Africa Quizlet from Guided Readings
What geographic feature covers most of Africa
plateaus
What were the rainforests like in Africa
Along equator 10% of africa Heavy rainfall and warm Hard to farm
What was Zimbabwe
An important trading kingdom in southestern afirca. Coastal traders exchanged beads, silk, carpet, pottery, minerals, ivory, and coconut oil. In 1400 in reached from south of Zanbezi river to indian ocean
Who was Ibn Battuta?
Arab lawyer from morocco Reached w africa to explore muslim world Found that people were practicing Islam for centuries but not everyone was muslim some rulers accepted islam to trade with Muslim Arabs rural areas still practiced traditional religions many islam customs were changed Wrote about experience
How did the Bantu migration lead to Africa having many common beliefs and customs
Bantu shared language, culture, and technology. They migrated from west to south and east. They spread language, farming, iron working
Why was the Ghana an important crossroad of trade
Because it was between salt mines and gold mines. They taxed merchants to cross
Why did Kush thrive for hundreds on years
Because of the Nile river
what were the beliefs of the Ashanti people
Believed that supreme God and sons were lesser gods.
What happened when Romans introduced central Asian camel to Africa in 200 ce
Berber traders started using camels to cross the sahara and made caravans. They crossed n. Africa, w africa, and some to Europe and Asia. W. africa became part of the Afroeurasian trade
What was the government in Mali like
Central gov ruled by a king with administrators, broken up into provinces ruled by generals. The rulers controlled trade and collected tribute from farmers.
What was the first great empire in West Africa
Ghana First trading empire, 400s CE in Sahel Fertile soil for farmers Between salt mines and gold mines Military power with iron weapons controlled trade by taxing merchants Merchants grew rich from high demands on salt and gold Muslim traders brought salt, metal, textile, horses N. African invaders disrupted trade & Ghana fell
What was the journey of Mansa Musa
He Spread islam but allow practice other religions in his kingdom Make a pilgrimage to makkah 80 camels w/ 2 ton gold Gave away gold so much that price of gold fell
What was the government in Songhai like
It reached its height under the rule of Muhammad Ture who made a dynasty and divided the empire into provinces with a governer, tax collecter, judges, and trade inspector in each.
What was the second great empire in West Africa
Mali conquered Ghana and became wealthy from trade Farmers lived in villages with local rulers who sent tax revenue from village to kings Sundiata Keita united and conquered gold mines Grew wealthy from trans-saharan trade Muslim traders influenced mali with Arabic, architecture, and religion Mansa musa supported scholars, artists, built mosques and centers of learning. He also encouraged Muslim artists and scholars to visit his capital, Niana
What tasks did African rulers do for their subjects in return for loyalty
Merchants had favors done for them and paid taxes in return
Why are there deep cuts in the plateau
Millions of year ago, Earth's crust moved making cuts
How did Songhai fall?
North african invaders in 1600.
What were the deserts like
North and south of grasslands 40% Sahara is in northern africa Limited travel and trade
What were the grasslands like in Africa
North and south of rainforest Savannas cover 40% High temp, uneven rain Good for farming and herding
What were the mild climate areas like
Northern coast and tip Mediterranean Adequate rainfall, warm, fertile land Large populations
how did the Mali build wealth and power
On salt and gold mines trade networks
How did the growth of European sugarcane plantations lead to the growth of slave trade
Portugal's plantations couldn't afford to pay wages, so they used enslaved Africans
What was the European slave trade
Portuguese were first to take African slaves. Portuguese merchants sold humans and later on, sent them to the Atlantic islands of Madeira, Azores, Cape Verde. They worked on sugar cane plantations and received no wages. Later on, they transported African slaves to Americas to grow tobacco, sugar, rice, cotton
What was the government in Ghana like
Rulers ran kingdoms with the help of other royal households. As the empire grew, the kingdom was split into provinces ruled by less powerful kings and made up of districts led by chiefs, where each district is made up of villages belonging to the chief's clan.
What purpose did many traditional African religions share
Rules for living, helped people honor ancestors and history, religion protected from harm, guarantee success
how was African slavery practiced
Slavery was common practice in Africa. Bantu warriors raided villages for captives to be servants, laborers, and soldiers. Africans enslaved their enemies and traded them for goods. Some earned freedom by marrying a free person or through work. Slavery Grew when Africa was in contact with Muslims. They enslaved non-muslims and traded them for cotton and other goods.
What was the third great empire in West Africa
State of Songhai broke free of declining mali Sunni Ali was ruler. Controlled salt mine and gold and seized Timbuktu used location on Niger river to extend territory to include salt mines Largest empire Fell to north african invaders
What provided rich farming soil and united people in Western Africa
Sudan/Niger River
What was Islam like in Songhai and Mali
Sunni ali became muslim for merchants Son did not accept islam and general, Askia made himself king and drove out sunni ali family Became largest empire in w. Africa Focused very much on islam
Which empire was one of Kush's neighbors in east africa
The Axum, which was an important stop in trade linking africa, mediterranean, and india
What did caravans carry to west Africa for trade
The caravans carried gold, ivory, spices, slaves, leather, and ostrich feathers from w. Africa.
What was storytelling like in Africa
There were written and oral stories of culture and history. Griots promoted west African history and lessons. They told their village's oral history vividly from generation to generation. Though they were written down later, they remained important to African identity. Escaped slaves told their stories in the Americas.
What were town and cities like
They began as villages with walls, but became larger communities. They were centers of government and trade. Traders thrived and artisans skilled in metalworking, pottery, woodworking florished
What were rural villages like
They had small round homes packed with mud and were farmers.
