African Kingdoms

Which geographic factor MOST influenced the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai?

• Location near the mountains

• Taxes collected from merchants

• Nearness to the Silk Road

• Nearness to trans-Saharan caravan routes

Which kingdoms were the major kingdoms in West Africa?

• Mali

• Dahr

• Niani

• Songhai

• Ghana

What was an important trading city in Mali?

• Cairo

• Gao

• Timbuktu

• Alexandria

What trade did Ghana control that allowed them to become a powerful kingdom?

• ivory and wool

• leather and porcelain

• rugs and silk

• gold and salt

How did the kings of Ghana become rich?

• selling their gold mines

• borrowing money

• taxing merchants from foreign countries

• selling iron weapons

Historians get most of their information about early West African Empires from

• descriptions of masks and jewelry from the time period.

• stories written by travelers.

• oral histories passed down.

• opinions about weapons and farming tools that have survived from the time period.

Mansa Musa, even today, is the richest man in the world valued at $400 billion dollars.  But his greatest impact was that he...

• He spread Islam and the Islamic culture throughout West Africa
• He controlled the gold and salt trade
• He made a pilgrimage to Mecca to show off all of his wealth
• He was a model of behavior as a Muslim King who is charitable.

What is the best definition of Trans Saharan trade?

• Trade through the Saharan Desert
• Trade below the Saharan Desert
• Trade around the Saharan Desert
• Trade above the Saharan Desert

Mansa Musa was a model Muslim King.  When he returned to Mali he...

• brought Muslim artisans, teachers and architects to Mali
• forced all of his people to convert to Islam
• gave away all of his gold to the poor
• started a war with the Muslims of Mecca

Which of the following is the CORRECT order of the West African Kingdoms?

• Mali, Songhai, Ghana
• Ghana, Songhai, Mali
• Songhai, Ghana, Mali
• Ghana, Mali, Songhai