West African Trading Empires - Practice

Ghana became a powerful kingdom because of

• its control of silver trade

• its control over gold trade

• its control over salt trade

• its control over pepper trade

The histories of West Africa were passed down orally by _____________.

• kings

• knights

• bishops

• griots

______________________ was inspired by African culture.

• Jazz Music

• Gospel Music

• Hip-Hop Music

• All of the above

Based on the map, Timbuktu became a major trading city because...

• It was a city on the coast, available for trade by sea.

• It was deep in the Sahara Desert, difficult to find.

• It was located at the crossroads of several trade routes.

• It was rich with silver.

Who first introduced Muslim beliefs to West Africa?

• King Henry II

• Mr. Lima

• Arab traders

• Mansa Musa

Mansa Musa is best known for...

• making a great pilgrimage to Mecca with a big caravan behind him

• building mosques and schools

• giving away silver

• being a terrible ruler

Trans-Saharan trade and rich minerals allowed ____________ and __________ in West Africa

• decrease in population

• city-states like Mali to be successful

• Islam to be introduced

• economic collapse

Traveling in a caravan with other traders allowed people to

• travel more safely through the harsh desert

• avoid using camels

• set up hundreds of oases to drink water from

• see Mansa Musa on his pilgrimage

Ghana grew powerful because it...

• was in a rich tropical area

• taxed traders on goods they bought and sold

• used tax money to grow a strong army

• controlled the corn trade

Why was salt so valuable?

• It was made into sparkly, precious jewelry.

• it was used to season and preserve food.

• It was hidden away by the wealthy classes, making it more rare.

• It was only found in rivers.