West African Empires Trasketball Review

1. 1. According to Map 1, what does the statement "[salt] was literally worth its weight in gold" mean?

• Due to its scarcity, salt was just as valuable as gold.

• Ounce for ounce, salt was as much as gold.

• Mansa Musa distributed gold throughout North Africa.

• Salt was mined on the western edge of Africa.

2. 2. Trade was an important part of the West African economy. According to Map 1, what was the biggest challenge faced by West African traders?

• Competition from Arabia.

• Crossing the Niger River.

• Extreme climate changes.

• The Sahara Desert.

3. 3. Traders moved across the desert along routes protected by the militaries of West African monarchs in order to gain access to important natural resources. Based on Map 1, name TWO resources that were traded on the sub-Saharan trade network.

• Diamonds

• Ivory

• Iron

• Kola

• Timber

4. 4. According to Map 2, if you are a West African trader bringing salt from the city of Sijilmasa to the city of Walata, which transport animal are you most likely to use?

• Donkey

• Porters

• Camels

• Horses

5. 5. According to Map 2, what geographical feature allowed for easier access to the kingdom of Ghana in West Africa?

• Nile River

• Atlas Mountains

• Niger River

• Atlantic Ocean

6. 6. Which type of source would help answer this question? "Why was salt so important to the West African economy?"

• Records showing prices for key items.

• Records showing the expansion and contraction on kingdoms in West Africa.

• Records showing cultural diffusion.

• Records showing the rate of population increase.

7. 7. What would you need to know in order to understand how trade impacted the civilizations of West Africa?

• 1. What factors led to the creation of trade in West Africa? 

• 1. Why did Mansa Musa make a pilgrimage to Mecca?

• 1. How did West African empires protect themselves from Islamic armies?

• 1. What defined the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai?

8. 8. Which claim best uses evidence from the sources to answer the supporting question “How did the physical environment impact trade in West Africa?”

• 1. Claim:  All West Africans were required to become Muslim by law.  

• 1. Claim:  It was impossible to trade through the Sahara Desert.  

• 1. Claim:  West African Muslims were expected to be charitable.   

• 1. Claim: The use of camels to cross the Sahara Desert.

9. 9. With the introduction of iron tools in West Africa buy the Nok people around the year 500 BCE, there was a sequence of changes that started due to the increased production of farming. What belongs  on the blank line below? 

Efficient farming→_____________→ people work in specialized trades→trade

• 1. Spread of Islam

• 1. Improved technology

• 1. Population reduction

• 1. Population growth

10. 10. The kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai were all able to achieve golden ages in part because of their  ________________. 

• 1. Control of trans-Saharan trade

• 1. Sailing to Europe on the Atlantic ocean

• 1. Discovery of oil reserves in the Gulf of Guinea 

• 1. Ability to use the natural harbors on the Atlantic Ocean coast