Semester A Unit 4 Reading Guides Flashcards
- What geographical feature dominates the northern third of the African continent?
Sahara Desert
- What is the Sahel?
A band of dry, flat, scrubby grasslands
- The savanna covers about _____ percent of Africa. Much of it consists of open, grassy _____ dotted by trees, but it also includes _____ and tropical _____.
The savanna covers about 40 percent of Africa. Much of it consists of open, grassy PLAINS dotted by trees, but it also includes MOUNTAINS and tropical SWAMPLANDS.
- Why do most people in Africa live on the savanna?
The land and climate support agricultural production
- Identify the following African rivers:
Longest river in the world
Nile
- Identify the following African rivers:
Largest river in central Africa
Congo
- Identify the following African rivers:
Main river in western Africa
Niger
- How do we know that the first Africans were hunter-gatherers and herded sheep, goats, and cattle?
Archaeologists have found prehistoric paintings depicting it
- North Africa’s _____ was originally much wetter and the region was covered with rivers, lakes, and _____. Over centuries, _____ became less, and the area eventually became a _____.
North Africa’s SAHARA was originally much wetter and the region was covered with rivers, lakes, and GRASSLANDS. Over centuries, RAIN became less, and the area eventually became a DESERT.
- Complete the following to show how African people adapted to each of the following environments as they migrated.
RIVERS AND LAKES
They became expert _____.
They became expert FISHERMAN.
- Complete the following to show how African people adapted to each of the following environments as they migrated.
RAIN FORESTS
They became _____.
They became HUNTER-GATHERERS.
- Complete the following to show how African people adapted to each of the following environments as they migrated.
SAHEL / SAVANNA
They became _____.
They became FARMERS.
- Early African villages were likely made up of members from one or more clans. What is a clan?
A group of families with shared ancestors
- _____ is the idea that spiritual and supernatural forces act through all aspects of nature.
ANIMISM is the idea that spiritual and supernatural forces act through all aspects of nature.
- Griots are people who pass on _____ from times long past. They tell myths, share proverbs, and offer commentary on current _____ to help people understand themselves and the world around them by conveying _____ and _____ from one generation to the next.
Griots are people who pass on STORIES from times long past. They tell myths, share proverbs, and offer commentary on current EVENTS to help people understand themselves and the world around them by conveying KNOWLEDGE and TRADITIONS from one generation to the next.
- Fill in the chart with information about each culture.
NOK
Where did they live?
Northeast of the Niger River in what is now Nigeria
- Fill in the chart with information about each culture.
NOK
What was the geography or climate like?
Near streams in grasslands where the Sahel meets the savanna
- Fill in the chart with information about each culture.
NOK
What were their main crops or food staple?
Sorgum
- Fill in the chart with information about each culture.
NOK
What type of houses or communities did they live in?
Villages with houses built of clay, straw, and mud brick
- Fill in the chart with information about each culture.
NOK
What important technological advances did they make?
Made weapons and tools of iron
- Fill in the chart with information about each culture.
DJENNÉ-DJENO
Where did they live?
Near Niger River in what is now the country of Mali
- Fill in the chart with information about each culture.
DJENNÉ-DJENO
What was the geography or climate like?
Fertile flood plain of the Niger
- Fill in the chart with information about each culture.
DJENNÉ-DJENO
What were their main crops or food staple?
Rice and herd animals
- Fill in the chart with information about each culture.
DJENNÉ-DJENO
What type of houses or communities did they live in?
City of nearly 50,000 inhabitants
- Fill in the chart with information about each culture.
DJENNÉ-DJENO
What important technological advances did they make?
Made iron weapons, pottery, jewelry and toys
- Where did the Bantu-speaking people originally live, and where did their migrations take them?
Just south of the Sahara; south and east to much of Africa
- In the chart below, define the terms and explain why they were key factors in pushing some groups of Bantu-speaking peoples to migrate.
Slash-and-burn agriculture
When you slash and burn plants to provide the soil with nutrients; the nutrients of the soil was depleted, so they had to move where the soil had more nutrients
- In the chart below, define the terms and explain why they were key factors in pushing some groups of Bantu-speaking peoples to migrate.
Desertification
When deserts grow larger; they couldn’t grow crops in the sand
- What was one “pull” factor that played a role in the Bantu migrations?
The relatively fertile savannas of Africa
- Why didn’t most migrants stay in the rain forests they encountered?
They are too dense and don’t allow for large human populations
- What was one advantage the Bantu-speaking people had over the nomadic bands of hunter-gatherers they displaced?
They had mastered the art of iron-making, allowing them to dominate the hunter-gatherers they displaced
- On what civilization did Kush rulers model themselves?
Egypt
- What trade route played a key role in Kush’s rise to power?
The Kush gained control over the Nile River trade that was once dominated by Egypt.
- What kinds of goods were exported from Kush and Meroë?
Trade goods included timber, iron, gold, ivory, ebony, jewels, fragrances, and slaves
- What brought about the downfall of the kingdom of Kush?
The Romans invaded Egypt, devastated Kushite territory, and carried thousands off to slavery, which greatly diminished Kush’s power
- What spurred Aksum’s rise to power?
It was a busy hub on trade routes, and when Kush lost its power it took over Kush’s trade routes, too
- How did the influx of people from all over the world influence Aksum’s cultural makeup?
Aksum became an increasingly cosmopolitan kingdom; trade brought Jews, Buddhists, and Christians to the region
What are two unique Aksum achievements?
Aksum was the only ancient African kingdom that had a system of writing. Aksum was also the first sub-Saharan kingdom to mint its own coins.
- What are stelae?
Giant stone monuments that marked the graves of rulers or commemorated important events
- What brought about Aksum’s downfall?
In the eighth century, Arab and Persian traders took over the commerce flowing out of Africa. Aksum fell to Islamic invaders in 710, who destroyed the port city of Adulis
- Where do archaeologists believe the earliest Americans came from and how did they get to America?
Asia; Beringia
- What area does Mesoamerica encompass?
Much of Mexico and Central America
- Explain why maize became the most important staple crop of Mesoamerica.
It grew in a variety of climates; it provided excellent nutrition; it could be harvested, dried, and storied in large amounts
Write the name of the civilization that is described (write unknown if it is an unknown civilization):
Carved colossal head from volcanic stone
The Olmec
Write the name of the civilization that is described (write unknown if it is an unknown civilization):
Built the city of Monte Alban
Zapotec
Write the name of the civilization that is described (write unknown if it is an unknown civilization):
Thought to be the oldest civilization in America
The Olmec
Write the name of the civilization that is described (write unknown if it is an unknown civilization):
Built the city of Teotihuacán
Unknown
Write the name of the civilization that is described (write unknown if it is an unknown civilization):
Invented a game that used a rubber ball
The Olmec
Write the name of the civilization that is described (write unknown if it is an unknown civilization):
Built a city in the center of the Oaxaca Valley
Zapotec
- Where did the earliest civilizations in South America begin?
In the Andes Mountains
- Describe a unique feature of the temple in the city of Chavin de Huantar.
The temple in the city had a system of canals built underneath it. When water rushed through the canals, the temple roared and vibrated, perhaps suggesting the presence of the gods to worshippers.
- Describe a unique accomplishment by the Nazca culture.
The Nazca created an array of enormous shapes and patterns that can be seen only from above. Some have geometric designs; some have plant and animal shapes
- Describe some of the accomplishments of the Moche culture.
They built a system of irrigation canals to channel water from the Andes into their fields, where they grew maize, beans, and other crops. They built flat-topped pyramids, some of which housed the tombs of kings. They painted on pottery, showing people working on the land, soldiers returning from battle, women weaving cloth, and more.
- How did the Maya adapt to the many environments in their territory? What was the result?
They adapted their farming techniques to the different environments, using terraces on hills, adding soil to swamps, and using slash and burn in rainforests. The result was a surplus of food crops, especially maize, and their culture grew.
- Why did Constantine choose Byzantium for his new capital? Include the economic and military importance of this location.
It was between the trade routes of Europe and Asia, and was next to water allowing for water travel; this also made it hard to invade
- What was the hippodrome in Constantinople?
A stadium for chariot racing that also housed circuses and theaters
- Why was the Mese important to Constantinople’s economy?
It was the world’s busiest market
- List some of the worldly goods that were traded in the shops in Constantinople.
China
Porcelain and silks
- List some of the worldly goods that were traded in the shops in Constantinople.
India
spices and precious stones
- List some of the worldly goods that were traded in the shops in Constantinople.
Arabia
cosmetics and perfumes
- List some of the worldly goods that were traded in the shops in Constantinople.
Egypt
grain