Exploring the Empire of Mali

Which of the following best describes the empire of Mali in early West Africa?

• A small village with few people

• A large and prosperous empire

• A desert with no cities

• A mountain region with little trade

How did storytellers in Mali help their communities?

• By building houses

• By passing on stories and traditions

• By trading salt and gold

• By farming the land

What was one reason the kings of Mali were considered powerful?

• They could fly across the desert

• They controlled trade in West Africa

• They built the Sahara Desert

• They invented gold

Why was salt important to the people living in the Sahara Desert?

• It was used to build houses

• It was a valuable natural resource for health and preserving food

• It was used as money only

• It was used to make clothes

What made Timbuktu an important city in Mali?

• It was the only city with gold mines

• It had a famous university and a large library

• It was the capital of the Sahara Desert

• It was the smallest city in Mali

Which of the following best explains why Mali became wealthy?

• It had many mountains

• It controlled important trade routes for salt and gold

• It was close to the ocean

• It had many forests

How did the location of Mali help it become a powerful empire?

• It was far from any trade routes

• It was located between the sources of salt and gold mines

• It was surrounded by water

• It was in the middle of a forest

Why were stories and traditions important in Mali?

• They helped people remember their history and culture

• They were used as money

• They were only for entertainment

• They were written in gold

Imagine you are a merchant in ancient Mali. What would you most likely trade with people from the Sahara Desert?

• Fish

• Salt

• Timber

• Wool

If you were a student in Timbuktu’s university, what would you most likely find in the library?

• Only books about farming

• Greek and Roman books

• Only books written in Mali

• No books at all