World Civilizations Unit 9 - Africa Knowt

Rainforest

Rainforest

Densely forested land with abundant plant, animal, and human habitation

Savanna

Semi-arid grasslands with grazing animals and high human habitation

Desert

Large arid land with little vegetation or water, inhabited by few except nomads

Mediterranean

Temperate region near a major sea or ocean, suitable for agriculture

Desertification

Process of turning lands into deserts, affecting all of Africa

Bantu

Group of Niger-Congo languages spoken in Africa, significant for its history

Bantu Migration

Movement of Bantu-speaking people south and southeast, motivated by water

Sahel

Transitional region between Sahara desert and savanna

Griots

Oral storytellers crucial for recording culture in Sub-Saharan Africa

Islam

A Religious, political, and cultural system, influential in African kingdoms

Toll tax

Fee imposed on goods passing through a specific point, like the gold-salt trade route

Gold-salt trade

Exchange of gold and salt, two vital commodities in African trade

Desertification Rate

Sahara desert expands by 3 meters per year due to desertification (may not need to know)

Proto-Bantu

An ancestral language giving rise to many African languages, aiding migration history

West African Kingdoms

Historical kingdoms like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai in West Africa

Ghana

Believed in Animism and Islam, became rich through the Gold-salt trade and

East African Trading States

Historical states like Mogadishu, Mombasa, and Zanzibar known for trade

Northeast African Kingdoms

Historical kingdoms like Nubia, Axum, and Timbuktu in Northeast Africa

Great Zimbabwe

Historical city known for its stone ruins and trade in Southern Africa

Mansa Musa

Richest man in history, King of Mali, led a massive hajj caravan

Sahana Desert

Reference to the Sahara Desert, crossing it requires time and resources