| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| what was the key for trade occurring on a more frequent basis in which was discovered by the berbers | camels (bc a pack animals couldn't travel as far whereas a camel could travel 60mi/day and go 10 days without water) |
| how was the kingdom of ghana able to amass in riches | through the gold salt trade |
| how was ghana able to protect empire and wealth | merchants met in trading cities under the watchful eye of the king's tax collector; taxing trade; royal officials made sure that all traders weighed goods fairly and did business according to law plus royal guards acted as protection against bandits |
| what did the king of ghana do in order to protect the value of gold? | stored them so only he could own gold |
| what caused the gold salt trade to be so badly disrupted that it never allowed ghana to regain its power? | war that arose from muslim almoravids of north africa contesting ghana |
| how was the rise of the kingdom of mali similar to that of ghana | wealth built on gold |
| what allowed the kingdom of mali to sieze power | miners who found gold deposits either east caused the most important trade routes to shift east making mali wealth and able to size power |
| who was sudianta and how did he obtain his power | mali's mansa (emperor) and by crushing a cruel unpopular leader |
| what achievements ff sudianta accomplish outside of military victories? | promoted agriculture, reestablish the gold salt trade, and put able administrators in charge of kali's finances, defense, and foreign affairs |
| how was mansa musa able to expand his empire twice the size of ghana's | by his 100,000 men army who kept order and protected mali from attack, putting down every rebellion that arised |
| mansa musa was a devout muslim and went on the hajj to mecca…what did he do on his travels that let others see the wealth of mali | gave away enormous amounts of gold |
| what did mans musa do upon his return from the hajj | ordered boiling of new mosques and trading cities of timbuktu and Gao |
| which rulers converted to islam | rulers after sudiata |
| what was one of the most important cities of the mali empire | timbuktu |
| what were 3 reasons for the decline of mali | mansa musa's sucessors lacked his ability of governing well; gold trade which was the basis of mali wealth shifted further eastward as new gold fields were discovered elsewhere |
| what allowed songhai to become the new dominant empire of west africa | built up an army and extended their terrify to large bend in niger river near Gao; gained control of all important trade routes and gas became capitol of their empire |
| this person built vase empire by military conquest in songhai | sunni ali |
| what were sunni ali's military achievements | built professional riverboat fleet of war canoes and mobile fighting force on horseback; by 1468 this person achieved their first military triumph |
| what was the main reason that songhai lost its empire? how was this different from mali and ghana's loss of power | sunni ali's son succeeded after his death but no one liked him bc he didn't practice islam as faithful so ask muhammad prove him out of power and replaced him; moroccan troops defeated songhai warriors bc of their lack of modern weapons |
| why did the gold salt trade work for both parties | west africa sufficient in gold but lacked salt while sahara was loaded with salt and could use the gold |
| how were the east africa coast trade cities simulate to empire of west africa | |
| what caused the creation of swahili language | the blending of arabic with bantu bc of increase in interaction between the two |
| what were ensalved east africans used for before slavery dramatically increased in the 1700s? | domestic tasks such as working on docks and ships at muslim controlled powers or as household servants in china (in 1700s used for colonial plantations |
| belief that spirits living in animals, plants, and natural forces play an important role in dialy life | animism |
| what brought islam to ghana? how was this different than north africa | trade where they settled here and introduced faith; ??? |
| describe there actions that ghana's people had to islam and what was the typical reaction to the religions of islam and christianity spread to trade by the average african? | many didn't;t convert bc of strong beliefs in animism; however those who converted kept many of former beliefs which they observed along with islam |
| Why would the growth of commerce cause Islam to spread? | decrease in trade and trade lead to increase in interacting allowing for cultural diffusion |
| In the early centuries AD what was happening in Central and South America? | ppl were entering full flowering of civilization (vs ppl in N America developing complex societies) |
| When and what happened during the "Classical Periods" of Mayan civilization? | Ad 250- 900; Maya built spectacular cities |
| What were some of the things that Mayan cities featured? | Giant pyramids, temples, palaces, & elaborate stone carvings all dedicated to gods and to important rulers |
| Describe the Maya City States | Independent of each other but linked together through alliances and trade |
| What were the farming practices of the Maya? | main crops; maize, beans; squash; sophisticated methods such as planting on raised beds above swamps and on hillside terraces |
| Describe the ways in which the Maya worshipped their Gods. | prayed; made offerings of food, flowers and incense; pierced & cut body in brief that their blood nourished the gods; human sacrifices (usually captured enemies) bc they believed it pleased gods and kept world in balance |
| Why is the Mayan calendar so important? | to know which god was in charge of the day (believed time was burden on god's backs & end of day, month or yr one sets it down & other picks it up) |
| What is the Mayan writing system? | had over 800 hieroglyphic symbols called glyphs (Maya script) |
| What are three main reasons that historians conclude led to the fall of the Maya? | Many physical & human resources funneled into religious activities; frequent warfare occurs between kingdoms; population growth creates need for more land |
| Describe the City of Teotihuacan | city-state just outside of Mexico City which had largest pop of world at the time; love of city w/20 plus pyramids; people lived in apartment – block buildings; became center of thriving trade network that extended far into central america. |
| What is the most valuable trade item of the Aztecs and why? | obsidian (green or black volcanic glass found in valley of mexico) bc it was used to make razor sharp weapons; |
| What was one major change in the that occurred when the Toltec's took over? | worshipped fierce war god who demanded human blood and human sacrifice from followers |
| When did the Aztecs arrive in the Valley of Mexico? | around 1200 AD (Aztecs poor nomadic ppl from harsh desert of northern mexico) |
| What God encouraged the Aztec people to found a city of their own? | god of son & warfare: Ituitzilopochtli |
| Describe the triple alliance | alliances between (aztecs, texcoco, &Illacopan) became leading power in valley of mexico & soon gained control over neighboring regions; by 1800s controlled vast empire covering 80K sq miles stretching frm cent mexico-atlantic & pac coasts & S intoOxaca?? |
| Describe the type of sacrifices and religious practices that the Aztec took part in. | ceremonies to communicate w gods where offerings & ritual dramas were presented; songs & dances ? with masked performers; rel cal varied on which god honored; blood letting bc they believed son god needed human blood to be strong enough to battle evil?? |
| What are three main reasons that historians conclude led to the fall of the Aztecs. | |
| What is one of the original beliefs of the Incas? | that ruler must descend from sun god; ?? would bring prosperity & greatness to incan state |
| What did the Inca accomplish under Pachachui? | conquered all of Peru & by 500 ruled an empire sketching miles along w/ coast of S America; empire had 80 provinces + 16 ppl |
| Describe the Incan government | central bureaucracy; they created efficient economic system; imposed single lang (Quechra ?); founded schools to teach incan way; gov has total control over economic social life |
| What is quipu? | an accounting device, a et of knotted strings that could be used to record data (tends to position on string – #s & color of string = diff categories if into important to gov) |
| Compare religious practices of the Inca's to the Aztecs and they Maya. | offered animal & human sacrifices to please the gods; human sacrifice the most bc sun god needs human blood for nourishment; believes in after life, sacrifices & blood letting to please gods |
| What is the most sacred temple in the Inca Civilization? Why? | Temple of the Sun (in Cuzo) bc decorated in "sweat of sun' & had a garden of plants & animals crafted entirely out of gold & silver |
| What are the three main reasons that historians conclude led to fall of the Inca. | many physical & human resources funneled into religious activities; enemy could also use roads to more troops; ppl struggled to care for themselves w/the elimination of the welfare state |