallels, 30% along geometric boundaries - rivers, lakes, sparsely populated areas. African borders cut through 177 cultural regions, this is especially acute where the borders impede the usual routes of human migration to markets and agricultural land. For example, the border of Nigeria and Cameroon cuts the settlement areas of 14 tribes, and the border of Burkina Faso - 21.

This leads to frequent border conflicts. Nevertheless, the colonial borders will remain the same for a long time, since revising them in one place will lead to a chain of conflicts throughout the continent. In addition, the borders passing through desert and sparsely populated areas are not actually demarcated. As these territories are economically developed, and especially if mineral reserves are discovered there, neighboring countries will put forward claims to disputed areas (for example, the dispute between Libya and Chad over the Aozu border strip).

Ethnic conflicts are often accompanied by military coups. As a result of such coups in many African countries, legitimately elected governments rarely remained in power for long.

Border problems are also associated with the general poverty and economic backwardness of neighboring countries. In fact, many borders are not guarded, and residents of border villages continue to visit relatives, violating state borders. A special place in border problems is occupied by nomadic tribes moving behind seasonal precipitation. African borders are crossed almost unhindered by hungry people, ethnic groups who are persecuted in their countries, economic and labor migrants, and guerrillas.

Africa political map

1. When did European colonization of the continent begin and what was its sequence?
2. Which European states participated in the colonization of Africa?
3. Which African states did not have colonial status? Why?
4. When did the process of decolonization in Africa begin?
5. What forms of government and government do they have? African countries? List federal republics and monarchies.
6. List the African countries that were colonies of Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Portugal.
7. What changes occurred on the political map of Africa as a result of the First World War?
8. What changes occurred as a result of World War II?
9. Which major changes occurred on the political map of Africa in the last quarter of the 20th century?
10. What interstate problems and areas of political instability in Africa do you know?
11. Why is 1960 called the “Year of Africa”?
12. List the federal states in Africa. Which of them are built on a national principle?
13. What consequences did European colonization leave on the political map of Africa? Which countries are part of the Commonwealth (British)? In what countries state language Is the language English (French, Spanish, Portuguese)?
14. What is the significance for Spain of owning the territories of Ceuta and Melilla on the coast of Morocco, as well as the adjacent islands?

Higher professional education

"Ryazan State University named after S.A. Yesenin"

Faculty of Natural Geography

Department of Service and Tourism

Coursework in the discipline: "Country Studies"

on the topic of:

"Political map of Africa. Its division into subregions"

Specialty – 230500 – Social and cultural service and tourism

(012521 - Geography)

Ryazan 2010

Natural conditions………………………………………………………………..6
Population………………………………………………………..9
General characteristics of the farm……………………………..10
Historical reference……………………………………………. 12

2.1. African states…………………………………………… 14

2.2. Division of Africa into subregions…… ……………………………..17

3.1. North Africa……………………………………… ………….. 18

3.2. South Africa……………………………………………… ……. 25

3.3. Central Africa…………………………………………… 28

3.4. West Africa……………………………………………………… ………….. 34

3.5. East Africa ………………………………… ………………42

Introduction
Africa is the second largest continent on Earth, with 55 countries. More than a quarter of them are located inland and are landlocked. Africa is home to the longest river in the world, the Nile, and the largest desert, the Sahara.
Africa is unique for its fabulously rich nature: here lush tropical vegetation coexists with endless sun-scorched desert. In many ways, this continent is a mystery: modern civilization coexists with paganism, the archaic fiercely resists progress...
The African continent is huge and inimitable. Its area is more than 29,987,840 square kilometers, which is one fifth of the earth's total surface area.
The peoples and cultures are very diverse, from the desert nomads to the pygmies of the rainforests and the tribes of the central plains.
This work is devoted to the consideration of one particular issue, namely the consideration of the political map of Africa, as well as its division into subregions (macroregions) and a more detailed consideration of each of them separately.
Relevance This study seems to suggest that a detailed examination and analysis of microregions will help to identify the potential for the development of the tourism industry in Africa, separately for each region, because due to the relatively large size of the continent, as well as due to the particularly complex combination of various natural resources, historical, ethnic, socio-economic, geopolitical factors, it is more expedient to use regionalization, thereby dividing the second largest continent on the planet into several territories united by common features.
Object of study the continent of Africa stands out.
Subject of study includes consideration and characteristics of the political map of Africa and its division into 5 subregions.
As hypotheses We suggest that, using one of the most popular scientific regionalizations of Africa (5 subregions), analyzing each region, it is possible to assess the tourism potential for each of them separately.
In accordance with this hypothesis, we solve a series tasks:

learn brief information about Africa;
consider the political map of Africa;
explore options for regionalization of the mainland;
consider the selected subregions according to various parameters;
characterize the tourism potential for each of the 5 macroregions.

theoretical analysis of the existing problem;
generalization of the studied material;
processing and systematization of information.

clarified general information about Africa;
the features of each macroregion were analyzed and systematized;

Chapter 1. Brief information about Africa.
A?frica, Africa (English), Afrique (French), Africa (Portuguese, Spanish), ??????? (Arabic), Afrika (Swahili, German, Afrikaans) is a continent located south of the Mediterranean and Red Seas, east of the Atlantic Ocean and west of the Indian Ocean. Africa is also part of the world.
Africa is the second largest continent on the globe. In terms of its area (including islands) - 30.3 million km2 - it is second only to Eurasia. Africa's population is about 924 million people. (2006 estimate), or 13.7% of the Earth's population.

Natural conditions and resources

Population

General characteristics of the farm.

the predominance of small-scale extensive agriculture;
underdeveloped manufacturing industry;
a strong lag in transport - transport does not provide connections between internal regions, and sometimes - foreign economic relations of states;
the non-productive sphere is also limited and is usually represented by trade and services.

Historical reference

Chapter 2. Africa political map
2.1. African states
There are 53 states in Africa and the surrounding islands:

Algeria (Algerian People's Democratic Republic)
Angola (Republic of Angola)
Benin (Republic of Benin)
Botswana (Republic of Botswana)
Burkina Faso (Republic of Burkina Faso)
Burundi (Republic of Burundi)
Gabon (Gabonian Republic)
Gambia (Republic of Gambia)
Ghana (Republic of Ghana)
Guinea (Republic of Guinea)
Guinea-Bissau (Republic of Guinea-Bissau)
Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire)
Djibouti (Republic of Djibouti)
Egypt (Arab Republic of Egypt)
Zambia (Republic of Zambia)
Zimbabwe (Republic of Zimbabwe)
Cape Verde (Republic of Cape Verde)
Cameroon (Republic of Cameroon)
Kenya (Republic of Kenya)
Comoros (Union of Comoros)
Congo (Republic of Congo)
Cote d'Ivoire (Republic of Cote d'Ivoire)
Lesotho (Kingdom of Lesotho)
Liberia (Republic of Liberia)
Libya (Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya)
Mauritius (Republic of Mauritius)
Mauritania (Islamic Republic of Mauritania)
Madagascar (Republic of Madagascar).
Malawi (Republic of Malawi)
Mali (Republic of Mali)
Morocco (Kingdom of Morocco)
Mozambique (Republic of Mozambique)
Namibia (Republic of Namibia)
Niger (Niger Republic)
Nigeria (Federal Republic of Nigeria)
Rwanda (Republic of Rwanda)
Sao Tome and Principe (Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe)
Swaziland (Kingdom of Swaziland)
Seychelles (Republic of Seychelles)
Senegal (Republic of Senegal)
Somalia
Sudan (Republic of Sudan)
Sierra Leone (Republic of Sierra Leone)
Tanzania (United Republic of Tanzania)
Togo (Togolese Republic)
Tunisia (Tunisian Republic)
Uganda (Republic of Uganda)
Central African Republic (CAR)
Chad (Republic of Chad)
Equatorial Guinea (Republic of Equatorial Guinea)
Eritrea (State of Eritrea)
Ethiopia (Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia)
Republic of South Africa (RSA)

2.2. Division of Africa into subregions
Africa is the largest geographical region on the planet. It is quite natural for scientists to want to divide it into separate large parts. Hence the various ways of regionalizing a territory (according to various criteria):

Division by 2 macroregions: North and Tropical Africa (sub-Saharan Africa);
Division by 3 macroregions: Northern, Tropical and Southern Africa;
Division by 5 subregions: Northern, Western, Central, Eastern and Southern.

Chapter 3. Subregions of Africa
3.1. North Africa
North Africa occupies 1/3 of the territory, where every fourth inhabitant of the continent lives. The region neighbors developed countries in Europe and South-West Asia. On the continent, it borders three other African regions: West, Central and East Africa. The region includes 8 countries: Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Western Sahara.
State building in North African countries has complex history. They have been colonized repeatedly over thousands of years.
North Africa is the cradle of the ancient Egyptian civilization, which made a significant contribution to world culture.
All countries in the region are members of the UN, the UAE, the Arab League, and Libya and Algeria are members of OPEC.

Natural conditions and resources.

3.4.West Africa
West Africa is the most populated region of the continent, with a third of all Africans living on 1/6 of its territory. The region includes 15 states.
It borders North and Central Africa, is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and its largest bay off the coast of Africa - the Gulf of Guinea. To the north it borders with the Sahara, and to the east with the Chad Basin.
Apart from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the countries are located on the coast, and the region itself is closer to Western Europe and the Atlantic ports of North America than other parts of Tropical Africa. Access to the ocean and convenient bays on the coast contributed to the development of ports and active maritime connections with other Atlantic regions of Africa, Europe and America.
All countries in the region are members of the UN, the UAE, the Arab League, and Nigeria is a member of OPEC.
Natural conditions and resources
West Africa is limited to the west and south by the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean. In the north it borders on the Sahara deserts, in the east on the Lake Chad basin and mountain ranges that stretch to the Gulf of Biafra. The length of the coastline is 4098 km.
Almost the entire territory is located within the African Plate. The relief is dominated by low (up to 200-400 m) flat plateaus, above the surface of which rise the Futa Djallon mountain ranges, the North Guinea Upland, the low mountains of Togo, Atakora, etc.
The climate is predominantly subequatorial, in the southern part it is equatorial. Rainy climatic seasons alternate with dry ones. The air is very hot throughout almost the entire year, and significant masses of it are saturated with moisture. With the exception of continental semi-desert areas, West Africa does not experience extreme temperature fluctuations throughout the year. The amount of precipitation increases from north to south from 250 to 1000-1500 mm per year, and in coastal strip- up to 2000-4000 mm, the summer rainy season lasts up to 7 months. The climate in most of the territory is unfavorable for living and is difficult for humans to tolerate: at the height of the rainy season there is extremely high humidity, in the dry season there is strong wind (harmattana).
West Africa is rich in large and deep rivers, the largest of which is the Niger, which flows into the Gulf of Guinea.
The subsoil of the region has not been sufficiently studied, especially in inland countries. Oil deposits (total reserves of 2.4 billion tons) and gas (1332 billion m3) have been discovered in Nigeria. Bauxite reserves are rich, especially in Guinea (up to 1/3 of the world's reserves and over 1/2 of Africa's reserves), uranium is mined in Niger. Deposits of gold and diamonds have long been known. Recently, exploration of the subsoil of the oil-rich shelf zone of the Gulf of Guinea has been intensified.
The rivers of the region have huge reserves of hydropower, which have only just begun to be used, but its importance in the economic complex is quite significant.
West Africa is famous for its unique forest resources. The forest belt is entirely located in the equatorial zone. Up to a thousand tree species grow here, many of which have valuable wood and fruits. Natural rubber is obtained from some rocks. The forests are multi-tiered.
In the Sahel zone, even in less dry years, farming is not always possible without irrigation. Semi-nomadic cattle breeding and the cultivation of lowly grain crops are concentrated here. In the most humid Guinean zone, climatic conditions are almost universally favorable for the development of tropical vegetation.
In general, the natural conditions and resources of most of the region, provided they are used rationally, are favorable for the development of the countries' economies, and the presence of large areas of fertile soil is a prerequisite for effective agriculture.
Population
West Africa is inhabited by a variety of peoples who belong to different language families, profess different religions, use various forms of economic activity, etc. It is home to the largest country in Africa in terms of population - Nigeria and one of the least populated - Gambia.
The region has one of the highest birth rates; however, high mortality rates remain in Mali, Niger, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal.
The ratio between men and women is relatively proportional - 49.6 and 50.4%.
The territory of the region is the border of settlement of representatives of two large races - Caucasian and Negroid. The vast majority of the peoples of the region belong to the Negroid race. Its representatives are endowed with very dark skin, curly hair, protruding jaws, a wide nose with a low bridge, thick lips, etc.
The region's population is very heterogeneous ethnically. In the north, the peoples of the Semitic-Hamitic language family (Berbers, Hauss) predominate, and in the coastal regions, the peoples of the Niger-Kordofan family (Yoruba, Fulbe languages) predominate. Nowadays, all states in the region are multi-ethnic.
A significant number of the population professes Islam and Christianity, and local traditional beliefs are quite common. Muslims are concentrated in the west of the region and in the Sahel zone. Although there are different branches of Christianity represented in the region: Catholicism, Protestantism (evangelicalism, Anglicanism), Christians do not form a majority anywhere.
A significant number of residents maintain a variety of local traditional beliefs: tribal cults, fetishism, belief in nature spirits, magic, etc. The cult of ancestors is widespread in many nations (cult masks of the Dogon, Senufo and Bambara).
The population is distributed extremely unevenly. In the arid regions of Mali and Niger, in the humid equatorial forests of the Guinea coast, the average population density is 1 person/km2. The most densely populated areas are the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, the valleys of significant rivers (Niger, Volta, Senegal, Gambia), industrialized areas and areas of plantation agriculture, where the population density reaches 70-80 people/km2 or more.
The rural population is 69% (in Niger, Burki na Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia - over 80%). Highest level urbanization in Côte d'Ivoire (44%), Liberia (44%), Senegal (42%), Nigeria (39%), the lowest is in Burkina Faso (8%). Largest cities West Africa - Lagos (10.3 million people), Abidjan (2.8 million), Accra (1.7 million), Conakry (1.6 million), Ibadan (1.5 million).
In all countries, the supply of labor significantly exceeds the demand for it. On average, up to 80% of the population is employed in agriculture; there is hidden unemployment and underemployment in villages. Unemployment is also widespread in cities where young people from all over the country gather.
The significant diversity of peoples who inhabit the region (even within one country), their linguistic families and anthropological groups, the forms of their economic activity and religious beliefs often causes social and ethnic conflicts in some West African countries (Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, etc.)
Agriculture
The economy of most countries is dominated by agriculture, which is the main source of livelihood for the majority of the region's population. The leading role in its structure (except for the arid northern regions) belongs to agriculture. In all countries, consumer and small-scale crop production predominates with a low level of agricultural technology, the main tool of which is the hoe.
Agricultural machinery and mineral fertilizers are used in large private farms and on plantations of agro-industrial complexes.
All agricultural crops in the region are divided into traditional food crops, which are almost entirely consumed on peasant farms (millet, sorghum, rice, corn, wheat, etc.), and commercial crops - intended for export (peanuts, cotton, kenaf, sugar cane , tobacco, bananas, cocoa, coffee, etc.).
Industrial crops include cotton, shea butter, sesame, hevea, etc. The region produces up to 80% of the natural rubber produced in Africa. The main producers and exporters of coffee are Cote d'Ivoire, Togo and Sierra Leone.
Growing of vegetables and fruits (tomatoes, potatoes, beans, peppers, peas, onions, melons) is concentrated in suburban areas.
Nigeria is ahead of all countries in the production of palm oil and palm kernels.
The northern territories of the dry savannas of the Sahel zone are used for semi-nomadic and nomadic livestock raising (zebu cows, sheep, goats). Developing on an extensive basis, it is unproductive. In countries located closer to the south, the development of cattle breeding is complicated by the harmful tsetse fly, which carries the causative agent of nagana (a difficult disease of cattle).
Fishing is the main livelihood of residents of coastal areas. Large reserves of fish, in addition to the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, are in the estuaries of high-water rivers. The object of fishing is industrial fish (tuna), as well as lobsters, shrimp, etc.
Despite the wide range of crops grown, many countries in the region do not meet their own food needs. This is a consequence of population migration to cities, ignoring the need for fundamental agrarian reforms, the preservation of archaic forms of agrarian relations, outdated agricultural technology, etc. All this has led to an increase in imports of food crops, especially rice and wheat.
Industry
Industry is dominated by mining areas.
Oil production is concentrated in Nigeria in the river delta. Niger and on the shelf of the Gulf of Guinea, where 102 million tons of oil and almost all the natural gas in the region (17 billion m3) are produced annually. Manganese ore reserves are being developed in Ghana, uranium ore in Niger, phosphorites in Togo and Senegal, and diamonds in Ghana and Guinea.
The main part of electricity is generated by thermal power plants. In many of the poorest countries, energy needs are met from wood and other biomass. The total electricity production is 26,878 million kW. h per year.
There are small engineering enterprises for the assembly of bicycles and motorcycles in Benin and Burkina Faso, the assembly of French cars is established in Guinea-Bissau, and the latest production is the production of batteries and electrical cables in Cote d'Ivoire.
In some countries of the region (Ivory Coast, Mali, Sierra Leone, Niger) the chemical industry is developing (production of fertilizers, bitumen, paints, varnishes).
The woodworking industry belongs to the most developed areas. There are numerous charcoal production enterprises. Major suppliers to the world market of timber and timber of valuable tropical species (kai, sapele, iroko, opepe, agba) are Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Togo, etc.
The furniture industry has been established in Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
Textile industry. Its largest centers were formed in Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Nigeria and some other countries.
Food industry. It is represented by flour mills and bakeries, coffee and bean processing plants, factories producing canned vegetables and fish, fruit juices, alcohol and non-alcoholic products, as well as breweries. The tobacco industry has been established in Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia and Nigeria.
Craft production. It is an important component of the productive forces of the region. Its most valuable products are jewelry made of gold and silver, masks and sculptures made of black and mahogany trees, ivory, as well as shoes, baskets, and belts made of reptile skin.
Despite the creation of large enterprises in some countries of the region, industrial potential still remains low, and its products are not in demand on world markets and are used only within national economies.
Transport
Transport in the countries of the region is poorly developed, therefore economic and other ties between them are not intensive enough. Single narrow-gauge railways were built in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Togo.
Motor transport accounts for the main load in goods and passenger transportation. Many areas that do not have roads find themselves cut off from the world during the rainy season.
Maritime transport is an important means of foreign trade relations.
The length of inland waterways is 15.5 thousand km. The region's main river arteries - the Niger, Senegal and their tributaries - are navigable almost all year round.
There are 15 international airports with regular flights built in the region. Air transport not only provides direct communication with the outside world, but also, given the insufficiently developed ground transport network, facilitates communication between remote settlements.
The transport network of the countries in the region is generally underdeveloped. One of the main problems is the poor interconnection of different modes of transport. The poor technical condition of highways and the lack of hard surfaces on the roads predetermine the isolation of many areas from the outside world during the rainy season.
Recreation and tourism
The diversity of the natural conditions of the region, the original culture of peoples and tribes, the remains of architectural monuments of the colonial era, the sea coasts of Senegal and Gambia, numerous national parks with rare species of flora and fauna determine the attractiveness of West Africa for foreign tourists. Local Catholic pilgrims often visit the world's largest Catholic cathedral in Yamoussoukro, built in 1990 on the model of the Basilica of St. Peter's in the Vatican.
16 unique objects are included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list:
in Benin (1) - the royal palace in the city of Abomey, which was the capital of Dahomey in the 17th-19th centuries; in Ghana (2) - traditional defensive and civil buildings of the Ashanti people, historical buildings of Accra; in Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire (3) - the natural reserve of the Nimba Mountains; National parks Tai and Komoe; in Senegal (4) - national parks Dzhoudzh and Niokolo-Koba, in the past a transshipment point for the slave trade on the island. Woe, oh. Saint Louis; in Mali (3) - the centers of the medieval cities of Djenne and Timbuktu; in Niger (2) - the natural landscapes of Tenere and the Niger National Park; in Nigeria (1) - Sukura cultural landscape;
Despite the presence of prerequisites for the development of tourism in many countries of the region, socio-economic problems, military-political conflicts in some of them (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, etc.), unfavorable climatic conditions (high temperatures with significant humidity air) etc. limited the growth of the tourism sector.
3.5. East Africa
East Africa is located in subequatorial and tropical climate zones. She has access to Indian Ocean and has long maintained trade relations with India and Arab countries. Its mineral wealth is less significant, but the overall diversity of natural resources is very large, which largely determines the variety of types of their economic use. Ethnic composition The population is also quite mosaic.
The borders of many states were established arbitrarily by former colonial powers, without taking into account natural ethnic and cultural boundaries. Due to large cultural and social differences, East Africa contains significant conflict potential, which has repeatedly expressed itself in past and current wars, including civil ones.
East Africa occupies a marginal position on the continent on both sides of the equator. Within its borders the trade winds of the northern and southern hemispheres meet and active monsoon activity occurs. The rugged terrain and high altitudes above sea level complicate the atmospheric circulation system and create a wide variety of landscapes within East Africa, from hot tropical deserts near the ocean coast to humid equatorial forests on the slopes of massifs crowned with snow-capped peaks.
East Africa is a geographical term covering the countries of Africa east of the Nile excluding Egypt.
These include: Burundi (capital Bujumbura), Djibouti (capital Djibouti), Kenya (capital Nairobi), Comoros (capital Moroni), Madagascar (capital Antananarivo), Mauritius (capital Port Louis), Mozambique (capital Maputo), Reunion (capital Saint Denis), Rwanda (capital Kigali), Seychelles (capital Victoria), Somalia (capital Mogadishu), Sudan (capital Khartoum), Tanzania (capital Dodoma), Uganda (capital Kampala), Eritrea (capital Asmara), Ethiopia (capital Addis Ababa).
East Africa is home to about 200 nationalities and four linguistic groups. Due to large cultural and social differences, East Africa contains significant conflict potential, which has repeatedly expressed itself in past and current wars, including civil ones.
The borders of many states were established arbitrarily by former colonial powers, without taking into account natural ethnic and cultural boundaries. This fact significantly complicates the development of the region.
A number of East African countries - Ethiopia, the Republic of Zambia, the Somali Republic and the Republic of Burundi - formed in 1967. Customs Union- East African Community.
East Africa is considered by most anthropologists to be the cradle of humanity.

Conclusion
Using the regional studies of the continent of Africa and examining each microdistrict individually, analyzing the natural conditions, resources, population structure, economy, and households of each - I came to certain conclusions, namely, I identified the tourism potential of North, South, Central, West, East Africa (for each individually ).
West African countries currently receive the majority of tourists visiting the African continent, since the region is the richest in recreational resources; the leading country (in terms of inbound tourism) is Egypt, with its abundance of historical, cultural and architectural monuments.
The countries of South Africa, perhaps, will seem the most attractive for lovers of extreme and active recreation, for those who want to see with their own eyes the exotic side of African life, and also, thanks to their excellent cuisine, it is simply a paradise for gourmets.
Central Africa, in my opinion, is the least suitable direction for the development of the tourism industry, since at the moment it is the industrial center of the African continent.
West Africa: national parks, rare flora, fauna, but despite the presence of prerequisites for the development of tourism, many countries in the region have socio-economic problems, military-political conflicts.
And East Africa is the cradle of humanity, but again... Due to large cultural and social differences, East Africa contains significant conflict potential, which has repeatedly expressed itself in past and current wars, including civil ones; which again does not create favorable conditions for the development of the tourism industry.
Theoretical research allows us to assert that the main goals research, namely: consideration and analysis of sub-regions of Africa.
In the course work, brief information about Africa was studied, the economic-geographical position of macro-regions was considered, historical and geographical features were studied, the characteristics of the population were analyzed, natural resources were studied, industry was analyzed, the specialization of agricultural production was studied, the development of transport was considered, socio-economic development was analyzed, and a characteristic was given. features of recreation and tourism in each region.
The conducted research convinces us that an individual approach to each macroregion makes it easier to identify tourism potential; this approach is the only correct one due to the relatively large size of the continent, as well as due to the particularly complex combination of various natural resources, historical, ethnic, social -economic, geopolitical factors of the continent, which was proposed as a hypothesis.

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