Medieval Africa Flashcards
The largest desert in the world, on the continent of Africa
Sahara
The regions of Africa that are located south of the Sahara desert
Sub-Saharan
The language spoken by early West African farmers and herders that became the root language for many of the languages spoken in East Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Bantu
The most important trade items on the trans-Saharan trade routes.
Gold and salt
The first empire of West Africa (c. 1050)
Ghana
The main river in West Africa
Niger river
The second empire of West Africa (c. 1300’s)
Mali
The ruler of the empire of Mali and the richest person in human history
Manas Musa
The third empire of West Africa (c. 1500’s)
Songhai
The religion that spread from North Africa to West Africa and from Arabia to East Africa.
Islam
The holiest city in Islam, located in Saudi Arabia, where many Muslims go on pilgrimages
Mecca
People who practice the religion of Islam
Muslims
A Muslim traveler and author who wrote about his travels throughout Africa
Ibn Battuta
A powerful trading empire in East Africa, in what is present-day Ethiopia.
Axum
A vibrant culture and language in East Africa that emerged in the 1,000’s.
Swahili
A medieval East African city that was the capital of a powerful inland trading center, known for its large, circular stone walls and tower
Great Zimbabwe
inheritance traced through the mother’s side
Matrilineal
inheritance traced through the father’s side
Patrilineal
group of families/people who claim a common ancestor
Lineage
Passing down the stories and history of a culture by telling/speaking, rather than writing down. In Africa, the professional storytellers who did this were called griots.
Oral Tradition
