World History: 14. African Civilizations, Lessons 1–2

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Full list of words from this list:

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  1. plateau
    a relatively flat raised area of land
    The interior of Africa is like a plate turned upside down. This raised but flat region is called a plateau.
  2. savanna
    a flat grassland in tropical or subtropical regions
    The Sahel separates the very dry climate of the north from the tropical grasslands, the savanna, to the south.
  3. natural resource
    material in the environment that can be used by people
    A natural material that people can use to meet their needs is called a natural resource.
  4. specialize
    devote oneself to a particular area of work
    The division of jobs and skills in a society is called labor specialization.
  5. caravan
    a procession traveling together in single file
    Traders would walk and ride their camels in a caravan, which is a group that travels together.
  6. conquest
    the act of defeating and taking control of
    Like many ancient empires—including Greece and Rome—Ghana enslaved people in its wars of conquest.
  7. prosperity
    the condition of having good fortune
    Ghana never returned to its prosperity after the Almoravid invasion.
  8. scholarship
    profound learned knowledge
    Timbuktu became a center for Islamic scholarship, or formal study and learning.
  9. griot
    a storyteller in West Africa
    Today, a griot, a professional storyteller and oral historian who is a keeper of West African history, might still sing about the achievements of great kings like Sundiata.
  10. commercial
    connected with or engaged in the exchange of goods
    As a result, Timbuktu's commercial success soared to new heights.
  11. legacy
    anything handed down by someone or something in the past
    The powerful empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai are long gone, but their legacy remains. Millions of Africans speak the languages of Mali and Songhai.
Created on Thu Jul 01 16:03:09 EDT 2021 (updated Thu Jul 08 16:20:50 EDT 2021)

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