African Empires Test Review

Which physical feature divides Africa into two distinct regions?

• the Atlas Mountains

• the Nile River

• the Persian Gulf

• the Sahara Desert

The Songhai Empire emerged as a result of what?

• Islamic expansion

• The decline of Mali

• European exploration

• The overthrow of Ghana

What spiritual belief of some traditional African religions is connected with ritual dancing, chanting, and drumming?

• Ancestors can reward or punish the living.

• The gods like music, so such activity makes them happy.

• Music and rhythm can help a person become one with a god.

• Rhythmic music can help people cast off their bad deeds.

How are most indigenous African religions similar?

• They are practiced across large areas of the continent.

• They center on prayers and sacrifices to a supreme being.

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

• They involve the belief in and worship of many gods.

Which statement describes an economic outcome of Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca?

• Mali lost most of its wealth due to the expense of the pilgrimage.

• The pilgrimage led to the discovery of new trade routes that increased Mali’s wealth.

• It depressed the value of gold in Egypt for more than 12 years.

• It increased the wealth of Mali in the form of tribute payments from the sultan of Cairo.

How was Islam introduced to East Africa?

• by Arab merchants traveling by sea

• by Bedouin Arabs migrating along the coast

• by armies of the Caliphate seeking new conquests

• by North African merchants traveling by camel caravan

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

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

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

Which statement best describes African religion before the arrival of Islam and Christianity?

• Traditional religions had been combined to create one national religion in Africa.

• Hundreds of local religions were practiced throughout the African continent.

• Local African religions were constantly changing based on which kingdom controlled the region.

• Local religions began to develop similarities based on the influence of Asian religions.

The city of Timbuktu was the center of trade and learning for which empire(s)?

• Ghana, Mali, Songhai

• Axum

• Zimbabwe

How did Ghana profit from outsiders?

• Capturing slaves
• Finding gold mines
• Taxing trade
• Selling fish