Medieval Africa Master, Age of Exploration-Explorers

Causes of Exploration

3 G's - gold, a desire for wealth; God - to spread Christianity; Glory - national competition

Caravel

A new & improved ship used by the Portuguese and Spanish in the Age of Exploration

Great Zimbabwe

A powerful state in the African interior that apparently emerged from the growing trade in gold to the East African coast; flourished between 1250 and 1350 C.E., Famous for it's unique walled architecture

Impact of Islam on Africa

Adopted Arabic languages, which made it easy to communicate with Muslim traders. Advanced learning in math, science, and medicine. African states and empires adopt Islamic laws.

Camels

Animals used for caravan trade in the trans-Saharan trade routes that were very reliable, could carry many things, and go without water for many days. Known as the "ships of the desert".

Francisco Pizarro

Conquistador who defeated & conquered the Incas in South America

Hernando Cortes

Conquistador who defeated the Aztecs and conquered Mexico

Mali Empire

From 1235-1400, this was a strong empire of Western African. With its trading cities of Timbuktu and Gao, it had many mosques and universities. The Empire was ruled by two great rulers, Sundiata and Mansa Musa. Thy upheld a strong gold-salt trade. The fall of the empire was caused by the lack of strong rulers who could govern well.

Atlantic Slave Trade

Lasted from 16th century until the 19th century. Trade of African peoples from Western Africa to the Americas as a source of free labor to grow cash crops and mine for silver/gold. One part of a three-part economical system known as the Middle Passage of the Triangular Trade.

Mansa Musa

Ruler of Mali who established the empire's reputation for wealth in the Mediterranean world; devoted Muslim, made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca that attracted a lot of attention from the Mediterranean world at the time

Reasons conquistadors easily conquered native tribes

Superior weapons (guns), disease, and alliances with enemy tribes/states.

Columbian Exchange

The exchange of plants, animals, food, diseases, and technologies between the Americas and the rest of the world following Columbus's voyages.

Swahili

The language and culture of East Africa, mix of African and Muslim traditions (Bantu + Arabic language) as a result of East African trade.

Ghana Empire

Traded with caravans and camels across Sahara. Controlled gold: enforcing law that only kings could own gold nuggets and kept location of gold mines secret. Also made gold scarce thus maintaining high prices fell due to expansion northward into Almoravids territory.

Timbuktu

city on the Niger River that became a center of trade, as well as education, learning and the spread of Islam during the Mali Empire

caravan

group of traveling merchants and animals, in the MiddleEast and North Africa, camels were often used for this.

Trans-Saharan Trade

route across the Sahara Desert. Major trade route that traded for gold and salt, created caravan routes, economic benefit for controlling dessert, camels played a huge role in the trading process

People south of the Sahara traded their gold for . . .

salt

Gold-Salt Trade

salt was mined in the Sahara, north of the empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. Gold was mined in the forests to the south; all three West African empires became wealthy by taxing the trade of gold and salt that crossed through the empire