Unit One: Origins of the Diaspora

- Approaches to African American History - Diversity and Geography in Africa - Early African History and Historiography - Sudanic Empires - African Beliefs and Religions - Southern and Eastern African Kingdoms - Central and West African Kingdoms - Global Africans and Explorers

Which was the oldest sub-Saharan African Kingdom?

Nubia

The kingdom that invaded and ruled over Egypt as Pharaohs

Nubia

Nubian written language dating back to at least 24 BCE

Meroitic

Longest-running Christian kingdom, and the first African society to adopt Christianity

Aksum

The first African society to adopt Christianity did so under which leader?

King Ezana

Name of the Aksum language

Ge’ez

Which civilization became one of the earliest iron-working societies by skipping the bronze age and going straight from stone to iron?

Nok

What type of art/artifacts are the Nok known for?

terracotta sculptures

An ancient city spanning 60+ acres, with buildings constructed from heavy granite blocks

Great Zimbabwe

The Kingdom of Kongo’s decline is attributed to a string of civil wars and which European country?

Portugal

Ghana and Songhai were part of the ______ empires

Sudanic

What type of commerce contributed to the success of the Sudanic Empires?

Trans-Saharan trade

Which empire contributed to the spread of Islam in West Africa and constructed the Great Mosque of D’jenne’?

Mali Empire

The rise of the Songhai Empire contributed to which other empire’s decline?

Mali Empire

Which East African empire was known for its multicultural African/Arab influences on culture and artwork?

Swahili Coast

In which African empire were the first known wooden mosques built?

Swahili Coast

Ancient Ghana, Mali, and Songhai were renowned for their mines that produced which precious metal?

gold

Which city served as an important intellectual, spiritual and trade center in ancient Mali, in part due to its location along trans-Saharan trade routes?

Timbuktu

One goal of Portuguese colonization was to take control of which major trade route?

The Indian Ocean

King Esigie of Benin created which position within his court filled by his mother, and which continued to be held by the King’s mother for many generations after?

Iyoba

The Queen of Benin that helped her son become king and lead the kingdom, making her an iconic symbol of Black women’s leadership throughout the diaspora?

Queen Idia

Which geographic feature connected the Aksumite Empire to major global trade networks?

The Red Sea

Which African Empire established their own shell currency?

The Kingdom of Kongo

Kongo kings voluntarily converted to which religion?

Christianity

The Sudanic Empires mostly interacted with each other and the rest of the world through which trade route?

Trans-Saharan

What was the name of the Nubian Kingdom that defeated and ruled over Egypt around 750 BCE?

The Kingdom of Kush

Prestigious historians, storytellers, and musicians who maintained and shared a community’s history, traditions, and cultural practices

Griots