click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
African Kingdoms
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Sahel | a semiarid strip of land across the center of Africa that divides the Sahara from wetter areas |
savanna | open grasslands |
griots | professional West African storytellers |
Nok | one of the earliest African peoples to make iron tools (500 BC-AD 200), the Nok lived in what is today Nigeria |
Bantu | a family closely related African languages; one of any of the African peoples who speak that language |
Ezana | Aksumite ruler; he destroyed the Kush capital of Meroe and took over the kingdom of Kush around AD 320 |
Ge'ez | an ancient Afro-Asiatic language; it is still used today as a liturgical language in the Ethiopian Coptic Church |
Lalibela | Ethiopian ruler from about 1200 to 1250; he is known for building large stone christian churches, many of which are still standing today. |
Swahili | an African society that emerged in the late 1100s along the East African coast and combined elements of Africa, Asian, and Islamic culture. |
Sundiata | Founder and ruler of Mali; he organized an army and defeated the other kingdoms of West Africa |
Mansa Musa | Leader of Mali who held power from 1307 to 1332; he conquered the kingdom Songhai. He expanded trade, supported the arts and promoted Islam. |
Sunni Ali | First great leader of Africa's Songhai Empire; he organized an uprising against Malian rule and established a new empire in Songhai |
Askia Muhammad | King of Songhai from 1493 to 1598; he was known for encouraging a revival of Muslims learning in the West African Kingdom during his rule. |