SS7 West Africa Assessment

Few large settlements developed in the Sahara because it was too

• Dry
• Hilly
• Large
• Rocky

What is the main reason why people in different vegetation zones traded with each other?

• Large empires ruled over different zones.
• Different resources were found in each zone.
• The Niger River passed through different zones.
• The zones were home to different cultural groups.

How did the Niger River encourage trade?

• It was a source of food.
• It was a transportation route.
• Its annual floods provided rich soil.
• It provided water for baking.

What did extended-family groups do for defense against dangerous floods or enemies?

• They dug ditches around their communities.
• They lived in isolated areas far from danger.
• They joined other communities to form villages
• They offered gi6s to the leaders of hostile bands.

Which of these was an advantage of becoming part of an empire?

• paying tribute to the king
• trading with the governor
• having to serve in the army
• getting protection from raiders

Which product of West Africa was most important in the trade across the Sahara?

• Oil
• Gold
• Timber
• Clothing

How did Ghana raise money to pay government officials?

• by mining salt
• by selling gold
• by taxing goods
• by buying camels

The trans-Saharan trade increased after about 300 C.E. as a result of the

• growth of cities
• discoveries of salt
• population increase
• introduction of camels

Why do historians not know the location of the gold mines of Wangara?

• The wrien records were lost.
• Arab traders agreed not to tell.
• Oral traditions name two places.
• The miners kept the site a secret.

Which term best describes the role of Ghana in the trans-Saharan trade?

• Consumer
• Gold Miner
• Middlemen
• Salt Merchant