Knowledge Check: History/Places of West Africa

About 1500 years ago, three kingdoms were at the center of trade, wealth, and power in West Africa. They were...

• Kingdom of Niger, Kingdom of Mali, Kingdom of the Songhai

• Kingdom of Ghana, Kingdom of Togo, Kingdom of Senegal

• Kingdom of Ghana, Kingdom of Mali, Kingdom of the Songhai

The king of Mali was so rich, he paraded his vast wealth across the Sahara to Mecca. The procession took one year, was miles long, was made up of thousands of servants, and displayed the king's vast hoard of gold. Who was this king?

• Emir of Mecca

• Mansa Mali

• Caliph of Timbuktu

• Mansa Musa Keita I

This West African city was the center of education, wealth, and power during the time of the three kingdoms. What is its name?

• Accra

• Timbuktu

• Porto Novo

• Dakar

The three kingdoms used a system of "double taxation" to increase their incredible wealth. What was it?

• The kingdoms charged a tax to all people two times a year.

• The kingdoms charged Roman traders twice as much as they charged Arab traders.

• Foreigners were taxed coming into the kingdom to trade and taxed as they left the kingdom with their goods.

Mansa Musa was considered the richest man in history. He also had _____ over all trade routes into and out of West Africa.

• tribal wars

• total control

• a partnership with the Arabs

Challenge!

Great Britain, France, the US, Portugal, Italy, and Germany: Which country began "exploring" West/North Africa by starting a war of conquest?

• The US (with Liberia)

• France (with Algeria)

• Great Britain (with Ghana)

• Germany (with Benin)

In the mid 1400's much of central and south Africa was unknown to Europe.

But during this time, Arabs used vast trade routes through West Africa to acquire what?

Choose all that apply.

• Gold

• Slaves

• Ivory

• Spices

• Salt

This European country was the first to start exploring the coast of West Africa. They were able to do so because of the invention of a new sailing vessel called the Caravelle. Which country was it?

• Germany

• France

• Spain

• Portugal

• Great Britain

In the mid 1600's Portugal breaks away from Spain to reclaim its colonies in West Africa. However, this was very difficult to do because...

• They did not have sufficient ships to travel down the coast of Africa.

• The Bantu tribes in West Africa rose up as one people and claimed back their homeland.

• They were weakened and nearly bankrupt after being conquered by Spain.

• Many other European countries were scrambling to claim land in the same regions.

By the 1700's, Great Britain, France, and Portugal were the major traders in this commodity.

• Sugar

• Gold

• Slaves

• Diamonds