Where is Africa?
Africa is the second-largest continent in the world, covering about 11.7 million square miles. It is located mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere, straddling the equator, which divides it nearly equally into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Africa has sprawling landscapes which include: mountains, grasslands, savannas, plateaus, deserts, lakes, and rivers.
Location and Boundaries
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North: Africa is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, separating it from Europe.
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East: The Red Sea and the Indian Ocean lie to the east, with the Arabian Peninsula nearby.
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West: The Atlantic Ocean forms its western boundary.
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South: Africa narrows into a point at the Cape of Good Hope, bordered by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Draining Africa's Resources
Triangular Trade
The Triangular Trade was a transatlantic trading system during the 16th to 19th centuries that connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
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Europe to Africa: European ships carried manufactured goods such as textiles, guns, and alcohol to Africa.
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Africa to the Americas: These goods were exchanged for enslaved Africans, who were transported across the Atlantic in a brutal journey known as the Middle Passage.
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The Americas to Europe: Enslaved Africans were forced to work on plantations producing commodities like sugar, tobacco, cotton, and rum, which were then shipped to Europe.
This system was a key part of the global economy at the time but inflicted immense suffering and exploitation.
Ending Apartheid
Forced Labor
Forced labor has been a serious problem in some parts of Africa for a long time. It happens when people are made to work against their will, often in dangerous or unfair conditions. Many adults and children are forced to work in mines, factories, or on farms. They usually get little or no pay and are treated very poorly. Forced labor is against international laws, but it still happens in some areas (International Labour Organization, 2023).