Britannica Student Encyclopedia - 2010

Open, an important golf championship,

in 1948, 1950, and 1954.

Didrikson married George Zaharias in

1938. She died on September 27, 1956,

in Galveston, Texas.

#More to explore

Golf • Track and Field

The two spires of a cathedral in Zagreb,

Croatia, have towered over the city for hundreds

of years.

100 Zagreb BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

 

Zambia

The country of Zambia sits between

eight other countries in southern Africa.

Zambia’s capital is Lusaka.

Zambia shares borders with the Democratic

Republic of the Congo, Tanzania,

Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe,

Botswana, Namibia, and Angola. Most

of the country is on a plateau, or raised

area of land. Several river valleys cross

the plateau.

Wooded areas and grasslands cover much

of the plateau. Grasses grow around

Zambia’s swamps and lakes. National

parks in Zambia protect elephants, lions,

monkeys, zebras, giraffes, antelope,

wolves, hyenas, and baboons.

Zambia has many different peoples, each

with their own language. The Bemba

and Tonga peoples form the largest

groups. English is the language of government.

About half of the people follow

Christianity. Many people also

practice African religions.

The mining of copper and other metals

is very important to Zambia’s economy.

Most Zambians work as farmers. Major

crops include sugarcane, cassava, corn,

and vegetables. Farmers also raise cattle,

goats, pigs, and chickens.

The ancestors of modern Zambians

came to the area beginning in the 1400s.

European settlers arrived in the mid-

1800s. The British settlers called the area

Northern Rhodesia. The British government

took control of Northern Rhodesia

in 1924.

In 1964 Northern Rhodesia gained

independence. It was renamed as the

Republic of Zambia. Zambia’s first

president ruled for almost 30 years.

..More to explore

Lusaka

The Zambezi River plunges over a cliff,

forming a wide waterfall called Victoria

Falls. The river forms part of the border

between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Facts About

ZAMBIA

Population

(2008 estimate)

11,670,000

Area

290,585 sq mi

(752,612 sq km)

Capital

Lusaka

Form of

government

Republic

Major cities

Lusaka, Ndola,

Kitwe, Kabwe,

Chingola

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Zambia 101

 

Zapata, Emiliano

Emiliano Zapata was one of the leaders

of the Mexican Revolution. He fought

against rich landowners who had taken

land away from peasants, or poor farmers.

He wanted to return the land to the

peasants.

Zapata was born on August 8, 1879, in

Anenecuilco, Mexico. His parents were

peasants. As a young man Zapata saw

his neighbors lose their land to the owners

of large farms. He led his neighbors

in protests against the landowners. Officials

punished him by making him serve

in the army for six months. After leaving

the army Zapata gathered a group of

peasant fighters. They took land back

from the landowners by force.

Zapata also opposed Porfirio Diaz, the

president of Mexico. Diaz did nothing

to help the peasants. In 1910 Zapata

and others started the Mexican Revolution.

By 1911 they had forced Diaz

from power. A leader named Francisco

Madero took his place.

Even after Diaz was gone, Zapata did

not think Mexico’s leaders did enough

for the peasants. A general named Victoriano

Huerta took power from Madero

in 1913. Zapata disliked Madero, but he

refused to help Huerta. This weakened

Huerta, who lost power in 1914. Venustiano

Carranza was the next leader of

Mexico. Zapata disliked Carranza also.

For a short time in 1914, Zapata’s army

controlled Mexico City, the capital.

Then Zapata joined forces with Pancho

Villa, another revolutionary leader. They

worked together to hand out pieces of

land to peasants. Meanwhile, the war

against the government continued. Carranza’s

forces defeated Villa in 1917.

They shot and killed Zapata on April

10, 1919, in Morelos, Mexico.

#More to explore

Mexico • Villa, Pancho

Zebra

Zebras are mammals that are known for

their black and white stripes. They

belong to the horse family of animals.

There are three species, or types, of

zebra: Burchell’s zebra, Grevy’s zebra,

and the mountain zebra. They live in

various parts of Africa.

Zebras look similar to horses. They

stand between 47 and 55 inches (120

The Mexican revolutionary

leader Emiliano Zapata was

ready to use his rifle or his sword.

102 Zapata, Emiliano BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

 

and 140 centimeters) tall at the shoulder.

Each species of zebra has its own

pattern of stripes. Burchell’s zebra has

broad stripes that are widely spaced. The

stripes of Grevy’s zebra are narrow and

closely spaced, and the belly is white.

The mountain zebra has a gridlike pattern

of stripes on the rump.

Zebras eat mostly tall, rough grasses.

Some types also eat shrubs, herbs, and

bulbs. Zebras communicate with each

other using calls and facial expressions.

They often greet each other with noseto-

nose contact.

Female zebras may have one foal each

year. Females and their young usually

live in small family groups headed by

one male. But female Grevy’s zebras may

form family groups without head males.

Family groups sometimes join together

in larger herds. Zebras also may form

mixed herds with antelope.

Both Grevy’s and mountain zebras are