SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

NORTH AFRICA

Physical Criteria
Physical Criteria

greater variety

more dry

Sahara desert provides a large, strong, sparsely populated border

Sahara desert provides a large, strong, sparsely populated border

Cultural Criteria
Cultural Criteria

great variety of languages (1/3 of all languages are in Africa)

Mostly Arabic

predominately Christian and local religions

Mostly Islam

predominately Black African

predominately Caucasian

political criteria not useful since realm boundary cuts through several countries

political criteria not useful since realm boundary cuts through several countries

Economic Criteria
Economic Criteria

subsistence agriculture

nomadic herding

shifting cultivation

subsistence agriculture

|

oil

Historical Criteria
Historical Criteria

West African culture hearth

Nile River culture hearth

|

part of Ottoman Empire

European colonization occurred in both realms

European colonization occurred in both realms