Africa is the earth’s __?__ continent.

__?__ kept food from spoiling, and people needed it in their diet to survive Africa’s hot climate.

The __?__ is a strip of land with little rainfall that divides the desert from wetter areas.

An __?__ usually included father, mother, children, and close relatives in one household.

The plains of __?__, or Africa south of the Sahara, are crossed by mighty rivers.

Farther south of the river is the __?__, or open grassland with scattered trees.

__?__ is the belief that bodies of water, animals, trees, and other natural objects have spirits.

As a source of water, food, and transportation, the __?__ River allowed many people to live in West Africa.

Crops, such as dates and kola nuts, as well as __?__, were important resources.

The region’s two main resources for trade during this time were silver and diamonds

The earliest people in West Africa were the Kenyans.

Silent barter is a process in which people exchange goods without contacting each other directly.

Tunka Manin (TOOHN-kah MAH-nin) was a Ghanaian King with a lavish court where he displayed the wealth of the empire.

What two trade goods were found near Ghana?

A group of South American Christians called the Almoravids attacked Ghana in the 1060s.

The Songhai people rebelled against the king __?__.

Mali’s location on the Niger allowed its people to control __?__ on the river.

Mali’s most famous ruler was a Muslim named __?__, who ruled for about 25 years.

__?__ was an important trade city in the Mali Empire.

Mali conquered nearby kingdoms, including __?__, in the 1230s.

Moroccan soldiers carried an early form of a gun called a(n) __?__.

Africans south of Songhai and European merchants preferred to trade at __?__.

Sundiata introduced a new crop to the area called __?

__?__ was a title held by local leaders in the area.

The __?__ participated in the same trade that had made Ghana and Mali rich.

None of the major early civilizations of West Africa developed a(n) __?__.

The storytellers of early West Africa were called __?__ and were highly respected in their communities.

Music was used for entertainment and at special occasions, and also to __?__.

The __?__ tells the story of Mali’s first great ruler

Of all the visual art forms, the __?__ of West Africa is probably the best known.

Ibn Battutah was the most famous __?__ visitor to write about West Africa.

The __?__ tells the history of Ghana.

A(n) __?__ is a spoken record of past events.

__?__, or short sayings of wisdom or truth, were used to teach lessons to the people.

__?__ is a hand-woven, brightly colored fabric.

In 960, China was reunified under the __?__, which like the Tang dynasty was a period of great accomplishments.

During the __?__, Chinese power and influence reached much of eastern Asia, as well as large parts of Central Asia.

The only woman to rule China, __?__, was a ruthless ruler, but under her reign China was stable and prosperous.

__?__ established the __?__,during which China was reunited and the Period of Disunion ended.

The period from 400 to 845 can be called the __?__ due to the influence Buddhism had on Chinese culture.

After the Tang dynasty fell, China was divided into separate kingdoms competing for power in a period known as the __?__.

The __?__ was a time when China was split into several competing kingdoms that were ruled by military leaders.

In order to become a government official, a person had to pass a series of exams that tested students’ knowledge of the teachings of __?__ and spiritual questions.

A __?__ was an elite member of society who received considerable respect, a good salary, and reduced penalties for breaking the law.

Bureaucracy taught that people should conduct their lives according to two basic principles, ren and li.

Often, only a small fraction of students passed the civil service examinations.

__?__ followed the teachings of Confucius, but also emphasized spiritual matters.

People who went to work for the government formed a large __?__, a body of unelected government officials.

__?__ means service as a government official.

The civil service examination system helped ensure that talented, intelligent people became __?__.

Confucius’s teachings focused on __?__, proper behavior, instead of religious beliefs.

Who became the ruler of the Mongol Empire and completed his grandfather’s conquest of China?

What was the name of the prosperous and powerful dynasty that rose after the defeat of the Mongols?

Who was considered one of the greatest sailors during the history of early China?

Who was the powerful leader that was first able to unite the Mongols?

Prince Shotoku worked to spread the religion of __?__ across Japan.

__?__ is the traditional religion of Japan.

One of the people most influential in bringing Chinese ideas to Japan was __?__.

The first Japanese lived mostly in small farming villages that were ruled by __?__, or extended families.

A __?__ is a person who rules a country for someone who is unable to rule alone.

Among the ideas that the scholars brought back from China was __?__, which helped shape family life in Japan for centuries.

A popular form of art in Heian was Zen, which is a style of decorative writing.

Sei Shonagon was a servant to Japan’s empress who is most famous for writing The Pillow Book.

A group of nobles that served and advised a ruler was called a court.

Calligraphy is a form of Buddhism that teaches self-discipline and meditation as the keys to wisdom.

Heian, the city now called Kyoto, was the site of the imperial court and was a great center of the arts.

Lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote The Tale of Genji and is probably the greatest writer in early Japanese history.

Noh is a form of drama that combines music, speaking, and dance. Its plays tell about great heroes or figures from Japan’s past.

Kamizake is the samurai code that means “the way of the warrior.”

The emperor was the head of Japan’s government, but he often had little real power.

The Bushido were powerful nobles who held great power in Japan.

A person who appears to rule even though the real power rests with someone else is called a figurehead.

A general who ruled Japan in the emperor’s name took the title of shogun.

Kamikaze, or divine wind, was the name given to the storm that helped the Japanese soldiers defeat the second Mongol invasion.

Samurai were trained professional warriors that defended the large landowners and protected their property.

Maya civilization began to collapse gradually in the AD 900s.

The geography affected the life of the early Maya in Mesoamerica.

Maya cities were linked together by one large government and one king.

Because of the land, the Maya were not able to grow food.

Maya kings thought they were related to the gods and had religious as well as political authority.

The first Aztecs were __?__ who migrated from the north to central Mexico.

The Aztec __?__, like the Maya king, was the most important person in society.

The Aztec emperor, __?__, welcomed the Spanish.

During the war, the Spaniards had better __?__,including armor, cannons, and swords.

War, tribute, and __?__ made the Aztec Empire strong and rich.

__?__ were raised roads across water or wet ground.

To please the gods, priests regularly made __?__ sacrifices.

The Spaniards unknowingly brought __?__ such as smallpox to the Americas.

The Aztecs studied __?__ and created a calendar.

__?__ were Spanish soldiers who reached Mexico in 1519.

Inca capital in what is now Peru