The concept of region is very important in geography. Region (along with location, place, human-environmental relations, movement, and human systems) is one of the five central geographic themes and 18 national standards for geography.
Geographers often refer to regions as being uniform. That is, regions often share a distinct and readily identifiable set of shared characteristics such as:
- Physical (topography-mountains, plateau, lake, river, coastal, climate, vegetation)
- Cultural factors (common language or religion)
- Social characteristics (common ethnicity, race, population density)
- Political factors (similar type of government)
- Economic characteristics (similar ways of production, type of production-agriculture, industry, mining)
- A common history
All of the characteristics listed above are subject to change. For example, changes in the environment may result in a significant change in the climate or vegetation of a region, resulting in a significant change in the physical character of the region.
When geographers divide the world into regions, we often do so using landmasses. Sometimes, though, making these sorts of divisions is more difficult. Africa, for instance, is almost entirely surrounded by water except for a small land connection with Asia at Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
In the post-colonial era many international organizations, foreign governments and textbooks divided Africa into two major regions: North Africa (“Arab Africa”) and Sub-Saharan Africa (“Black Africa”).
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Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa are often discussed as two distinct regions, but what drives this separation? Traditionally considered by scholars to be two discrete entities-with North Africa commonly studied alongside the Middle East as the MENA region-recent scholarship has reexamined the impact and influence both regions bear on one another, particularly within the context of contemporary events and affairs.
North Africa, which stretches from Egypt to Mauritania, has long been closely integrated with the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Today, countries like Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco remain key players in the Arab League, and Arabic is widely spoken across the region.
In contrast, Sub-Saharan Africa is incredibly diverse. Economically, Sub-Saharan Africa spans a broad spectrum, with nations relying on industries ranging from agriculture to technology.
There is a notable economic divide between the two regions. However, when it comes to economic growth rates, Sub-Saharan Africa is outpacing North Africa. Some of the continent’s fastest-growing economies, including Ethiopia and Rwanda, are located in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Geographic and Climatic Differences
One of the most recognizable features of North Africa and Southwest Asia are its deserts. The Sahara, from the Arabic word ṣaḥrā‘ meaning “desert,” is the largest hot desert in the world, stretching across 9.4 million square kilometers (3.6 million square miles) of the North African landscape. To the east, the Arabian Desert dominates the landscape of the Arabian Peninsula. In the southern portion of this desert is the Rub’al-Khali, the largest contiguous sand desert in the world.
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The prevailing climatic feature of North Africa and Southwest Asia is a lack of precipitation. From 10°to 30°north is a particular band of dry air that forms the region’s hot desert climate zone (BWh in the Köppen climate classification system) and is clearly apparent on a map of global climate regions.
Most of the region receives less than 30 cm (12 in) of rain each year. There are exceptions to this arid environment, however. The region has a number of fertile river valleys and oases. The Nile River, for example, creates an arable floodplain in an otherwise extremely dry area.
In a realm largely defined by its arid and hot climate, global changes in climate could have profound effects. Rising temperatures could exacerbate droughts, and heat waves and dust storms will likely become more frequent. In some areas, conflicts over limited water resources have already begun.
Climate Change and Water Short Course - North Africa
Historical and Cultural Aspects
North Africa and Southwest Asia is considered one of the great cradles of human civilization. It is also the hearth area for several of the world’s major religions. These religions have changed the global cultural landscape, but have also led to tension and conflict throughout the region.
Over 10,000 years ago, the earliest humans in North Africa and Southwest Asia settled in the Fertile Crescent, the area surrounding the Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile rivers. Here, humans first domesticated crops and animals and created the first farming settlements. In Mesopotamia, in particular, the river valley of the Tigris and Euphrates, innovations occurred that would change the trajectory of human existence.
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This was where the wheel was first invented, the first system of mathematics was created, and the first cereal crops, such as barley and wheat, were planted. Mesopotamia was also the site of the first urban civilization, called Sumer. Uruk, a city of Sumer, had a population of over 50,000 people by 2500 BCE making it the most populous city in the world at the time.
Languages and Cultural Exchange
Arabic is one of the most widespread languages in Africa, with a large degree of internal diversity between its many dialects. Some examples of predominant African Arabic dialects include North African, Egyptian, and Sudanese. It is also a minority language in a variety of sub-Saharan African countries, such as Nigeria, Chad, and Eritrea.
French is another major language shared between several countries of both respective regions, such as Algeria, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to the French-language organization of La Francophonie, 85% of French speakers worldwide could possibly reside in Africa by the year 2050.
This is largely due to the colonial legacy of France in both North and West Africa and the comparatively high birth rates of these Francophone African countries. Citizens within non-Francophone African have also sought to learn French as a secondary or tertiary language.
Political and Economic Integration
The predecessor of the modern African Union (AU) was an alliance of African states that sought to cooperate on the basis of their shared interests as newly decolonized and independent governing entities. It was inspired by anti-colonialist and pan-Africanist sentiment that was prevalent during the early 1960s, as African countries gained independence from European imperial powers.
Regional Economic Communities (RECs) are regional organizations of African states that were established by the 1980 Lagos Plan of Action and recognized by the African Union.
In 2018, the African Union adopted a continent-wide free trade agreement that stipulated the free movement of persons. It stipulates three progressive stages of implementation, which include the abolition of visa restrictions and the special provision of movement for border communities, students, and researchers. It also entails provisions to ensure the protection of migrants so that they are not exploited.
Despite their differences, both regions face similar challenges, including youth unemployment, political instability, and the effects of climate change.
Migration Patterns
Statistical surveys indicate that over one in three Africans have considered emigration from their current point of origin. Research performed by pan-African survey network Afrobarometer depicted that Africans that were most likely to desire emigration were on average young adults and those who possessed higher levels of education, such as secondary- and post-secondary-level qualifications.
The most frequent migratory destinations for African emigrants were those located within the continent, particularly within the similar geographic region or elsewhere in Africa.
Inter-regional migrants in Africa may face a litany of logistical issues at any stage of their migration process. One prescient issue facing most Africans seeking to immigrate is the restriction of their mobility on the basis of restrictive visa requirements and other legal obstacles.
Thus, migration for those from developing nations is significantly more difficult. In the context of intercontinental migration in Africa, which is fueled predominantly by economic motivations or political strife, this emphasizes the degree of coordination amongst states in addressing cross-regional migration.
Contemporary Challenges
In the 21st century, emerging problems shared between African states from both North and sub-Saharan Africa have enabled these two regions to reassess their relationship with one another. With the acceleration of climate change and its increasingly tangible impact on agriculture across Africa, governments have sought to encourage the adoption of institutional and economic reforms that foster resilience to climate change at a local and transnational level.
Another issue correlated to the changing climate is the topic of international water usage rights. One prominent case is that of the Nile River, the output of which has been highly disputed throughout history.
An issue that has plagued stable governance in several African countries is the prevalence of Islamic extremist movements and insurgencies. Such movements have been attributed to confounding societal factors such as poverty or the lack of educational opportunity.
Key Differences and Similarities: A Summary
The table below highlights some of the key differences and similarities between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa:
| Feature | North Africa | Sub-Saharan Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Geography | Dominated by the Sahara Desert | Diverse landscapes, including rainforests, savannas, and deserts |
| Culture | Strongly influenced by Arab and Mediterranean cultures | Highly diverse, with many distinct ethnic groups and languages |
| Economy | Often more integrated with the Middle East; relies on oil and gas in some areas | Diverse, with economies based on agriculture, mining, and technology |
| Religion | Predominantly Muslim | Mix of Christianity, Islam, and indigenous beliefs |
| Challenges | Political instability, water scarcity, climate change | Poverty, political instability, climate change, youth unemployment |
This article provides a comprehensive comparison between North Africa and South Africa, highlighting their unique characteristics, shared challenges, and interconnectedness.
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