West Africa

Mali's location was important because it was near

• salt mines to the north and gold mines to the south.

• the Mediterranean Sea and sea trade routes.

• copper mines to the east and kola nut trees to the west.

• salt mines to the south and gold mines to the north.

What natural resource was used to preserve food and keep people healthy?

What valuable natural resource was mined to the south of Mali, Ghana, and Songhai and was the basis of currency north of the Sahara?

In what city was there a university with a large library with books from ancient Greece and Rome?

What rivers helped the traders in West Africa transport their goods?

• Nile River

• Congo River

• Senegal River

• Niger River

Where were the salt mines located?

• grasslands
• desert
• forest
• mountains

For traders to get to the empires of Ghana and Mali from North Africa they had to go through

• the Sahara Desert.

• the Kalahari Desert.

• the Mediterranean Sea.

• the Arabian Desert.

The city of Timbuktu was important because it had a

• large market.

• university and library.

• mosque.

• oasis.

Who was the first king of Mali?

• Mansa Musa

• Askia Muhammad

• Suni Ali Ber

• Sundiata

What city became the center of education?

• Kumbi Saleh

• Timbuktu

• Gao

• Taghaza