West Africa: Empires and Geography

What are two factors that led to the rise and growth of the empires?

• Location between salt mines and gold mines

• European Explorers

• Control of trade routes

• The Atlantic Slave Trade

What was a factor that contributed to the rise of the empires?

• Drought

• Powerful kings with powerful armies

• Loss of control over trade

• Poor leadership

What are two factors that led to the decline of the empires?

• Powerful kings

• Poor leadership

• Attacks by outsiders

• Gaining lots of wealth from trade

What was a factor that contributed to the decline of the empires?

• Control of trade routes

• Location between salt mines and gold mines

• Drought

• Powerful kings with powerful armies.

What was a factor that contributed to the rise of the empires?

• Attacks by outsiders

• Loss of control over trade

• Leaders who used taxation to raise money

• Poor leadership

How did Ghana profit from outsiders?

• Capturing slaves
• Finding gold mines
• Taxing trade
• Selling fish

What was the largest empire in West Africa?

• Ghana
• Mali 
• Songhai
• Zimbabwe

Sunni Ali was the leader of __________.

• Ghana

• Mali

• Songhai

• Egypt

The Muslim leader of Mali who supported education, spread Islam, and made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca was

• Sundiata

• Mansa Musa

• Askia the Great

• Sunni Ali

All of these were early African empires EXCEPT

• Mali

• Sudan

• Ghana

• Songhay