West Africa Unit Test

Which two goods were the most valuable in Ghana’s trade?

• Gold and ivory

• Salt and gold

• Copper and salt

• Cowrie shells and kola nuts

What role did griots play in West African societies?

• Kings’ advisors

• Religious leaders

• Storytellers and historians

• Soldiers

Which city was a major center for trade, education, and religion in West Africa?

• Mecca

• Timbuktu

• Rome

• Gao

The term “matrilineal” refers to:

• Inheriting the throne through the father’s lineage

• Passing down the throne through the king’s son

• Tracing inheritance through women’s bloodlines

• Electing the next king

How did silent barter benefit Ghana?

• It prevented theft of goods

• It ensured trading partners didn’t need a common language

• It expanded trade to Europe

• It allowed trade without taxation

What were the main reasons for Ghana’s decline?

• Drought and invasion by the Almoravids

• Civil war and loss of gold mines

• European conquest and rebellion

• Over-reliance on agriculture

Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca brought back:

• New trade routes

• Scholars and architects

• Military alliances

Which of the following accurately describes labor specialization in West Africa?

• Workers focused solely on farming

• Different groups developed specific skills like crafting tools and trading

• Entire communities moved into gold mining

• Everyone worked as traders or farmers

How did Islam influence West African empires?

• It replaced all local traditions

• It was primarily adopted by the ruling class

• It required all West Africans to learn Arabic

• It was spread solely by military conquest

What was a major duty of the king of Ghana?

• Mining gold personally

• Leading silent barter exchanges

• Holding court to listen to concerns

• Managing the production of ivory