African Civilizations

Ethnic Group

A social group or category of the population that, in a larger society, is set apart and bound together by common ties of race, language, nationality, or culture.

Savannah

Above and below the equator there is a zone, with broad grassland and scattered trees.

The Mali Empire

Around 1200AD Sundiata started a new kingdom in Mali. He set up laws and took control of the Gold trade. Mansa Musa ruled around the early 1300s and made a great hajj to Mecca which helped Islam to spread in Northern and West Africa. Musa's hajj also brought world attention to his empire. He returned from Mecca with Muslims scholars and teachers to help spread Muslim Culture in Mali. The Mali city of Timbuktu became a symbol of Islamic scholarship .

Dynasty

Is a family that passes down political power from one relative to another.

Caravan

Is a large group that travels together.

Which statement best describes how far the religion of Islam had spread by the 1100's?

Islam spread to northern Africa, Southwest Asia, and parts of Europe.

What are some important features the of African Savannah?

It contains savanas and grasslands with scattered trees and bushes.

Where was Axum located?

The Axum is located in Northeast Africa near the Red Sea.

What did the Zagwe do with Christianity in Ethiopia?

The Zagwe Empire is significant, they made many churches, and made religious literature and music that is still used to this day.

Labor Specialization

The division of jobs and skills in a society.

What is the significance of the Great Rift Valley?

The earliest hominids were found in the Great Rift Valley and in the neighboring areas, after that, it spread throughout the world.

What are the four climates of Africa?

The four climates of Africa are desert, Mediterranean, savanna, and rainforest.

What is the interior of Africa?

The interior of Africa is a plateau.

What did the development of the iron tool bring?

The iron tool brought an increase in labor specialization.

How might the lack of resources affect a regions ability to trade?

The lack of resources could affect the economy, because they might not have enough resources to trade to get the proper equipment.

Who made Mahi reach the peak of its wealth, power, and fame?

The leader was Mansa Musa.

What happened on this trip that would show Mansa Musa's wealth?

The passage said that he would give gold dust to nearly everyone he would meet.

Analyze the growth of African trading centers into the hubs of culture and learning.

The spread of Muslim culture and religion was spreading to the African continent, this caused the growth of the Islamic religion.

Oral Tradition

The way people used to tell history, entertainment, and teachings using poetry, folk tales, and sayings.

Why were some kings of Ghana so wealthy?

These kings grew rich from gold and salt, they controlled the gold supply and would take gold for their property, they also highly taxed anything that went in or out of Ghana.

Why did early civilizations form near the Niger and Senegal rivers?

These people could have a reliable source of water in a dry place, also it let farmers grow crops without rainfall.

Which religions did foreign traders bring to Ghana?

These traders brought the religion of Islam.

What is the main common factor that all early civilizations like Mali, Ghana, and Songhai share?

They are all rich in gold.

Why was Sundiata a national hero in Mali?

They consider him a hero, because he freed them from his fathers cruel rule when he formed a rebellion on against him.

Why was the development of the iron tool important?

They could grow food better.

Families were very important in Ghana, what did each clan or group of families share?

They had at least one religious leader in the family.

The West African kingdomas of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai experience economic prosperity because they all...?

traded with many other nations.

What is a natural resource?

A natural resource is any material that is useful to mankind to survive, that comes from Earth, such as coal, gold, diamond, and sugar.

What determined a persons social class, or caste in the West African empire societies?

A persons cate was established by what family he was born into, or in other words, who their ancestor was.

Caste

A persons social class.

Plateau

A raised, but flat region that looks like a plate turned upside down.

Which of the following is not a reason for the decline of Ghana?

A shortage of salt.

Kinship

A connection based on family relationships.

Lineage

A group of people descended from a common ancestor.

What is a hajj?

A hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca for Muslims.

Stele

A kind of grand stone pillar.

When Songhai became powerful, what happened to the people of Ghana?

As this empire grew powerful from trade, the economy grew and the population increased, the people also became wealthier.

What was one of the most important kingdoms of the West African Forest?

Benin, one of the most important and wealthy Kingdoms of its time.

Describe a way Mali became a center of learning.

By Mansa Musa embracing Islam, he changed the empire into a center of leaning and art.

Timbuktu

City on the Niger River in the modern country of Mali, it was founded by the Tuareg as a seasonal camp, became a major terminus of the Trans-Saharan Trade.

Polyrhythmic Drumming

Combines two or more different rhythms at the same time.

What were some common characteristics of traditional religion in West Africa?

Common characteristics were religious leaders to guide prayers, prayed on a daily basis, religious rituals, and promoted the honoring of their ancestors.

How did dance and music play a role in African culture?

Dance and music helped mothers lullaby their children to sleep, and taught young people adult responsibilities.

The Songhai Empire

During the early 1400's Mali rulers lost control of the Mali empire and the Songhai Empire. Ali Ber became the ruler of Songhai, He had a fleet of war canoes patrolling the Niger river, the main river through West Africa. Songhai controlled the Trans Saharan trade routes. Songhai was the largest of the 3 West African empires. Islam was the main religion in all 3 of the empires. In the late 1500's the Songhai empire fell to Moroccan invasions.

How did Ethiopia become a center of Christianity?

Ethiopia became the center of Christianity when Axum weakened because of economic problems, the Zagwe took over and contineued the Christian tradition.

Scholarship

Formal study and learning that students get learning opportunities.

What trade goods helped make the Empire of Ghana great?

Gold and salt.

Greco-Roman

Greek and Roman trading stelements that dotted the regoin.

Why were griots important before writing was adopted in West Africa?

Griots were very important at the time because they kept and all of the stories and records mentally and orally.

How did Ibn Battuta describe Groits?

He described them as a festival, where Groits stood before the ruler in a costume made of feathers.

What was special about what Mansa Musa did?

He led 60,000 Muslims on hajj to Mecca.

What contributions did Sundiata Keita make to Mali?

He united the people of Mali and made a strong government, as well as build its power on gold and South trade.

Who was Mansa Musa?

He was an emperor, he had been on a hajj, and rode the biggest caravan in the world with tens of thousands of people following him.

What was the purpose of Mansa Musa's trip?

He was on a hajj, a spiritual pilgrimage to Mecca.

How did Mansa Musa's hajj and caravan show he was a great leader?

His great hajj showed he was powerful and a great leader, becuase it brought world attention to the empire, it also showed his wealth to people around the world.

What was Mansa Musa's religion?

His religion was Islam.

Stonetowns

Houses that served as custom houses for forefinger traders.

Why did ancient Ghana's economy and country decline?

It declined of over population, food storages, and over dependence on trade, along with that they were heavily attacked by the Almoravids, Ghana never returned to its prosperity after that.

In Africa what is the area to the north and south of the equator called?

It is called the Savanah.

What are some division of jobs and skills in a society?

It is labor specialization.

What are some of West Africa's main waterways?

It is the Niger River.

What does the word Mansa mean?

It means Emperor.

Which phrase best describes Mali under the rule of Mana Musa?

It was a Golden Age.

What was the Swahili culture?

It was a primary Muslim culture, they also through trade they contacted with China, India, Arab lands, Persia, and East Africa.

Prior to 6,000 years ago, what would the Sahara look like?

It was covered with green, lush land until the climate changed.

How was the Swahili culture like many East African cultures?

It was like most cultures in East Africa, because it was primarily a Muslim culture and religion.

According to storytellers, what did Mansa Musa do every Friday on his trip?

It was said that he would order a new Mosque every Friday to spread the religon of Islam throughout Africa.

Trans-Saharan

It was trade across the Sahara that relied heavily upon gold and salt.

How was Ethiopian Christianity unique?

It was unique, because it lasted for a long time while managing to isolate themselves from the rest of the religious world.

How was art used in everyday life for people in West Africa?

It was used to express people's beliefs, for example Emperors used it in art to express their wealth and power.

Who brought Islam to West Africa?

Mansa Musa brought Islam to West Africa.

Natural Resources

Materials that people can use to meet their needs that come from Earth.

Monks

Men who dedicate themselves to worshiping god.

The Ghana Empire.

Metal tools developed here - made farming much easier. Families were very important in Ghana - each family specialized in a craft or trade. They also used iron to make iron weapons, which easily defeated their neighbors that were still using wood spears and weapons. Ghana enslaved people they conquered and traded them for salt and other goods. Ghana was located toward the middle of the Saharan trade routes of North Africa - this gave Ghana great wealth - they could trade with and tax traders. The Gold-Salt trade made the Kingdom wealthy. Ghana's rulers controlled the Gold-Salt trade by not letting too much gold onto the market so the value would stay high. Ghana welcomed North African traders because they new it would help build their wealth. The Ghana Empire began to decline around 1000 AD because of over population, food Shortages, and over independence on trade, and repeated Invasions.

Where is rain most common?

Near the Equator.

How did the abundance of food in Africa help specialization?

Once there was more than enough food, people wouldn't have to concentrate on that particular thing and they could do other jobs.

How did controlling the gold, salt trade, make Songhai the largest empire in West Africa?

Once they gained control of those regions, they traded the gold for many other things like salt, closet, and copper; this made the Empire rich from trading.

How did Christianity influence king Ezana to become a Christian?

One Syrian brother was sent to work in the kings court, who was Christian, influenced the king while he was a trusted civil servant.

Why did seeing African slaves wear silk on the Mansa Musa hajj make people want to covert to Islam?

People saw the wealth that the slaves had and wanted that for themselves.

Why do so many people still speak the languages of Mali and Songhai?

People still speak the languages of Mali and Songhai, because Groits pass down the stories and achievements of those empires.

In Mansa Musa's kingdom what did people have to do when they appeared before him?

People who visited Mansa Musa had to sprinkle ducts onto themselves to acknowledge his superiority.

Griots

Perfessional story tellers and oral historians who are keepers of West African history.

Why are port cities important for trade?

Port cites are important for trade because it provides fast and quick routes to trade quicker.

Why was salt so valuable in West Africa?

Salt was very useful and expensive in Africa, along with being just discovered, it was used to preserve food and keep it from rotting.

What were major trading states located South of the Sahara?

Some major trading stages were Mogadishu, Mombasa, and Kilwa.

How have natural resources affected West African history?

Some natural resources mad valuable trade items such as gold, this gave rise to powerful trading empires.

What did Muslim scholars in the region of Mali teach their students?

They taught their students religion, law, mathematics, and medicine, scholarship is very important to Muslim people.

What did Trans-Saharan trade in early West Africa mainly involve for the exchange of gold.

They traded mainly salt for gold.

What did ancient traders in Africa do to cross the desert, and why?

They used camels to trade far distances, they were more efficient because they did not use as much water.

What did ancient traders in Africa use to cross the desert?

They used camels.

Why was the city of Adulis important?

This city was important, because it controlled the trade routes to Roman Egypt, Southern Arabia, and Asia.

Why did gold decrease in value in the time of Mansa Musa as their ruler?

This decrease was cause by Mansa Musa giving lavished gold gifts to his guest, and buy many items with gold.

What did Mansa Musa's trip accomplish?

This trip allowed for many converts to Islam.

Which are of the following part of Africa's strong oral tradition except?

Trade was not part of oral tradition.

Which part of traditional West African culture has not carried over to the present day?

Trading Empires was not carried over.

What did Africans believe happened when a family member died, and what did they do in their tribe?

Upon death they believed that the person became a spirit and joined the spirits of their ancestors, some families even created shrines to their ancestors, so they could remain in touch with them.

Describe the social structure of West African culture?

West African society is broken up into villages, which breaks into clans, they come from the ancestors that break into linages.

What role did Berbers play in African trade?

What they traded across the desert, they tried to make the countries and kingdoms prosper with great wealth.

Proverbs

Wise sayings that provided a quick way to share wisdom.

Why were traders discouraged from using Africa's coastal line?

With its lack of natural harbors and many waterfalls, this discouraged seagoing trade.