African culture

Mediterranean (region)

Mediterranean (region)

A narrow region at the northern tip of Africa, with warm and dry summers and rainy winters

Desert

Very dry, covered mostly with sand, difficult to travel across

Sahel

Semi-dry region south of the Sahara Desert, had some farming and camel and cattle herding

Savanna

Grassy plain with scattered trees, rainfall supported many crops, farmers were also able to raise cows, sheep and horses

Rainforest (region)

Located along the equator in the middle of Africa, hot and wet year round, contained 1000s of different insects, plants, animals

Lineage

A group of people descended from a common ancestor, often the head living member of that lineage controlled the family and their property

Kinship

Connection based on extended family relationships

Oral tradition

Passing down of cultural knowledge through spoken stories and songs

Proverb

Short saying that expresses a common truth or piece of advice

Griot

Storyteller and oral historian in West African societies

Caste

A fixed or set social class into which a person is born

Caravan

Group of travelers journeying together, often for trade, used to cross the Sahara desert

Ghana

Medieval West African kingdom known for its gold trade, the first of the Great West African kingdoms/empires

Mali

West African empire known for its wealth, Sundiata was first king, then Mansa Musa, spread Islam and Arabic throughout West Africa, controlled the trans=Saharan trade, capital was Timbuktu

Songhai

Led by Ali Ber, conquered Mali, created the largest West African Empire, society based on Islamic law and scholarship, valued learning

Kush

First Ancient East African kingdom, known for its trade and conflict with Egypt

Axum

Ancient kingdom in present-day Ethiopia known for its trade and Christianity.

Ethiopia

East African kingdom that followed Axum, with a long history and a unique Christian culture.

Great Zimbabwe

Medieval civilization and trading hub in Southern Africa, known for its stone architecture and tall circular enclosures.

Swahili Coast City-States

A series of independent city-states along the eastern coast of Africa, known for their trade and cultural exchange

Sundiata

Founder and first king of the Mali Empire, wise ruler, known as the Lion King.

Mansa Musa

Possibly richest person in history, ruler of the Mali Empire, took a famous pilgrimage to Mecca, brought Islamic learning, architecture to Mali's capital, Timbuktu

Ali Ber

king of Songhai; took the title Sunni. Had great army and navy to control the Niger River and trade routes - drove Tuareg out of Timbuktu 1468

Askia Muhammad

Emperor of the Songhai Empire, known for improving the government and bringing Islamic laws and learning, including Arabic

King Ezana

King of the Kingdom of Axum, known for converting the civilization to Christianity.

"Dark Continent" Myth

The false idea that Europeans believed that African civilizations were primitive, didn't have advanced governments, economies, science and learning

Islamic law + Scholarship

Advanced legal and intellectual (learning) traditions of Islam, were spread through West African empires, written language (Arabic), European countries would later benefit

Ironworking

Process of producing iron from iron ore, Africans were early to gain this skill, iron farming tools allowed fewer farmers, more food, population growth, and more specialized jobs

Labor specialization

when people within a society have different skilled jobs, only happens when daily food is taken care of, can advance society

Trans-Saharan Trade Network

Connected West Africa to North Africa and places beyond like Europe and the Arabian Peninsula; West African kingdoms traded gold with North African Muslims for salt

Hajj

A pilgrimage to Mecca, performed as a duty by Muslims (Mansa Musa's 1324 hajj was legendary)

Lost Libraries of Timbuktu

Ancient libraries in Timbuktu, Mali, known for their collection of Islamic manuscripts (old books) about Islam, math, astronomy, literature, and much more

Indian Ocean Trade Networks

Sea based trade routes that connected Africa, the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia

Stonetown

Word used to describe Swahili city-states and their multistoried stone houses, one famous Stonetown is on the Island of Zanzibar

West African Art + Music

Artistic and musical traditions of West Africa, including textile art, iron and wood sculpture, drumming, dance, and drama were brought by enslaved people to the American colonies and became part of American culture

Ancestor Worship

African religious practice, honored family ancestors with shrines, prayer; believed ancestors could help the family

Enslavement in Africa

lowest caste in society; could be born into it or captured in war or kidnapped; part of the family / society still, and had some rights (to marriage, earn money for freedom, no cruel punishments)