AAS- Ch.1 Sec.2 Great Empires of West Africa

Which of the following regions of Africa were separated from Egypt by the vast Sahara Desert and grew in isolation from northern African civilizations?

• East Africa

• West Africa

• Southern Africa

• North Africa

What valuable products were sought by merchants from North Africa who crossed the Sahara Desert into sub-Saharan Africa?

• Gems and precious stones

• Gold and slaves

• Spices and silk

• Marble and ivory

Which of the following empires quickly gained fame as a trading center in West Africa, earning a reputation as the "kingdom of gold"?

• Mali

• Songhai

• Ghana

• Kush

What valuable commodity, in short supply, was brought by merchants and became a significant trade item in Ghana?

• Diamonds

• Salt

• Silver

• Silk

How did Ghana's rulers accumulate wealth to support a powerful army?

• By conquering neighboring kingdoms

• By taxing expensive commodities like copper and luxury goods

• By selling gold to foreign merchants

• By engaging in piracy along the African coast

Ghana's kings were not only respected for their wealth and power but were also worshipped as what?

• Scholars

• Warriors

• Merchants

• Gods

What ultimately led to the fall of the Ghana Empire after about 700 years of glory?

• Famine and drought

• Constant attacks by invaders

• Economic collapse due to overspending

• A plague that decimated the population

Which other two West African empires, alongside Ghana, grew wealthy through trade and are often mentioned together as powerful kingdoms?

• Nubia and Axum

• Benin and Ife

• Mali and Songhai

• Zimbabwe and Swahili Coast

What valuable products could be found south of the Sahara Desert in the region known as sub-Saharan Africa?

• Spices and silk

• Gold and slaves

• Marble and ivory

• Copper and horses

What did Ghana do to neighboring kingdoms, captured peoples, and those who sought freedom in exchange for tribute?

• Offered them protection and assistance

• Enslaved captured peoples and forced others to pay tribute

• Traded valuable goods with them

• Formed alliances for mutual benefit