East Africa Study questions

1) What were some early civilizations in East Africa? Why were these civilizations important?

Some early civilizations in East Africa were the Masai and the Kikuyu. They were important because they were both herders that lived on grasslands and rift valleys. The Kikuyu were also important because they fought back against the British during the Colonization of Africa. 

2) What happened at the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885?

At the Berlin Conference the European nations met to discuss the rules and guidelines to how they would split up Africa and prevent wars over the issue. 

3) What African countries managed to remain free of European control?

Ethiopia and Liberia

4) How did colonialism cause conflicts in East Africa after independence?

There were tensions left over from the colonial era and the Europeans hadn't prepared East African nations for independence. There were also cultural divisions that had existed before the colonization. 

5) How did Ethiopia manage to defeat Italy in 1896?

Ethiopia managed to defeat Italy by using weapons from France and Russia to protect the country and they had greater knowledge of the area's geography. 

6) What are some cash crops of East Africa?

Some cash crops of East Africa are coffee, tea, and sugar. 

7) What is East Africa's most critical health-care problem.

East Africa's most critical health care problem is the pandemic of HIV and AIDS

8) Research the Rwanda massacre (genocide?) and briefly discuss what happened and why.
The Rwanda Genocide was the murder of 500,000-1,000,000 of the Tutsi people by core political officials. This took out 20% of the Rwandan population. They wanted to wipe out any of their political opponents. When an airplane was shot down with the Burundian President on board, the genocide started the next day and was used as the excuse for why it started.