African Civilization

Mansa Musa made Timbuktu a cultural center by supporting the arts and learning. He established mosques as centers of learning and hired an Egyptian architect to design mosques in two of the empire’s major cities. Based on this information, what did Mansa Musa value most for his society?

• education and culture

• making a pilgrimage to Mecca

• conquest and conversion of non-Muslim peoples

• the political advantage of being part of the Caliphate

Which factor most contributed to the development of trade among the different people of Africa?

• scarcity of resources in various regions

• animal migrations in the region

• military conquest of lands

• cultural similarities between regions

The spread of the Bantu language and culture is an example of which of the following concepts?

• innovation

• cultural diffusion

• military conquest

• religious conversion

Which physical feature divides Africa into two distinct regions?

• the Atlas Mountains

• the Nile River

• the Persian Gulf

• the Sahara Desert

Which factor had the greatest influence over the type of agriculture that developed in the forest regions of Africa?

• poor quality of the soil

• mildness of the climate

• lack of water for irrigation

• abundance of game animals

What contribution did Mansa Musa make to the religion of the Mali Empire?

• He used customs and beliefs from the many local religions in the empire to create a new religion.

• He established laws to create religious tolerance throughout the empire, which led to the introduction of Islam.

• He converted to Islam and made it the official religion of the empire.

• He used the empire’s vast trade routes and its conquests to increase the spread of local religions.

How are most indigenous African religions similar?

• They are practiced across large areas of the continent.

• They did not have a religion prior to the arrival of Islam and Christianity in Africa.

• They involve worship of devotion to a “mother goddess.

• They involve the belief in many spirits and importance of one's ancestors.

What is the main difference between the savannas and the desert regions of Africa?

• the abundance of salt

• the type of grain crops grown

• the elevation above sea level

• the amount of water available

Which characteristic did Aksum and Timbuktu have in common?

• They were both near rich gold mines.

• They both grew wealthy through trade.

• They were both central to the slave trade.

• They both developed as iron-making centers.

Rulers of West African Empires

Tenkamenin King of Ghana 1037-1075 A.D.

The country of Ghana reached the height of its greatness during the reign of Tenkamenin. Through his careful management of the gold trade across the Sahara Desert into West Africa, Tenkamenin’s empire flourished economically. But his greatest strength was in government. Each day he

would ride out on horseback and listen to the problems and concerns of his people. He insisted that no one be denied an audience and that they be allowed to remain in his presence until satisfied that justice had been done. His principles of democratic monarchy and religious tolerance made Tenkamenin’s reign one of the greatest examples of African rule.

Mansa Kankan Musa King of Mali 1306 – 1332 A.D.

A leader and world figure, Mansa Musa distinguished himself as a man who did everything on a grand scale. An accomplished businessman, he managed vast resources to benefit his entire kingdom. He was also a scholar, and imported noteworthy artists to heighten the cultural awareness of is people. 1324 he led his people on the hadj,

a holy pilgrimage from Timbuktu to Mecca. His caravan consisted of 60,000 people whom he led safely across the Sahara Desert and back, a total distance of 6,496 miles. So spectacular was this event that Mansa Musa gained the respect of scholars and traders throughout Europe, and

won international prestige for Mali as one of the world’s largest and wealthiest kingdoms.

Source: The Black Holocaust by Timothy White, Sr

How did Tenkamenin help Ghana reach the height of their greatness?

• His style of government strengthened the community.

• His careful management of the gold trade.

• His agricultural skills that helped create a surplus.

• His strict code of laws that focused on social structure.