West African History Quiz

Islam was first brought to West Africa by

• enslaved prisoners

• armed nomads

• caravan traders

• religious refugees

Which of these religious practices of West African Muslims began before Islamic influence reached the region?

• studying the Qur'an

• praying to God in Arabic

• building mosques for worship

• praying to the spirits of ancestors

Why did Islam spread fairly easily in Mali?

• Rulers of Mali expelled anyone who opposed Islam

• Arab rulers visited Mali and explained Islamic beliefs

• Muslim leaders conquered Mali and imposed Islamic law

• People in Mali blended Islam with their traditional religions

For what was the city of Timbuktu especially well known?

• its productive salt mines

• its talented portrait artists

• its community of scholars

• its sea trade with East Asia

Which of these resulted from the hajj of Mansa Musa?

• Egypt began paying tribute to the kingdom of Mali

• People in West Africa began to adopt Islamic ideas

• Armies from West Africa raided as far north as Spain

• People in other lands learned that Mali was rich and important

How did the Songhai empire differ from the empire of Mali?

• It spread Islam by force

• It began and ended earlier

• It controlled a smaller area

• It restored traditional beliefs

What is one artistic form that both West Africans and Muslims valued even before their cultures met?

• geometric designs

• decorative calligraphy

• carvings of animals

• bright silks for robes

Why did people studying at the University of Sankore copy books by hand?

• They made students write texts by memory.

• They did not have printing press technology.

• They wanted to keep books rare and precious.

• They thought handmade books were more holy.

Which housing style was introduced to West Africa by a Muslim architect?

• A canvas tent

• B cone shaped with thatched roof

• C rectangular with a flat roof, a door, and no windows

• D cone-shaped with no door

Where was the Songhai's center of Islamic faith located?

• Timbuktu
• Fez