Book 1: Ancient Civilizations and Global Trade - Glossary

From the book: Book 1: Ancient Civilizations and Global Trade commissioned by The Department of Education

916 ADis the same as AH 304 in the Islamic calendar

alienate- to cause to feel isolated; lose or destroy support or sympathy

ambivalent- having mixed or confused feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

anthropologist- someone who studies humankind, including the comparative study of societies and cultures, as well as the science of human evolution

archaeologists- people who study mostly, but not only, the material objects our ancestors have left behind them

artefact- an object made by a human being

basket trap- Fish traps of this kind can be found in Kosi Bay to this day, and were used in Durban bay centuries ago.

citadel- a fortress overlooking and protecting a city

colonialism- the practice of acquiring political control over another country, occupying it, and (usually) exploiting it economically

contiguous- sharing a common border; next or together in sequence

course- the distance a boat must sail before it can find a safe place to land. The Periplusis the first time the name Azania was used. In modern times, certain political organisations have used it to refer to South Africa. Here you can see that in its original usage it refers to the coast of East Africa between modern Somaliland and Tanzania.

debunk- to expose the falseness of an idea or belief

derogatory- showing a critical or disrespectful attitude

Eurocentric - regarding European culture as superior and more important than others

excavate- in archaeological terms, to carefully remove earth from an area in order to find the buried remains of a culture

exhume- to dig out something, usually a corpse, that has been buried in the ground

expropriation- when a state takes something from its owner for public use or benefit

expropriation of labour- a ruler’s use of his subjects’ labour as tribute. This was common in feudal systems, and also in early Sub-Saharan Africa kingdoms such as Mali, Kongo, Ghana, Songgay and Zimbabwe

genealogical- based on a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor

historians- people who study mostly, but not only, written records of the past

historiography- the study of the writing of history and of written histories

imperialism- a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through colonisation, the use of military force, economic domination or other means

intercede- intervene on behalf of another

linguist- a person who is skilled in or who studies languages or linguistics

linguistics- the scientific study of language and its structure

mart- market, trading place. The location of Rhapta is not known. Scholars think it might have been either Dar es Salaam, or the Rufiji delta

Menouthieas- either modern-day Pemba or Zanzibar

monolith- a large single upright block of stone; a pillar or monument in that shape

monsoon- the reliable wind patterns which blow towards the East African coast in the northern winter and towards India in the summer

mystical- having a spiritual or symbolic significance that goes beyond the limits of human understanding

oral tradition- collective testimonies and recollections of the past inherited from earlier generations, and transmitted by word of mouth

portent- a sign or warning that something unusual or dangerous is likely to happen

potsherds- pieces of broken pottery gold-plated rhinoceroses and, with further digging, a human skeleton. They were digging into a grave, the grave of a person who had been buried with a wealth of gold objects and adorned in finery

precedent- an event or action or decision that serves as an example or guide in similar cases

primitivism- adoption of a primitive lifestyle

pseudoscience- a collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method attest - serve as clear evidence of

rigorous- extremely thorough and accurate

secondary burial- The body was buried and had decomposed elsewhere; the bones were then dug up and reburied at Thulamela

seer- a prophet; a person of supposed supernatural insight who sees visions of the future

stade (pl. stades)- an old measurement, approximately 1.8 metres

stasis- a period or state of inactivity or equilibrium. A society that is static is one that does not change and develop.

watershed- an event or period marking a turning point in a state of affairs