East African City-States Quiz

What made Kilwa a powerful city-state?

• Its location near gold mines

• Its large farming lands

• Its control of the Red Sea

• Its alliances with Europe

What does the word Swahili refer to?

• A language only spoken in trade

• An African-Arabic culture and language

• A type of East African trade system

• A group of West African merchants

What group influenced East African city-states the most?

• Bantu farmers

• Arab traders

• European settlers

• Indian merchants

How many trading cities existed on the East African coast by 1300?

• 15

• 25

• 35

• 45

What helped unify the people of East Africa?

• The spread of Christianity

• The Swahili culture and Islam

• Trade agreements with Asia

• Shared farming practices

Why was Kilwa an important trading center?

• It was the largest city on the coast

• It controlled trade routes to the south

• It had large gold mines within the city

• It was the only port in East Africa

What port did Kilwa take over to control gold trade?

• Mombasa

• Sofala

• Zanzibar

• Malindi

What was the social structure in Kilwa like?

• Flexible and easy to change

• Based on wealth and occupation

• Focused on education levels

• Determined by religious beliefs

Who stood at the top of Kilwa’s social hierarchy?

• Farmers

• Merchants

• The sultan

• Artisans

What materials were used to build Kilwa’s palaces and mosques?

• Coral stone

• Clay bricks

• Marble

• Wood