WHI.12b - Social, Political, Economic

The student will apply social science skills to understand the civilizations and empires of Africa, with emphasis on the African kingdoms of Axum and Zimbabwe and the West African civilizations of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, by

b) explaining the development of social, political, economic, religious, and cultural patterns in each region;

Trade brought important economic, cultural, and religious influences to African civilizations from other parts of the Eastern Hemisphere.

States and empires flourished in Africa during the medieval period, including Ghana, Mali, and Songhai in West Africa, Axum in East Africa, and Zimbabwe in southeastern Africa.

Axum

 Between the third and sixth century A.D. (C.E.)

o Became a great market in northeastern Africa

o Merchants traded with civilizations beyond the Nile River

 During the fourth century A.D. (C.E.)

o Became a Christian kingdom

o Became politically and economically linked to Roman Egypt

Zimbabwe

 City of Great Zimbabwe as capital of a prosperous empire

 Utilized Indian Ocean trade routes to connect with Asia

West African kingdoms

 Importance of gold and salt to trans-Saharan trade

 City of Timbuktu as center of trade and learning

 Roles of animism and Islam

Terms

Maritime (10a)

Amber (10b)

Textiles (10b)

Watermills (10b)

Windmills (10b)

Lateen sails (10b)

Archipelago (10c)

Shinto (10c)

Animism (10d)

Torri

People

Samurai

Mansa Musa (10d)

Places

Indian Ocean (10a,b,d)

China Sea (10a)

Black Sea (10a)

Middle East (10b)

Korea (10b)

Japan (10b)

Sea of Japan (10c)

East Sea (10c)

Ghana (10d)

Mali (10d)

Songhai (10d)

Axum (10d)

Ethiopian highlands (10d)

Zimbabwe (10d)

Great Zimbabwe (10d)

Sahara (10d)

Timbuktu (10d)

Zambezi River (10d)

Limpopo River (10d)

Niger River (10d)