Islamic and African Empires Unit Exam

One similarity between the ancient African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai is that all of these kingdoms were located?

• On the European border

• In rain forest areas

• In Mountainous terrain

• On major trading routes

How did Islam influence Ghana, Mali, and Songhai?

• Education

• Government

• Architecture

• All of the above

In the following excerpt, the Muslim scholar and traveler Ibn Battuta describes his journey to Taghadda, a city of West Africa’s Songhai Empire:

I then set out in the direction of Taghadda by land with a large caravan of merchants . . . I had a riding camel and a she-camel to carry my provisions. We pushed on rapidly with our journey until we reached Taghadda . . . The inhabitants of Taghadda have no occupation except trade. They travel [by caravan] to Egypt every year, and import quantities of all the fine fabrics to be had there and of other Egyptian [products]. . . . The copper mine is in the outskirts of Taghadda . . . [the copper bars are] their medium of exchange; with the thin bars they buy meat and firewood, and with the thick, slaves male and female, millet, butter, and wheat.

What conclusion about trade in the Songhai Empire is supported by the excerpt?

• Trade caravans allowed the Songhai Empire to exchange their valuable metals for commodities and luxury items.

• Trade caravans prevented the Songhai traders from selling their goods to overseas customers.

• Songhai traders welcomed travelers to their cities in hopes of selling them fabrics and food items.

• Songhai traders traveled to Egypt to seek ores and other valuable minerals for building materials.

Why did merchants travel in caravans?

• To keep each other company

• For safety

• It was cheaper

• It was illegal to travel on the trade routes alone

The split in Islam was caused by controversy over?

• Expansion

• Leaders

• Prayer rituals

• Pilgrimages

The holy book for followers of Islam?

• Annalects

• Quran

• Vedas

• Torah

Which characteristic describes the earliest followers of Islam?

• Nomads in West Africa

• Migrated from Central Asia

• Lived on the Arabian peninsula

• Sea traders from South Africa

What did Mansa Musa give away to people he passed on his pilgrimage to Mecca?

• Salt

• Weapons

• Books

• Gold

What effect did large empires like the Mongol rule have on trade?

• The rulers of territory had no effect on trade

• The large empires provided a stabilizing presence that encouraged intercontinental trade.

• Large empires implemented major changes and rules that resulted in a decline in intercontinental trade

• Large empires forbid trade and preferred policies of isolation

How did the arrival of camels in Africa impact Ghana?

• Communication and trade across the Sahara slowed.

• Communication and trade across the Sahara sped up.

• Replaced elephants as the preferred transport animals throughout the Sahara.

• Still did not make travel across the Sahara possible.