Study Questions - West Africa

West African diets are based on root vegetables, grains, and tropical fruits, while North African diets include more wheat, olives, and Mediterranean foods. Why are these diets different?

• Because of climate, geography, and cultural influences.

• Because of language differences.

• Because of population size.

• Because of government policies.

Which of the following are factors that have influenced the dishes West Africans usually eat?

• Climate, available crops and animals, and cultural traditions.

• Geography, language, and technology.

• Religion, politics, and fashion.

• Economy, transportation, and architecture.

Prince Henry the Navigator was interested in West Africa mainly because:

• he wanted to spread Christianity.

• he was seeking new lands to conquer.

• he was interested in trade, especially gold, and to find a sea route to bypass the Sahara trade routes.

• he wanted to establish colonies for Portugal.

Slavery did not have its beginnings in West Africa. In which of the following domains did slavery exist earlier?

• Roman Empire

• West Africa

• United States

• Australia

The two most common religions in West Africa are Islam and Christianity. Where is each religion predominantly practiced, and why are they important in the region?

• Islam is predominant in the north, Christianity in the south; they are important due to historical trade routes and colonial influence.

• Christianity is predominant in the north, Islam in the south; they are important due to modern migration.

• Both religions are equally distributed throughout West Africa; they are important due to language similarities.

• Islam and Christianity are only practiced in urban areas; they are important due to economic reasons.

Cassava is a popular dish in West Africa because it is:

• difficult to grow and rare

• easy to grow, drought-resistant, and used in many staple foods

• only used for animal feed

• imported from other continents

True or false. The land and climate of West Africa are optimal to support large farming operations.

• True

• False

A deterrent to successful livestock operations in West Africa is

• religious prohibition on eating meat

• rustling

• wild animals

• tsetse flies

• none of these

The earliest of the empires in West Africa was?

• the Roman

• Songhai

• Ghana

• Mali

• Egyptian

The Empire of Mali and the Empire of Songhai were concurrent for part of the time they existed.

• True

• False