World History: Africa

located in South Africa; around 5000 miles from Mediterranean Sea

contains the Earth's largest desert and stretches from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean

relatively high, flat land area; located mostly to the east of the Sahara Desert

broad grasslands dotted with small trees and shrubs. They existed north and south of the rainforest.

an extended family unit that has combined into a larger community. The basic building blocks of African society.

tracing the lineage through the mother rather than the father. husband would move into wife's house after marriage.

tracing the lineage through the father

an initiation ceremony usually part of a tradition

persons who are believed to have the power to foretell events. Used by the king to ensure a good harvest.

were believed to be closer to the gods and ritual ceremonies were dedicated to them.

special class of African storytellers who helped keep alive a people's history.

located in the upper Niger River valley. Between the Sahara Desert and tropical west African coast.

Camels were a big part of this; the merchants in this trading tribe became very wealthy. Carried goods and religion.

Big part of the Trans-Saharan trade; well adapted to heat and could drink a lot of water at once to sustain them for long trips.

Rose due to collapse of the Kingdom of Ghana; Famous for Mansu Musa.