WHAP 2.4-2.7

Mali

Successor state to Ghana, developed more advanced infrastructure and trade connections in West Africa

Sundiata

Malian ruler known as “the Lion Prince” was responsible for the mass accumulation of wealth due to the cultivation of a thriving gold trade with Arab and North African merchants

Mansa Musa

Sundiata’s grand-nephew, known for religious leadership (Islam), made pilgrimage to Mecca and during the journey displayed wealth

Songhai Kingdom

Following the decline of the Mali kingdom, this state became the powerhouse of West Africa, it’s success was due in large part to the Islamic connections created by previous western African rulers

Timbuktu

Large trading city in West Africa

Mecca

Town at the center of Islam, a Muslim is encouraged to pilgrimage there once in their life

Trans-Saharan trade

The primary commodities traded on this network were gold and salt, this network was only able to be established due to the use of camel caravans

Sahara desert

largest desert in the world, spans northern Africa

Oases

Underground water sources found in the desert

Arabian desert

Desert in the center of the Arabian Peninsula

Camel saddle

Technology used to ride camels

Black death

Major epidemic, resulting from an opening up of global trade, drastically reduced populations of Europe, and caused a decline in economic activity. A lasting effect was to contribute to the rise of secularism.

Marco Polo

European explorer who visited the Yuan Dynasty

Ibn Battuta

Muslim traveler who saw a great of Dar al-Islam

Margery Kempe

The accounts dictated by this post-classical traveler to their scribes, provided a firsthand account of the experiences of a middle class medieval woman’s life as she traveled around much of Western Europe

Swahili

Fusion culture of Arabic and Bantu. In East Africa.

Urdu

Fusion culture and language of Persian and south Asian languages

Lateen sail

Sail that enables travel against the wind

Stern rudder

Enable better maneuverability

Astrolabe

Navigation by celestial bodies (Stars)

Magnetic compass

Always know your relation to North

Hangzhou

Large city in China was home to a population of about 1 million people and described as a center of culture and trade in southern China, as well as a major center of trade due to the Grand Canal

Samarkand

Center of Islamic scholarship on the Silk Road

Kashgar

Silk Road city, intersection of the north and south silk roads

Constantinople

After being weakened in an attack during the Fourth Crusade and a wave of plague, this once thriving city finally fell to the Ottomans in 1453

Champa rice

Agricultural staple diffused to China from Vietnam as a result of the tribute system which allowed food surpluses and population growth. It could be harvested twice in a season.

Bananas

Indonesian fruit spread to East Africa

Sugar

Diffusion happened along trade routes established by large scale empires, and followed the spread of Islam and the Arabic language

Citrus crops

Diffusion happened along trade routes established by large scale empires, and followed the spread of Islam and the Arabic language

Overgrazing

When cattle consume more grass than what is renewable

Deforestation

The removal and consumption of forests

Soil erosion

Example of environmental degradation in feudal Europe with reduced agricultural production

Bubonic plague

Deadly disease that spread along trade routes