| A | B |
|---|
| Stateless Societies | African societies organized around kinship or other forms of obligation and lacking concentration of political power and authority associated with states. |
| Sundiata | The “Lion Prince”; a member of the Keita clan; created a unified state that became the Mali empire; died about 1260 CE. |
| Griots | Professional oral historians who served as keepers of traditions and advisors to kings within the Mali Empire. |
| Timbuktu | Port city of Mali; located just off the flood plain on the great bend in the Niger River. |
| Songhay | Successor state to Mali; dominated middle reaches of Niger valley; capital at Gao. |
| Zenj | Arabic term for the east African coast. |
| Great Zimbabwe | Bantu confederation of Shona speaking peoples located between Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. |
| Hagia Sophia | New church constucted in Constantinople during reign of Justinian. Currently a museum but previously served as a Greek Orthodox church and mosque. |
| Greek Fire | Byzantine weapon consisting of a mixture of chemicals that ignited when exposed to water; utilized to drive back Arab fleets that attacked Constantinople. |
| Icon | An artistic representation, usually of a religious figure |
| Kiev | Trade city in southern Russia established by Scandinavian traders in the 9th century; became focal point for the kingdom of Russia that flourished to the 12th century. |
| Rurik | Legendary Scandanavian; regarded as founder of the first kingdom of Russia base din Kiev in 855 CE. |
| Kievan Rus | The predecessor to modern Russia - a Medieval state that existed from the end of 9th to the middle of the 13th century. |
| Boyars | Russian aristocrats; possessed less political power that did counterparts in western Europe |
| Mansa Musa | Legendary leader of Mali; some consider him to be the wealthiest person in history. |
