#separator:tab #html:false #tags column:4 Kush Kingdom south of Egypt in Nubia; its rulers once ruled Egypt as the 25th dynasty world-african-kingdoms Meroe Kushite capital famous for iron working and pyramids world-african-kingdoms Aksum (Axum) Powerful trading kingdom in northern Ethiopia and Eritrea world-african-kingdoms Ezana Aksumite king who adopted Christianity in the 300s world-african-kingdoms Stelae of Aksum Tall carved stone monuments in Aksum world-african-kingdoms Ge'ez Ancient language and script of Aksum, still used in church world-african-kingdoms Sahara World's largest hot desert, crossed by trade caravans world-african-kingdoms Sahel Dry grassland belt south of the Sahara world-african-kingdoms Savanna Grassland with scattered trees world-african-kingdoms Trans-Saharan trade Caravans carried gold and salt across the desert world-african-kingdoms Camel Desert animal that made trade across the Sahara possible world-african-kingdoms Caravan Group of traders traveling together world-african-kingdoms Salt Valuable in West Africa; traded for gold world-african-kingdoms Gold Mined in West Africa and traded to North Africa and beyond world-african-kingdoms Ghana Empire West African trading empire, about 300-1100 CE (not today's Ghana) world-african-kingdoms Wagadu Local name for the Ghana Empire world-african-kingdoms Kumbi Saleh Ghana's capital and trading city world-african-kingdoms Mali Empire Large West African empire that peaked in the 1300s world-african-kingdoms Sundiata Keita Founder of the Mali Empire, about 1235 world-african-kingdoms Epic of Sundiata Story of the founder of Mali, told by griots world-african-kingdoms Griot West African storyteller and keeper of history world-african-kingdoms Mansa Title meaning 'king' in Mali world-african-kingdoms Mansa Musa Mali's king famous for his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 world-african-kingdoms Hajj Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca world-african-kingdoms Timbuktu Mali trading city and center of Islamic learning world-african-kingdoms Sankore Mosque and university in Timbuktu world-african-kingdoms Djinguereber Mosque Mud-brick mosque in Timbuktu, built in the 1300s world-african-kingdoms Manuscripts of Timbuktu Hundreds of thousands of handwritten books on many subjects world-african-kingdoms Ibn Battuta Moroccan traveler who visited Mali in the 1350s world-african-kingdoms Songhai Empire Largest West African empire, 1400s-1591 world-african-kingdoms Sunni Ali Songhai ruler who built the empire and took Timbuktu world-african-kingdoms Askia the Great Songhai ruler who strengthened the empire and promoted learning world-african-kingdoms Gao Songhai capital on the Niger River world-african-kingdoms Battle of Tondibi (1591) Moroccan forces with guns defeated Songhai world-african-kingdoms Niger River Major river of West Africa world-african-kingdoms Great Zimbabwe Stone city built in southern Africa, about 1100-1450 world-african-kingdoms Zimbabwe (word) From a word meaning 'stone houses' or 'venerated houses' world-african-kingdoms Shona People linked to Great Zimbabwe world-african-kingdoms Swahili Coast East African coast where African and Arab trade cultures blended world-african-kingdoms Kilwa Wealthy Swahili trading city on an island world-african-kingdoms Swahili Bantu language with many Arabic words, spoken in East Africa world-african-kingdoms Mombasa Trading port on the Kenyan coast world-african-kingdoms Indian Ocean trade Monsoon winds carried ships between Africa, Arabia and Asia world-african-kingdoms Dhow Triangular-sail ship used on the Indian Ocean world-african-kingdoms Benin Kingdom Forest kingdom in today's Nigeria with a strong ruler, the Oba world-african-kingdoms Oba King of Benin world-african-kingdoms Benin Bronzes Famous plaques and sculptures made by Benin artists world-african-kingdoms Ife Yoruba city known for its fine brass and terra-cotta heads world-african-kingdoms Yoruba People of southwestern Nigeria with a rich art tradition world-african-kingdoms Hausa city-states Trading states in northern Nigeria, like Kano world-african-kingdoms Kanem-Bornu Empire near Lake Chad, long-lasting world-african-kingdoms Ethiopia African land with ancient Christian kingdoms and never colonized for long world-african-kingdoms Lalibela Town in Ethiopia with churches carved from rock in the 1200s world-african-kingdoms Queen Nzinga Ruler of Ndongo and Matamba who resisted Portuguese rule in the 1600s world-african-kingdoms Kongo Kingdom Central African kingdom that traded with Portugal world-african-kingdoms Bantu migrations Spread of Bantu-speaking peoples across much of Africa over centuries world-african-kingdoms Iron working Skill that spread through sub-Saharan Africa and made tools stronger world-african-kingdoms Nok culture Ancient culture of Nigeria known for terra-cotta sculpture world-african-kingdoms Transatlantic slave trade Forced removal of millions of Africans to the Americas from the 1500s to the 1800s world-african-kingdoms Colonialism Control of a land by a foreign power world-african-kingdoms Berlin Conference (1884-85) European powers set rules for dividing Africa among themselves world-african-kingdoms Scramble for Africa European takeover of most of Africa between 1880 and 1914 world-african-kingdoms Shaka Zulu Leader who built the powerful Zulu kingdom in the early 1800s world-african-kingdoms Menelik II Ethiopian emperor who defeated Italy at Adwa in 1896 world-african-kingdoms Battle of Adwa (1896) Ethiopian victory that secured its independence world-african-kingdoms Kwame Nkrumah Led Ghana to independence in 1957 world-african-kingdoms Independence era Most African countries gained independence between 1950 and 1975 world-african-kingdoms Nelson Mandela Anti-apartheid leader who became South Africa's first Black president world-african-kingdoms Apartheid South African system of racial separation, ended in the early 1990s world-african-kingdoms Wangari Maathai Kenyan environmentalist who founded the Green Belt Movement world-african-kingdoms Africa Second-largest continent, with 54 countries world-african-kingdoms