African Empires

How did the rulers of Ghana grow rich?

• by taxing the goods traders carried through their territory

• by conquering neighboring kingdoms and taking their gold

• by building new trade routes to Asia

• by converting the country to Islam and appointing Muslims as advisers

Within a lineage group, a great deal of power was held by

• storytellers

• artists

• elders/ancestors

• male children

Early African peoples believed that their ancestors

• were reborn as animals.

• rode in a large canoe in Heaven.

• could not be trusted.

• could influence the lives of their descendants.

In the 14th century, Zimbabwe prospered as a result of its

• grain trade with Egypt.

• gold trade with Swahili traders.

• salt trade with Ghana.

• porcelain trade with China.

What did people trade on the Trans-Saharan trade route?

• gold and salt

• silver and gold

• gold and porcelain

• salt and paper

What does trans-Saharan mean?

• below the Sahara Desert

• across the Sahara Desert

Why did Songhai eventually fall?

• Because its leaders could not govern well.

• Because it was conquered by the Almoravids.

• Because it lacked modern weaponry like gunpowder.

• It fell for unknown reasons.

Which ruler of Mali is considered to be the wealthiest person in world history?

• Sunni Ali

• Askia Muhammad

• Djenne

• Mansa Musa

How did Islam spread in West Africa?

• Through trade

• Through conquest

Camels are preferred as desert pack animals for all of the following reasons EXCEPT which one?

• Camel milk makes more delicious cheese than cow milk

• They were well adapted to sandy environments

• They could store large amounts of fat and nutrients in their humps

• They could go without water for several days

• They could withstand extreme heat/sun