All Flashcards
What was the function of Great Zimbabwe?
Capital, royal residence, trading center, and granary.
What is the significance of the Berlin Conference (1884-1885) in the context of African art?
It led to European colonization of Africa, impacting artistic production and cultural exchange.
What is the function of the Great Mosque of Djenné?
Religious center (mosque) and a center of community life in Djenné.
What does the use of ivory in African sculpture symbolize?
Status and wealth.
What does the use of metal in African sculpture symbolize?
Strength.
What does the annual re-plastering of the Great Mosque of Djenné symbolize?
The use of adobe demonstrates continuity in African art using natural materials.
What is 'ashlar masonry'?
Precisely cut stones held together without mortar.
What is 'adobe'?
Mud brick used as a building material.
What is 'toron'?
Protruding poles in the Great Mosque of Djenné, used for scaffolding during annual repairs.
What is 'syncretism'?
The blending of different religions or cultures.
What was the 'Scramble for Africa'?
The invasion, occupation, division, and colonization of African territory by European powers during the period of New Imperialism, between 1881 and 1914.
Compare the building materials of Great Zimbabwe and the Great Mosque of Djenné.
Great Zimbabwe uses ashlar masonry (granite), while the Great Mosque of Djenné uses adobe (mud brick).
Compare the typical scale of African sculptures to Greek sculptures.
African sculptures are typically small and portable, while Greek sculptures are often large and immobile.
Compare the proportions of figures in African sculptures to those in Greek sculptures.
African sculptures often feature disproportionate figures with large heads and thin bodies, while Greek sculptures emphasize realistic human proportions.
Compare the religious context of Great Zimbabwe and the Great Mosque of Djenné.
Great Zimbabwe was associated with traditional African religions, while the Great Mosque of Djenné is an Islamic religious structure.
Compare the construction techniques of Great Zimbabwe and the Great Mosque of Djenné.
Great Zimbabwe was constructed using precisely cut stones without mortar, while the Great Mosque of Djenné uses mud brick construction requiring annual re-plastering.