AP World Notes

Mande-speaking peoples

Primary agents for integration within and beyond West Africa due to their expertise in commerce and political organization.

Mali Empire

Thirteenth-century Mande successor state to the kingdom of Ghana, known for its wealth and trade.

Mansa Musa

Mali king known for his extravagant journey to Mecca and for showcasing the wealth of his kingdom.

Timbuktu

Founded around 1100 CE, it became a thriving commercial, intellectual, and religious center.

Swahili peoples

Coastal African groups who acted as brokers for trade in the Indian Ocean, facilitating exchanges between Africa, Arabia, and India.

Great Zimbabwe

Powerful community built from gold mining fortunes, located between the Limpopo and Zambezi Rivers.

Chimú Empire

First empire in South America, centered in the Moche Valley, known for its highly commercialized agricultural production.

Chan Chan

Largest city of the Chimú Empire, known for its size (30,000 inhabitants) and complex architecture.

Inca Empire

Huge empire in South America, known for its centralized government, extensive road system, and agricultural innovations.

Tenochtitlan

Aztec city founded in 1325, which became a major political and cultural center.

Chinampas

Man-made floating islands created by the Aztecs to increase agricultural productivity.

Quipu

Knotted strings used by the Inca for accounting, representing their method of record-keeping.

Cahokia

Largest city in North America before European contact, known for its complex society and large trade networks.

Animism

Religious belief system where natural objects are considered spiritually significant, practiced by both the Aztecs and Incas.

Zanj rebellion

Significant slave revolt in ninth-century Iraq that highlighted the harsh conditions under which slaves worked.

Epic of Sundiata

Epic story that narrates the rise of the Mali Empire and highlights the triumph of Sundiata's cavalry forces.

Trans-Sahara trade

Trade network that facilitated the exchange of salt, gold, and slaves between sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa.

Islam's spread in Africa

Expansion of Islam in sub-Saharan Africa made possible by trade and cultural exchanges with Eurasia.

Mesoamerica

Historical region encompassing modern Mexico and Central America, known for its advanced civilizations such as the Aztecs.

Political organization in West Africa

Varied from sacred kingships on the savanna to local councils in the forests, facilitating governance and trade.

Toltec Empire

Precursor to the Aztecs, known for its military focus and extensive trade networks beyond central Mexico.