WH Unit 4: West Africa

Which of the following is not a geographical feature of West Africa?

• The Sahara

• Djenné

• Atlantic Ocean

• Mount Everest

• Gulf of Guinea

Which of the following best describes indigenous African spiritual traditions?

• Ancestor worship, animism, and a distant relationship between humans and deities

• Ancestor worship, animism, and a close relationship between humans and deities

• Monotheism and a distant relationship between humans and deities

• Polytheism without any specific rituals or traditions

Which of the following kingdoms grew significantly, including cities such as Djenné and Timbuktu as centers of trade, culture, and learning?

• The Kingdom of Ghana

• The Kingdom of Mali

• The Kingdom of Songhai

• All of the above

What was the role of the Trans-Saharan caravan trade in the changing religious and cultural characteristics of West Africa and in the exchange of salt, gold, and slaves?

• Promoting Islamic culture and facilitating the exchange of salt, gold, and slaves

• Introducing Christianity and trading primarily in silk and spices

• Isolating West Africa from the rest of the African continent

• Developing the European colonial interests in West Africa

What is the importance of griots in the transmission of West African history and culture?

• To perform music

• To act as historians and storytellers

• To lead religious ceremonies

• To govern villages

What was the importance of the Malian king Mansa Musa's pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324?

• It marked the beginning of the decline of the Mali Empire

• It demonstrated the wealth and religious devotion of the Mali Empire, significantly influencing the Islamic world and global trade routes

• It led to the conquest of Mecca by the Mali Empire

• It initiated the spread of Islam to West Africa

What was the importance of griots in African society?

• They served as central tribal leaders.

• They served as the main religious leaders of their tribes

• They maintained the oral history of their people.

• They conducted trade agreements for their villages.

Read the list and answer the question.

Which conclusion is best supported by the list?

• African rulers limited the manufacture of finished goods.

• Trans-Saharan trade routes helped maintain regional commerce.

• African rulers limited trade with overseas nations.

• Trans-Saharan trade routes were controlled by nomadic warlords.

Which factor contributed most to the development of Timbuktu as a center of learning?

• the rise of West African trade routes

• the reliance on griots

• the expansion of ocean trade routes

• the growth of African spiritual traditions

Read the source and answer the question.

Which statement explains the effect of Mansa Musa’s journey to Egypt?

• His purchases decreased demand for local goods.

• His caravan introduced new political ideas.

• His wealth overwhelmed the local economy.

• His caravan created new enemies in the region.