Study Guide Review

 A verbal artist  Tells stories, sings songs, recites poems. Perform music, dance, and drama.  Story tellers in West Africa. Provided people with historical information and genealogies (families of the past).

 A payment made by one ruler or country to another for protection or as a sign of submission.  Mansa Musa would bring tribute (gold) to foreign lands while on the famed hajj to Mecca.

 A story that is usually passed down orally and becomes part of a community’s tradition. Becomes a part of ones culture.  Briar Rabbit is an example of a folktale that came out of Western Africa.

 An area of land with tall grasses and scattered trees. Land is fertile for farming.  This is where you would find an abundance of wild life in Africa. (Safari’s)

 Based on the man’s family line.  Once Islam influenced West African culture, their society shifted to a patrilineal society. Especially in government where the power shifts from the King to his oldest son.

 A woven cloth  Worn and used by the people in West Africa.

 A country or territory ruled by a monarch/King.  Kingdoms are created due to cities becoming powerful and conquering other cities.

 An area of land with limited grass and shrubs.  This area is also known as the semi desert.  Land is starting to transition into desert.

 Based on the woman’s family line.  BEFORE Islam influenced West Africa, traditions and customs were matrilineal.  King power shifted to the King’s oldest sisters son.

 Ruler of Mali  Spread the word and wealth of Mali throughout Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula while participating in his pilgrimage or “hajj” to Mecca.

 Water source for the people in West Africa.  Provided fertile soil for the surrounding land.  Assisted with trade; Transportation for traders.

 City in West Africa.  Heavily influenced by Islam.  Became a center of learning for those in the West African civilizations.  Students learned a variety of subjects, but focused mainly on Arabic and Islamic studies.

 Lived in the forest region of West Africa.  Controlled the gold mines.  Traded with the Northern Africans FOR salt.  Traded silently because they did not want anyone to know where their gold mines were located.

 First West African civilization.  Became rich from being the “middleman” in trade. They taxed the goods that came into Ghana as well as the goods that left Ghana.  Refused to accept Islam, which was brought in by traders.  Eventually lost power due to using up their natural resources and becoming vulnerable due to the fighting.

 The business of buying and selling goods or exchanging items.  Trans-Saharan trade: trade that required travelers to cross the Sahara Desert.

 Became an important empire due to Mansa Musa’s famed hajj.  2 nd empire to exist in West Africa.  Adopted Islam to their society and changed/molded their culture to be similar to those in the arab world. (Mosques, Arabic language, Qur’an, etc.)

 People trade in order to get the goods they need and they can not obtain on their own.  Northern Africans traded salt for gold.  Wangarans traded gold for salt.  Camels had to be used for transportation in order for traders to cross the Sahara Desert.  Islam came to West Africa due to trade.

 Religion: Adopt the religion of Islam and follow the Five Pillars of Faith.  African’s were allowed to hold on to their traditional religions when Islam first arrived, however, they could not contradict the Pillars of Faith.

 Both are considered oral traditions in society.  Stories and life lessons they wanted people in society to learn or be aware of.

 They were used in ceremonies and rituals.  Used to help them celebrate or tell a story; dance.

 Different crops and resources are in each vegetation zone.  They can trade to get the goods they need and grow what they can.

 Iron tools and weapons.