Chpt. 10, African Societies Flashcards
Swahili
a language that developed among the peoples of East Africa, and was a mix of Bantu languages from the Niger-Congo family and Arabic; it developed through trade
griots
oral storytellers who were the keepers of (memorized) tribal traditions and legends before writing was introduced to Africa
age grade
within African villages, it was the most significant social group, and was a type of cohort in which tribal members shared experiences and duties specific to their common age group
Islam in Africa
while the Bantu-speaking peoples made their waves of migrations, the Muslims swept across the northwest portion of Africa starting in the 7th century, gaining converts through both conquest and peaceful means
Kingdom of Ghana
by 800 AD, this regional kingdom in West Africa had grown into an empire; it prospered as a result of its possession of gold, and engagement in gold-salt trade; it’s leaders converted to Islam; it was defeated by the Almoravids in 1076 AD
Mansa Musa
a Muslim successor to Sundiata who exercised strict control over the gold-salt trade; when making a hajj to Mecca in 1324 and 1325, he gave so much gold in charity that it was devalued in Cairo for years afterward
Ibn Battuta
a Muslim traveler and historian who in 1352 went on a tour of most of the countries in the Islamic world
Christianity in Africa
in addition to Egypt in the north, Christianity also spread down to Aksum (what is now Ethiopia and Eritrea)
King Ezana
the ruler of Askum between 325 and 360 AD, he further strengthened it
stele
a pillar built of carved stones fit together without the use of mortar, these were among the tallest structures in the ancient world
Adulis
the chief port city of Aksum, it was an international trading center; in 710 AD, the Muslims swept through Aksum and destroyed it; cut off from other Christian territories by advancing Muslims, Aksum was forced inland and declined as an international power
