7th Grade World History Vocabulary

CHAPTER 13 EARLY AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONS

A long, deep valley formed by the movement of the earth’s crust RIFT

Africa south of the Sahara SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

A semiarid region in Africa just south of the Sahara that separates the desert from wetter areas SAHEL SAHEL

SAVANNAH An open grassland with scattered trees NORTHERN BAND SAHEL

RAIN FORESTS NORTHERN BAND SAHEL SAVANNAH RAIN FOREST A moist, densely wooded area that contains many different plants and animals

EXTENDED FAMILY A family group that includes a father, mother, children, and close relative in one household.

ANIMISM The belief that bodies of water, animals, trees, and other natural objects have spirits.

As Western Africa became more productive, villages had more than they needed to survive. This was called a SURPLUS