Social Studies: Africa, Mongols, Japan

Savanna

A large flat area of land with very few trees, specifically in Africa.

Caravan

A group of people or animals traveling together, often for long journeys

Quran

Islamic sacred book

Trans-Sahara

Travel across the Sahara

Islam

A monotheistic faith and the belief in Mohammad and his teachings

Muhammad

The founder and prophet of Islam

Ghana

The first West African Kingdom.

Mali

The second West African Kingdom.

Songhai

The third West African Kingdom

Niger River

The main river supplying fertile soil for the West African Kingdoms

Timbuktu

An important trading hub on the Niger River in the empires of Mali and Songhai

Salt & Gold

The two most important resources in West Africa. Salt was imported, gold was exported. Money for the kingdoms was made by taxing traders.

Mansa Musa

A famous leader of Mali. He went on his pilgrimage to Mecca with tons of gold and caused the price of gold to fall wherever he went. He lead from 1312-1337

Yurt

A circular tent of felt or skin on a collapsible frame work.

Nomad

People who have no permanent home, but travel from place to place.

Steppe

A large flat area of land with very few trees, specifically in Asia

Clan

A group of close knit and interrelated families

Gobi Desert

a large desert in the Mongol Empire and impaired travel along the Silk Road.

China & gunpowder

Gunpoweder was invented by alchemists in China in the second century.

Genghis Khan

the dominant leader of the Mongo empire from 1206 to 1226.

Marco Polo

a Venetian merchant who traveled to China (then ruled by Kublai Khan) and gave information about the East to Europe for years to come.

Archipelago

A group of islands

Bushido

The code of honor and morals developed by the Japanese samurai

Samurai

A member of the Japanese military class.

Feudalism

A political and social system in which land is exchanged for protection

Yayoi

people who brought farming to Japan, made pottery, and grew rice.

Origami

Origami is an art of paper folding. It comes from the Japanese word “Kami”, meaning paper, and “ori” meaning folding.

Shogun

The title applied to the chief military commanders from about the 8th century CE to the end of the 12th century, then applied to the hereditary officials who governed Japan, which the emperor as nominal ruler, until 1869.

Where was the Silk Road?

The Silk Road was a network of trade paths reaching from Europe to east Asia.

What was traded on traded on the Silk Road?

As the name suggests, silk was traded. Minerals, resources, ideas, spices, textiles, beliefs, and knowledge were also exchanged.

Why was the Silk Road significant?

The Silk Road was significant because it allowed for an important exchange of cultures.