AP World History Vocab 1.5

Kin-based networks

A system where families would govern themselves. The male head of the family, the chief, mediated conflicts and dealt with neighboring tribes.

Trans-Saharan trade

A network of trade roads throughout the Saharan Desert. The Hausa Kingdom and other empires largely benefited from these trade routes.

Indian Ocean trade

Trade routes through the Indian Ocean that largely benefited the Kingdom of Zimbabwe.

Swahili

A blend of Bantu and Arabic created by traders.

Indian Ocean slave trade

Created because of a strong demand in the Middle East for slave labor. Enslaved East Africans, also known as zanj, helped to provide valuable agricultural labor in Mesopotamia.

Ethiopia

Developed in modern-day Ethiopia, the Axum kingdom, a centralized empire, primarily traced its roots back to Christianity, but the spread of Islam in the 7th century made the kingdom more religiously diverse. It prospered by trading goods from India, Rome, and the interior of Africa.

Sharia law

Another name for Islamic Law.

Griots / Griottes

Griots were storytellers and were known as the conduits of history for a community. Griottes were known to sing before a wedding and helped to provide women with a sense of empowerment in a patriarchal society.

Mansa Musa

Nephew of Sundiata, who was founder of Mali.

Ibn Battuta

A scholar from Morocco who was well versed in Sharia.

Ghana

A kingdom located in central Africa. It reached its peak between the 8th and 11th century and was known for trading ivory and gold to Muslim traders for salt, copper, cloth, and tools.

Zanj Rebellion

A series of revolts started by the Zanj and Arab workers in which they captured the city of Basra for almost ten years.