The Songhai Empire Quiz

Who were the two Songhai princes taken as captives by the Mali empire?

• Akil and Mansa Maghan

• Timbuktu and Jenne

• Mansa Musa and Sonni Ali Ber

• Ali Kolon and Sulyaman Nar

Who became the new chief of Gao and started the Sonni Dynasty?

• Sonni Ali Ber

• Mansa Musa

• Sulyaman Nar

• Ali Kolon

Which city in Mali was invaded by nomads in the early 1400s?

• Niani

• Jenne

• Gao

• Timbuktu

What did the leaders of Timbuktu offer to Sonni Ali Ber?

• To surrender to Chief Akil

• To help him conquer Gao

• To make him the emperor of Mali

• To give Timbuktu to him

Which city did Sonni Ali Ber conquer after sacking Timbuktu?

• Jenne

• Niani

• Mali

• Gao

How did Sonni Ali Ber capture the city of Jenne?

• By surrounding it with swamps

• By sending an army

• By negotiating with the queen mother

• By cutting off supplies for seven years

How did Sonni Ali Ber keep his empire under control?

• By dividing it into smaller regions

• By establishing a strong navy

• By appointing a governor for each city

• By forming alliances with neighboring kingdoms

Which group of people were at the bottom of the Songhai social hierarchy?

• Traders, merchants, and soldiers

• Enslaved workers

• Descendants of the original Songhai people

• Farmers and craftspeople

What influenced life in Songhai?

• Only traditional religions

• Both Islam and traditional religions

• Only Islam

• Neither Islam nor traditional religions

What was the main power in West Africa during the Songhai Empire?

• Songhai

• Gao

• Timbuktu

• Mali