Unit 7 Civilizations of AfricaUnit 7 Civilizations of AfricaVocabulary Vocabulary

DesertDesert

a dry, barren area of land, especially one a dry, barren area of land, especially one covered with sand, that is characteristically covered with sand, that is characteristically desolate, waterless, and without vegetation. desolate, waterless, and without vegetation.

SavannahSavannah

a grassy plain in tropical and subtropical a grassy plain in tropical and subtropical regions, with few trees. regions, with few trees.

Rain ForestRain Forest

a luxuriant, dense forest rich in biodiversity, a luxuriant, dense forest rich in biodiversity, found typically in tropical areas with found typically in tropical areas with consistently heavy rainfall consistently heavy rainfall

TaxationTaxation

the levying of tax. the levying of tax.

MerchantMerchant

a person or company involved in wholesale a person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially one dealing with foreign trade, especially one dealing with foreign countries or supplying merchandise to a countries or supplying merchandise to a particular trade. particular trade.

TheoryTheory

a supposition or a system of ideas intended to a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to general principles independent of the thing to be explained. be explained.

DeclineDecline

become smaller, fewer, or less; decrease. become smaller, fewer, or less; decrease.

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

a feature or quality belonging typically to a a feature or quality belonging typically to a person, place, or thing and serving to identify person, place, or thing and serving to identify it. it.

BenefitBenefit

an advantage or profit gained from something. an advantage or profit gained from something.

InfluenceInfluence

the capacity to have an effect on the character, the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself. something, or the effect itself.

DevelopmentDevelopment

the process of developing or being developed. the process of developing or being developed.

ImpactImpact

have a strong effect on someone or something. have a strong effect on someone or something.

MatrilinealMatrilineal

of or based on kinship with the mother or the of or based on kinship with the mother or the female line. female line.

PatrilinealPatrilineal

1.1. of, relating to, or based on relationship to the of, relating to, or based on relationship to the father or descent through the male line.father or descent through the male line.

SwahiliSwahili

a Bantu language widely used as a lingua a Bantu language widely used as a lingua franca in East Africa and having official status franca in East Africa and having official status in several countries. in several countries.

ScholarsScholars

a specialist in a particular branch of study, a specialist in a particular branch of study, especially the humanities; a distinguished especially the humanities; a distinguished academic. academic.