This text is a simplified version. Some words that are narrowly specific to this field are not covered. Others are presented because they provide some learning experience. More mainline academic words are emphasized. New vocabulary is presented in one or more of three ways in order to stimulate thinking using all of these ways to master vocabulary and by extension to apply this type of analysis to all school work. The three ways are: context, word form/roots (morphology) and syntax (word order). These three tools should be used to the extent they are helpful in an individual case. Finally, a brief definition is provided.
The words written in capitals provide syntax or context clues.
antiquity
- The Empire of Ghana has NO geographical connection with the MODERN African state of that name. Rather, its boundaries WOULD HAVE included most of MODERN Mali and parts of MODERN Senegal and Mauritania. MODERN Ghana, formerly the Gold Coast during the Colonial Era, was NAMED AFTER this great state of African _____________.
- "Anti" is Latin prefix for before. "Antiq" exists in all Latin languages and means old.
- Old times
symmetry
- The Tarikh as-Sudan, a book of West African history written in Timbuktu around 1650 A.D., claims that the Empire of Ghana HAD 22 KINGS before the beginning of the Muslim era (622 A.D.), and 22 KINGS afterwards. If this is anything more than an exercise in ________________, then we may expect the origins of the Empire of Ghana to extend back to the first few centuries A.D.
- "Meter" comes from Latin to measure (like meter) "sym" or "syn" is a Greek prefix for the same.
- Identical or same measurements.
decompose
- In 1076 A.D., the capital of Ghana FELL to the Al Murabitun Berber jihad , launched from Morocco. The ONCE GREAT Empire ________________into a number of small feuding kingdoms.
- "Pose" from Latin, to stand. "Com" is a prefix for together. "De" is a prefix meaning to have the opposite affect.
- To fall apart
disorder
- The ONCE GREAT Empire DECOMPOSED into a number of small feuding kingdoms. Out of this ________________ WOULD ARISE the GREATEST of West Africa's pre-Colonial Empires -- that of Mali.
- "Ord" is from Latin to organize. "Dis" is a prefix that means the opposite
- Disorganization
trans-Saharan
- gained control of the __________________ trade routes.
- "Trans" is a prefix that means across.
- Across the Sahara
