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AP World History

Chapter 7 Study Guide

Classical Civilizations of Africa and the Americas

Self-Lectures: 2.10 Classical Africa, 2.11 Classical America

Learning Targets

Analyze classical civilizations that evolved outside of the more well-known civilizations of Eurasia

Compare the development of civilizations in Africa and the Americas

Explain the factors that make civilizations develop and analyze why they develop differently in some regions

Distinguish the characteristics of complex civilizations and judge whether they could develop without any recognize centralized control

Key Terms

Trans-Saharan TradeStratified SocietyShamanismDiviners Indian Ocean Trade Mesoamerica Teotihuacan Andes

Pit HousesAxumNiger River ValleyBantu

DivinersMayansPueblo Bonito

Short Answer

  1. Name the 2 major Latin American civilizations and 3 major African civilizations during the classical era:
  1. What 2 things caused variation and differences among Africa’s people?
  1. What are the 5 major geographic/climatic regions of Africa?
  2. What 2 major problems did Africa’s tropical climate create?
  3. A) Where was the Nubian civilization located?

B) Describe this civilization’s interaction with Egypt.

  1. Describe the governmental set-up in the city of Meroe.
  1. Explain how agriculture in Meroe differed from agriculture in Egypt.
  1. How did Meroe gain wealth and military power?
  1. A) What were Axum’s major agricultural products?

B) What trade networks did Axum participate in?

  1. What was the major religion in Axum?
  1. What factors caused the decline of Axum?
  1. What features did Axum and Meroe share with the classical civilizations of Eurasia?
  1. What is unique about the political structure of the Niger River Valley civilizations?
  1. The Bantu people were able to displace, absorb, or eliminate hunters and gathers because they had what 3 major advantages? BE DETAILED!!!
  2. A) What did the Bantu people in East Africa adopt from regional people there?

B) What did they import from Southeast Asia?

  1. A wide variety of different societies/political set-ups grew among the Bantu people. Describe 4 of them.
  2. Who did the Bantu focus on for religious guidance?
  1. A) Where is Mesoamerica located?

B) Describe the geography there that contributed to its linguistic & ethnic diversity.

  1. What cultural elements did the people of Mesoamerica share?
  1. What did the Mayans apply their mathematical knowledge to?
  1. Describe the political system of Maya civilization. BE DETAILED!!!
  1. What cause the decline of the Maya?
  1. Describe the city of Teotihuacan. BE DETAILED!!!
  1. What was the goal of its political and military activity?
  1. Describe the geography of the Andes region. BE DETAILED!!!
  1. Describe the religious beliefs and practices of the Chavin. BE DETAILED!!!
  1. What were the roles of the warrior-priests of the Moche civilization?
  1. What factors caused the decline of the Moche civilization?
  1. What were the hunting and gathering societies of the Americas at this time?
  2. What were the “semi-agricultural societies” of the Americas at this time?
  1. Describe the kivas of the ancestral Pueblo. What do they tell us about Pueblo beliefs?
  1. What factors caused the decline of the ancestral Pueblo?
  1. Describe the central mound in Cahokia.
  1. What does evidence found in Cahokia especially burial sites, tell us about its social structure?