Social studies test prep

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 a long journey

Quran

Islamic sacred book

Trans-Sahara

Travel across the Sahara

Islam

A monotheistic faith and the belief in Mohammad and his teachings

Muhammad

An Arab political and religious leader and the founder of Islam

Ghana

first empire

Mali

Second empire

Songhai

third empire

Niger river

River that ran through west African kingdoms (Trade transportation)

Salt & Gold

Important valuable import and export

Mansa Musa

King from Timbuktu, crashed the economy because he gave out so much gold/

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 following food and water

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

great desert and semidesert region of Central Asia. The Gobi (from Mongolian gobi, meaning “waterless place”) stretches across huge portions of both Mongolia and China.

China & gunpowder

Chinese alchemists invented gunpowder accidentally while trying to invent a way to live forever

Genghis Khan

Leader of the Mongols who united all

Archipelago

A group of islands

Marco Polo

Venetian explorer who wrote ‘Il Milione’ about his experiences with the mongols

Bushido

A code of honor and morals developed by the Japanese samurai

Samurai

A member of the Japanese military class

Feudalism

the feudal system, or its principles and practices. (A social and economic system where land is given in exchange for protection)

Yayoi

Brought farming to Japan. They made pottery and grew rice and were skilled metalworkers.

Origami

the traditional Japanese art or technique of folding paper into a variety of decorative or representational forms, as of animals or flowers

Shogun

Any Japanese military leader until 1868

Where?

Asia and Europe

What was traded

Goods, ideas, and religion

Why was it significant?

It was the most major trade route for trading goods and spreading ideas.