Unit 2: The Culture and Kingdoms of West Africa

Few large settlements developed in the Sahara because it was too

• dry

• hilly

• large

• rocky

What is the main reason why people in different vegetation zones traded with each other?

• Large empires ruled over different zones.

• Different resources were found in each zone.

• The Niger River passed through different zones.

• The zones were home to different cultural groups.

How did the Niger River encourage trade?

• It was a source of food.

• It was a transportation route.

• Its annual floods provided rich soil.

• It provided water for baking.

Which of these was an advantage of becoming part of an empire?

• paying tribute to the king

• trading with the governor

• having to serve in the army

• getting protection from raiders

How did Ghana raise money to pay government officials?

• by mining salt

• by selling gold

• by taxing goods

• by buying camels

The trans-Saharan trade increased after about 300 C.E. as a result of the

• growth of cities.

• discovery of salt.

• population increase.

• introduction of camels.

Caravans were very important to the people of Taghaza, because without caravans the people would

• die for lack of food.

• get hot for lack of salt.

• become poor for lack of gold.

• grow isolated for lack of contact.

Islam was first brought to West Africa by

• slave raiders.

• armed nomads.

• caravan traders.

• religious refugees.

For what was the city of Timbuktu especially well known?

• its productive salt mines

• its talented portrait artists

• its community of scholars

• its sea trade with East Asia

Which of these is the best example of an oral tradition of storytelling?

• a great-grandmother's photo album

• a grandfather playing a game with his grandchildren

• a grandmother's diary found at the base of ancient ruins

• a grandfather telling a story about his childhood