Ch. 6.1 & 6.2 - Ghana and Mali Empires

How did Ghana become such a powerful state?

• Ghana owned more salt than other states

• Leaders in Ghana formed alliances with other groups of people

• Ghana had the strongest army in all of Africa

• Ghana gained control of the valuable trade routes

What was the significance of the people of Ghana learning to work with iron?

• They could trade iron for other precious minerals

• They could make much stronger houses using iron

• Iron was used to create even more spectacular artwork

• Iron tools made farming easier and weapons much stronger

What was significant about the location of the Ghana Empire?

• It was located between the gold mines in the south and valuable salt resources in the north

• It was on the Atlantic coast and had access to shipping routes

• Most of the empire was located in the mountains overlooking other empire.

• The empire was near other empires who helped prevent attacks

What was the importance of Mansa Musa’s hajj to Mecca?

• He was elected head caliph of Islam.

• His followers built a large mosque in Jerusalem in his honor.

• He became famous and introduced the world to the Mali Empire.

• He became even wealthier through very shrewd trading deals.

Why did Mansa Musa stress the importance of learning to read and write in Arabic?

• Since most of southern Africa spoke Arabic, he wanted to improve Mali’s ability to trade

• So they could read and study the Quran, the holy book of Islam

• He could only speak in Arabic and wanted to be able to talk to everyone

• So they would have the freedom to travel throughout the empire

Besides stressing the importance of reading and writing in Arabic, how else did Mansa Musa contribute to Islamic scholarship?

• Mansa Musa traveled on a yearly hajj and trained all of his scholars in the importance of Islam.

• Mansa Musa captures important trade centers and forced the captives to study Islam.

• Mansa Musa sent scholars to study in Morocco and later set up schools to study the Quran.

• Mansa Musa sent architects to other countries to build mosques outside of the empire.

How did traders from the north bring their goods like salt to Timbuktu?

• by boat on the Niger River

• by camel caravans

• by trains

• by boat around the Cape of Good Hope

What was the main language used in official government business and trade in West Africa?

• African

• Spanish

• Muslim

• Arabic

Sundiata was which of the following?

• The great library in Mecca

• A made up story about a boy warrior

• The king and founder of the Mali Empire

• A trading center in West Africa