Module Six, Activity One

Location

Study the World Map. This is the same equal area projection of the world to which you were introduced in Module One: Exploring the Diversity of Africa.

Equal Area Map: Behrman World Map Projection
Behrmann Projection

  • Looking at the map, rank the continents according to size.
  • Africa is bordered by two oceans and a sea.
    1. Which ocean borders Africa to the west?
    2. Which ocean borders Africa to the east?
    3. Which sea borders Africa to the north?
  • Which continent is connected to Africa by a land-bridge?
    1. What is the virtual line that divides the world into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres called?
    2. What is the virtual line that connects the North and South Pole and divides the World into Eastern and Western Hemispheres called?
    3. Which continent(s) occupy space in all four Hemispheres?
  • Based on Africa’s global location (as projected on the map), (a) do you think that Africa has a long history of active contact (trade, migration, exchange of ideas) with other regions of the world? OR (b) do you think that until recently (the past 300 years) Africa has been isolated from other regions of the world? Give as many reasons as you can for your answer.
  • Based on the information provided on the map, with which two continents do you think people and societies in Africa had the longest contact? Why? Which regions of Africa do you think had the earliest contact with other regions of the world? Why?