Unit 1: Origins of the African DiasporiA

Unit 1 Vocabulary

The most important concepts for unit 1.

Unit Vocabulary Guide

This handout is paired with the Unit 1 “Essential Must Knows” document (link). I have identified 57 key terms from the College Board’s Course and Exam Description (CED) for Unit 1.

How to Use This Guide in Class

Distribution: A printed copy of the vocabulary guide (14 pages) is handed out at the start of the unit.

Timeline: Unit 1 lasts about five weeks, and students are required to complete the vocabulary by the end of the unit.

Class Coverage: Students should have their vocabulary guide with them every day. About 15%-20% of the terms will be filled out together in class. Most of our class time is spent on the required source reading and discussion, but I will often introduce the source or conclude the discussions by defining a couple of terms on the board. The rest of the guide should be filled out by students independently.

Study Tips

The guide is formatted to mimic index cards/vocab flash cards. Here is the advice I give to my students:

Use the Essential Must Knows: Always refer to the “Essential Must Knows” for vocab answers. This ensures you're writing down the exact answers to potential AP test questions. Googling terms can lead to random facts and often fails to provide meaningful context, which won’t help in understanding the topic or studying for assessments.

Study Method: Fold the vocab page in half to cover the answers. If you can explain each term without looking, you’ve mastered it!

Beware! “Studying” by simultaneously looking at the term and definition can lead to a false sense of security. If the answer is right there in front of you, your brain is quick to tell you, “Yes, I got this,” but really, you might just recognize the answer rather than being able to actually recall it.

Recognizing vs. Knowing: If you think, “I know it, but I just can’t explain it,” you likely recognize the term but don’t actually know it. Tests measure what you know and can recall, not what you recognize.

Note on Additional Terms

Fifty-four of the 57 terms are directly in the Unit 1 CED. I added three terms that are indirectly referenced in Topic 1.9 and Topic 1.11:

  • Wolof Empire’s relationship with Portugal

  • Elmina

  • Racialized slavery

In the “Essential Must Knows,” I created a section called “Context for 1.9: Arrival of Portuguese Ships in West Africa,” which I have found to be crucial for understanding key parts of Unit 1. For example, this section helps students critically analyze Nzinga Mbemba's letter to the Portuguese King (1.9), examine Queen Njinga’s legacy (1.10), and deepen their understanding of the complexities of African history and global connections, enabling them to refute misleading notions of African history (1.1).