Countries
This ancient African civilization located below Egypt was wealthy due to international trade and its gold deposits.
Nubia/Kush
This 15th-century African ruler, renowned for her fierce resistance against Portuguese colonial forces and her strategic diplomacy, is a symbol of African resistance and leadership.
Queen Njinga
the dispersion of people from their original homeland
Diaspora
The Swahili coast cities, known for their vibrant trade and diverse cultural influences, have a strong historical connection to this religion, which shaped their architecture, language, and way of life.
Islam
route across the sahara desert. Major trade route that traded for gold and salt, created caravan routes, economic benefit for controlling dessert, camels played a huge role in the trading
Trans-Saharan Trade route
This UNESCO World Heritage Site in Southern Africa features a complex of stone structures, including massive walls and enclosures, dating back to the 11th century.
Zimbabwe
This 14th-century ruler of the Mali Empire made his legendary pilgrimage to Mecca which showcased his immense wealth and established his reputation as one of the richest individuals in history
Mansa Musa
In West African societies, these storytellers and oral historians are known for passing down the history, legends, and cultural heritage through their captivating narratives and music.
Griots
used for communicating with the spirit world, mediating spiritual and social matters, and preserving cultural narratives
river that passes through four countries was the location of the Ghana, Mali, and Songhai Empires.
Niger River
Existing from the 15th to 16th centuries, this civilization followed the Mali empire and was located at a nexus of trade routes
Songhai
a powerful monarch from the early 4th century AD who is best known for converting his kingdom to Christianity and for his diplomatic and military achievements, which included conquering the Kingdom of Kush
King Ezana
This term, often observed in religion and culture, describes the blending or reconciliation of different beliefs, practices, or traditions into a harmonious and unified whole.
Syncretism
powerful deity in the Yoruba religion; goddess of rivers, love, fertility (often seen in yellow)
Oshun
Around 1300 this city just north of the Niger River, a center of trade & learning, became part of the Mali Empire
Timbuktu
Located in Central Africa, this historic kingdom flourished from the 14th to the 19th century and was known for its centralized government, rich culture, and early interactions with European explorers.
Kongo
With his son (Nzinga Mbemba , Alfonso I) voluntarily converted Kongo to Roman Catholicism. This strengthen trade relationships with Portugal, increased kongos wealth. Catholisim led to a lot of Christian names in African Americans with African orgins, due to Kongo containing a quarter of enslaved Africans.
King Nzinga a Nkuwu (Joao I)
This Afro-Caribbean religion, which originated in West Africa and blends elements of African spirituality with Catholicism, is known for its rituals, spells, and ceremonies often associated with dolls and pins.
Voodoo
Combined Catholic ideas of Christ's death and resurrection with African ideas of life and death. Christ is depicted as African. From the Kongo after they declared Christianity as the official religion
Triple Crucifix
In the early 16th century, this European country made a significant impact on the Swahili coast cities when they invaded and established control over strategic trading posts.
Portugal
First known kingdom in sub-Saharan West Africa between the sixth and thirteenth centuries C.E. Also the modern West African country once known as the Gold Coast. gold and salt trade.
An influential queen mother of the Benin Empire, which was known for its bronze artwork and trade. Her political and military leadership, particularly in the war against the Igala kingdom, is highlighted in some curricula.
Queen Idia of Benin
Technological and agricultural advances led to population growth that led this group of people to expand southward and eastward, resulting in a linguistic influence throughout the region
Bantu peoples
What are the indigenous cosmologies in Africa?
-the belief in one supreme being(creator, all-knowing, provider)
-the belief in spirits (supernatural, spiritual, good, bad)
-A way to view the world (values, attitudes, beliefs)
-System of morality and sacrifice (right and wrong, personal sacrifice)
-a belief in a need for rituals ( ceremonies commemorate special events, offerings for the dead)
This historically significant region, nestled along the eastern shores of Africa, has been a melting pot of cultures, where African, Arabian, and Indian influences converge.
Swahili Coast