West Africa Quiz

What geographic feature in West Africa is the subject of Battuta’s writing?

• Gulf of Guinea

• The Sahara

• Niger Valley

• The Gobi

Timbuktu and Djenne were established close to which major river?

• Tigris River

• Niger River

• Euphrates River

• Yangtze River

• Yellow River

How did indigenous African spiritual traditions compare to the Confucian teachings?

• Both performed sacrifices to deities

• Both promoted animism

• Both emphasized a respect for authority

What religion was widely practiced in the ancient Ghana Empire before the spread of Islam?

• Animism

• Christianity

• Judaism

• Zoroastrianism

Which of the following are beliefs that were a part of some indigenous African religions?

• Ancestor Worship

• Pilgrimage

• Dieties

• Animism

• Four Noble Truths

Based on the quote, which conclusion best describes African religious beliefs before exposure to Islam and Christianity?

• Africans had their own beliefs that explained the creation of mankind.

• Before Islam and Christianity Africans had only polytheistic religions.

• Africans did not have an organized belief system before Islam and Christianity arrived.

• Before Islam and Christianity superstitions held more importance than religion.

Prior to the arrival of Christianity and Islam, who were the religious leaders in West Africa?

• Arab traders

• businessmen

• European philosophers

• tribal leaders

Which of the following factors contributed to the growth of the empires shown in the map below? (Select three)

• Access to natural resources such as salt and gold

• Islam spread into the region, bringing scholars and architects which led to urban growth

• The empires were located in the central portion of the Silk Road

• Maritime trade between Japan and the empires increased

• Access to natural transportation routes

What is one major difference between Islam and most indigenous religions of Africa?

• Most indigenous religions were monotheistic.

• Most indigenous religions did not believe in prayer.

• Most indigenous religions required pilgrimage.

• Most indigenous religions did not maintain written practices.

Which of the following explains how West African trading empires used their natural resources to become wealthy?

• All three empires used the Niger River for transportation and trade to increase their wealth and power in the region.

• The Ghana and Mali empires traded across the ocean with Japan.

• The kings of the West African trading empires taxed goods such as silk and gunpowder to gain wealth.

• West Africa did not have wealthy trading empires.