AP African American Studies Unit 1 - The Origins of the African Diaspora

interdisciplinary approach

A way of approaching learning that views a subject through various lenses and topics.

misleading notions

False, widely believed ideas which lead people to think incorrectly about a certain subject.

Black Campus Movement (1965-1972)

Gatherings organized by black students at over 1000 historically black colleges and white colleges to increase numbers of black students and staff.

Birthplace of Humanity

The site of the earliest discovered human remains; it is in South Africa.

Sahara Desert

The largest desert in the world. It spans across North Africa and for most of human history was a nearly uninhabitable wasteland.

Sahel

A strip of semi-arid land spanning Northern Africa.

Savanna Grasslands

Tropical or subtropical ecosystems characterized by a mixture of grasses and scattered trees. Found primarily in Africa, they support a variety of wildlife and have been significant for the development of early African societies, providing fertile land for agriculture and a habitat for pastoralism.

Niger River

A principal river of West Africa, running over 2,600 miles through Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. It is a critical source of water and transportation for the region.

Congo River

Africa’s second-longest river and the world’s deepest river, flowing through Central Africa. It spans over 2,900 miles and provides vital resources for the surrounding rainforest ecosystem.

domestication

The process by which humans adapt wild plants and animals for their own use, including agriculture and livestock raising.

nomadic

Societies or groups of people who move from place to place without a permanent settlement, often in search of food, water, and grazing land for livestock.

kola nuts

Caffeine-containing nuts native to tropical Africa, historically used in traditional ceremonies and as a trade commmodity.

yams

A staple crop in West Africa, vital for food security and cultural practices.

Bantu Migration

A series of migrations of the Bantu speaking peoples, starting around 2000 BCE and spreading from West Africa into Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa.

ethnolinguistic diversity

The variety of languages and ethnic groups within a specific region.

complex society

A social formation with a high degree of social stratification, economic specialization, and organized government structures.

Nubia

An ancient civilization located along the Nile River, south of Egypt, known for its rich gold resources and complex society.

Aksum

An ancient kingdom located in present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea, known for its trade, monumental architecture, and adoption of Christianity.

Ge’ez

An ancient Semitic language from Ethiopia, used in the kingdom of Aksum and still the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

King Ezana

A ruler of the Aksumite Empire in the 4th century CE who is best known for adopting Christianity and making it the official religion of Aksum.

Ethiopian Orthodox Church

One of the oldest Christian denominations in the world, with roots dating back to the 4th century when Christianity was adopted by the Aksumite Empire.

Nok

An early Iron Age civilization in present-day Nigeria, known for its advanced iron working and distinctive terracotta sculptures.

countered racist stereotypes

Refers to the efforts and historical evidence that challenge and disprove negative, racist stereotypes, particularly those imposed on African societies by European colonizers.

Sudanic Empires

Powerful West African kingdoms that flourished between the 9th and 16th centuries. Major examples include Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.

trans-Saharan trade

Refers to the extensive trade networks across the Sahara desert that connected North Africa with West Africa.

Islam

A monotheistic religion founded in the 7th century by the Prophet Muhammad, spreading across Africa through trade, conquest, and cultural interaction.

decline of the Sudanic Empires

Refers to the gradual collapse of West African empires like Mali and Songhai, primarily due to internal strife, external invasions, and changes in trade routes.

Mansa Musa

The ruler of the Mali empire from 1312 to 1337, considered one of the wealthiest individuals in history. He is best known for his lavish pilgrimage to Mecca and his promotion of Islamic culture and education.

North African horses and steel weapons

Refers to the military advantages used by North African forces, particularly during the Moroccan invasion of the Songhai Empire in 1591.

Mansa Musa’s Hajj

A grand pilgrimage to Mecca, during which the Mali emperor traveled with a vast entourage and distributed copious amounts of gold along his route.