The Silk Roads and Historical Civilizations

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and their definitions related to the Silk Roads, historical civilizations, and economic systems.

Silk Roads

A network of ancient trade routes that facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures across Asia and beyond.

Mansa Musa

The ruler of the Mali Empire from 1307 to 1332, known for his immense wealth and pilgrimage to Mecca.

Trans-Saharan Trade

Trade routes across the Sahara Desert that connected West Africa with North Africa, primarily exchanging gold, salt, and enslaved people.

Mamluk Empire

Founded in Egypt by enslaved Turkish soldiers who converted to Islam, notable for its cultural achievements after the fall of Baghdad.

Songhai Empire

An empire that rose to power in the mid-1400s as Mali weakened, expanding through military conquest and trade.

Feudalism

A political and economic system in medieval Europe characterized by the relationship between kings, lords, knights, and serfs.

Commercial Revolution

A period marked by the growth of trade, towns, and the use of money in medieval Europe, leading to increased economic activity.

The Black Death

A devastating pandemic that spread through trade routes in 1347, leading to a significant decline in population and labor power.

Renaissance

A cultural rebirth focusing on art, learning, and classical ideas from Greece and Rome, occurring in Europe from the 14th to 17th centuries.

Mongol Empire

The largest land empire in history, established by Genghis Khan, known for its brutal military tactics and division into khanates.

Ottoman Empire

An empire founded by Osman, characterized by Islamic roots and expansion in Anatolia and beyond, ultimately conquering Constantinople.

Swahili Coast

A region along the East African coast where Bantu-speaking groups interacted with Arab and Indian traders, creating a unique culture.

Hagia Sophia

A former Byzantine church converted into a mosque after the fall of Constantinople, significant for its architectural and cultural importance.