Unit Four: Regional Perspectives

Module Twenty: Southern Africa

Student's Edition

Overview of Module Three: Regional Perspectives

This module will introduce the cultural, social, economic, and political richness and diversity of the southern African region. Through the learning activities students will learn about the primary physical and social characteristics of this dynamic region, and come to understand the social, economic, political, and cultural processes and relationships that lead to continuity and change within the region. Specifically, the learning activities will address uniformity, diversity and change within the southern Africa through examining the following:

Geographic characteristics: topography, major land-forms, climate ,vegetation and how these factors impact the way people live, make a living, and view the world.
Socio-cultural characteristics: where people live—rural/urban; social identifiers/constructs (race, ethnicity, gender, class); language; religion; expressive culture (art, music, performance, literature/drama)
Economic characteristics: modes (methods) of production, distribution, and consumption; role of agriculture (and land ownership), industry, mining; trade within region (and external); labor; disparities in wealth and poverty.
Political Characteristics: number of countries within region; types of government; relationships between nations in region; regional organizations (SADC: Southern Africa Development Committee); political conflicts, democratization and human rights.

GO TO: Activity One: Engage What do we know about Southern Africa?

Or Go To:

• Activity Two: Explore Geography of Southern Africa
• Activity Three: Explain Culture, Society, and Production in Southern Africa
• Activity Four Expand: Regional Collaboration in Southern Africa