1. Unit 7 Civilizations of Africa Vocabulary

2. Desert a dry, barren area of land, especially one covered with sand, that is characteristically desolate, waterless, and without vegetation. a dry, barren area of land, especially one covered with sand, that is characteristically desolate, waterless, and without vegetation.

3. Savannah a grassy plain in tropical and subtropical regions, with few trees. a grassy plain in tropical and subtropical regions, with few trees.

4. Rain Forest a luxuriant, dense forest rich in biodiversity, found typically in tropical areas with consistently heavy rainfall a luxuriant, dense forest rich in biodiversity, found typically in tropical areas with consistently heavy rainfall

5. Taxation the levying of tax. the levying of tax.

6. Merchant a person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially one dealing with foreign countries or supplying merchandise to a particular trade. a person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially one dealing with foreign countries or supplying merchandise to a particular trade.

7. Theory a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained. a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained.

8. Decline become smaller, fewer, or less; decrease. become smaller, fewer, or less; decrease.

9. Characteristics a feature or quality belonging typically to a person, place, or thing and serving to identify it. a feature or quality belonging typically to a person, place, or thing and serving to identify it.

10. Benefit an advantage or profit gained from something. an advantage or profit gained from something.

11. Influence the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself. the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.

12. Development the process of developing or being developed. the process of developing or being developed.

13. Impact have a strong effect on someone or something. have a strong effect on someone or something.

14. Matrilineal of or based on kinship with the mother or the female line. of or based on kinship with the mother or the female line.

15. Patrilineal 1. of, relating to, or based on relationship to the father or descent through the male line.

16. Swahili a Bantu language widely used as a lingua franca in East Africa and having official status in several countries. a Bantu language widely used as a lingua franca in East Africa and having official status in several countries.

17. Scholars a specialist in a particular branch of study, especially the humanities; a distinguished academic. a specialist in a particular branch of study, especially the humanities; a distinguished academic.