Free Democratic Republic Of The Congo Essay Sample

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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Author 2
Established in 1960 after it gained its independence from Belgium, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been immersed in strife since becoming a sovereign nation. Once a great African Empire, the Congo’s official name is derived from that of previous dynasty Kongo. Located in one of the poorest regions of the world, the Congo has no official state religion and everyone is allowed practice their own faith freely. Nearly 50 percent of the nation is Christian, while the other 48 percent practices religions native to their tribes and another small percentage are Muslim. This nation has a diverse ethnic constitution which makes its religious situation quite interested. Colonized by Europeans and plied with missionaries to convert to Christianity, the Congo directly reflects that influence today while still retaining its own identity. Many of the conflict that has ensued in the Congo directly stems from the various tribal people that reside within the country’s boundaries. Therefore, the institution of a national religion has been lacking in development as colonial bonds still remain. This is not unlike the rest of the African continent, as it was long dominated by European imperialism. Sub-Sahara Africa often was the location of missionary excursions where the native people refused to abandon their ways.
Africa is the second largest continent and is surrounded by two seas as well as two oceans. It is also sliced directly in half by the equator so it experiences a numerous number of climates. This has been the foundation for the diverse cultures that have been established in Africa that persist today. Nearly every kind of geographic feature can be discovered in Africa from the savannahs to mountains. This continent is actually considered as the birthplace of the human race as the first archaeological remains were discovered there, but an immense migration occurred that altered mankind’s development. Africa can be classified as possessing four major climate zones and populations converged on areas that were plentiful with natural resources. The African continent is essentially very dry in the interior and becomes more temperate as an individual draws closer to the coast. That is why the interior of Africa developed cultures that were nomadic. They gathered what the environment gave them in order to survive. More sedentary societies were created on the coastlines. Hence, the rise of Egypt because they had access to the alluvial plain. The geography of the continent definitely had a major impact on how African nations developed.
Africa is an essential component of the world’s history because the Sub-Sahara contains some of the first forms of human life or Homo Sapien as the modern world knows it. The continent is often referred to as the “Cradle of Civilization” and developed some of the first tools in the world’s history. Also, Egyptian influence on world history alone cannot be denied. It appears the climate was favorable to great societies rising. Africa had the resources to yield great dividends to its residents but it can also be quite harsh. For instance, the four river systems provide relief from the desert, but the presence of the equator also institutes an arid climate. Overall, the future for Africa looks bleak. That is not necessarily from the geographic situation but from the fact it is one of the poorest regions of the world and until it receives positive aid to develop its infrastructure, this will be difficult to overcome.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Author 3

Works Cited

Central Intelligence Agency. (2015). The World Factbook. Web. Retrieved from
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cg.html.