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