Kingdoms and Trading States of Medieval Africa

Select the correct word or phrase to complete the statement.

Mali expanded the trade routes created by the Ghana Empire by

(a)  

The Ghana Empire existed in which of these time frames? 

• 830–1235 CE

• 1230–1600 CE

• 1550–1735 CE

• 1137–1935 CE

 What state was Mali in at the end of the seventeenth century? 

• It had been in turmoil as various families vied for control of the crown.

•   It had been reunified under the Songhai Empire.

•   It had been broken up into several independent chiefdoms.

•   It had been invaded by European explorers seeking to establish colonies.

 As trade from Muslim kingdoms expanded to western Africa, how did the political framework of the region change?

•   Ancient kingdoms like Ghana and Mali rose to power.

•   Coastal kingdoms formed to ensure access to the ocean.

•   Ethiopia emerged as the most powerful empire of Africa.

•   The trading towns grew to form self-governing city-states.

How did the political landscape of sub-Saharan Africa change when Muslim invaders began raiding the area? 

•   The Mali Empire, which connected the Middle East and Africa, rose to power.

•   The trade between Africa and the Middle East was compromised, collapsing the Mali Empire.

•   The Songhai Empire overthrew the Ghana Empire during the commotion of war.

•   The Mali, Songhai, and Ghana kingdoms unified to defend their land from foreign invaders.

How did the political landscape of sub-Saharan Africa change when Muslim invaders began raiding the area? 

•   The Mali Empire, which connected the Middle East and Africa, rose to power.

•   The trade between Africa and the Middle East was compromised, collapsing the Mali Empire.

•   The Songhai Empire overthrew the Ghana Empire during the commotion of war.

•   The Mali, Songhai, and Ghana kingdoms unified to defend their land from foreign invaders.

Which of these statements best describes the monetary system in the Ghana Empire? 

•   The king ensured that all gold earned in trade and taxes was distributed equally among the merchants.

•   Only the king was allowed access to the gold while the citizens traded with produce, salt, and textiles.

•   The king kept all the gold nuggets for himself while the citizens traded with leftover gold dust.

•   Each tribe traded with products produced in their villages, which made trade difficult to regulate.

Which of the following factors were at play when the Ghana Empire lost its power? Select all that apply. 

•   financial troubles as the empire lost a great amount of its wealth

•   rivalries from neighboring lands for power over trade routes

•   uprisings by workers who demanded better pay and safer conditions

•   internal conflict within the government over how the empire should be run

•   religious conflict between Muslims and followers of native religions

All three of the major sub-Saharan empires used slaves to grow their kingdoms. Where did these slaves come from?

•   They were captives from villages the empires overpowered.

•   They were bought at auction from European sellers.

•   They were from the lowest caste in the social structure.

•   They were criminals paying off their debts to society.

Which of these statements best describes Islam in ancient Ghana?

•   Islam was introduced when Muslim raiders overthrew the government and took over the Ghana Empire.

•   Islam was the indigenous religion of Ghana and became threatened when Christian missionaries arrived.

•   Islam was introduced in the twelfth century when Middle Eastern cultures sent doctors to aid Ghanaians during the drought.

•   Islam was introduced in the twelfth century when Middle Eastern cultures sent doctors to aid Ghanaians during the drought.