USI.4 - West Africa, Transatlantic Slave Trade, and Colonial Slavery Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering the West African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, the arrival of the first Africans in colonial Virginia, the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and the culture and hardships of enslaved people.

Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

Ancient kingdoms located in West Africa, south of the Sahara Desert and along the Niger River, that dominated the region from around 300 A.D. to 1600 A.D.

Gold and Salt

The two most valuable natural resources in West Africa, where salt was essential for preserving food and gold was highly prized across Europe and Asia.

Portugal

The European country that was first to connect Africa, Europe, and the Americas through trade networks, exchanging cloth, metals, and other goods for African gold and natural resources.

Old Point Comfort

The location near present-day Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia, where the first documented Africans in British North America arrived in August 1619.

White Lion

The ship that brought the first documented Africans to British North America at Old Point Comfort in August 1619, where they were traded to English colonists for food and supplies.

Ndongo Kingdom

A West Central African kingdom located in present-day Angola whose skilled farmers, artisans, and traders were the origin of the first Africans brought to Virginia in 1619.

Transatlantic Slave Trade

A system of forced migration in which millions of Africans were captured, sold, and transported across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas.

Triangle Trade

A trade network connecting Africa, Europe, and the Western Hemisphere involving the transport of captured Africans, raw materials, and manufactured goods.

Quiet Forms of Resistance

Subtle methods used by enslaved people to resist harsh treatment without open conflict, including working slowly, breaking tools, or secretly learning to read and write.

Cultural Knowledge and Skills Brought by Enslaved Africans

Expertise and traditions brought by enslaved Africans that shaped American culture, including rice cultivation techniques, ironworking, weaving, music, stories, and religious beliefs.