WorksheetsWest Africa
Total questions: 32
Worksheet time: 16mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Which of these were West African kingdoms?
a)
Mali
b)
Songhai
c)
Ghana
d)
All of the above
2.
What was one advantage of being part of a kingdom?
a)
Submitting to the conqueror
b)
Receiving protection
c)
Paying tribute
d)
Being part of king's army
3.
In which vegetation zones did West Africans settle?
a)
Desert, Savanna, Semi-desert
b)
Savanna, Desert, Forest
c)
Semi-Desert, Savanna, Forest
d)
Semi-desert, Desert, Forest
4.
What influenced good production and trade in Africa?
a)
Geography
b)
Population
c)
Social Classes
d)
Different types of currency
5.
What geographic feature was considered a "trading highway" in West Africa?
a)
Nile River
b)
Atlas Mountains
c)
Sahel
d)
Niger River
6.
Why did some communities join together?
a)
They worked together for needed help
b)
They were long-lost relatives
c)
They taught each other iron-smelting
d)
They were the founders of Jenne-jeno
7.
Why was iron-smelting important in the growth of West African societies?
a)
Allowed for the development of greater military technology
b)
People could now form their own societies
c)
New farming tools produced a surplus of crops allowing people to work other crafts
d)
People could trade iron trade goods to people all over Africa.
8.
How did villages along rivers become market centers?
a)
Because they could now transport an army to conquer more land.
b)
Because the villagers could travel to and from their home.
c)
Because people from other lands could use the rivers to visit their relatives.
d)
Because the rivers were used for trade purposes.
9.
At its height, Jenne-jeno was at which stage of development?
a)
Extended-family group
b)
Village
c)
Towns/Cities
d)
County
10.
How did some West African cities eventually develop into kingdoms?
a)
Rulers collected taxes & built larger armies
b)
People banded together for protection & created better farming tools
c)
People learned other crafts & then traded them for goods they could not produce themselves
d)
Families choose a leader & mined for iron and gold
11.
Ghana's location was between which 2 important natural resources?
a)
Gold - Water
b)
Salt - Gold
c)
Salt - Water
d)
Trees - Salt
12.
Which geographic feature was a major barrier to trade between West Africa and the regions of North Africa and the Middle East?
a)
Sahara Desert
b)
Mediterranean Sea
c)
Congo Basin
d)
Atlantic Ocean
13.
Wangaran miners used which method to exchange goods?
a)
Highest bidder
b)
A busy marketplace
c)
First come-first served
d)
Silent barter
14.
How did Ghana gain much of its wealth?
a)
Production of lumber
b)
Taxation on trade goods
c)
Raiding other kingdoms
d)
Slave trade
15.
Which of the following is one reason the kingdom of Ghana was overthrown?
a)
Years of drought
b)
Animal attacks
c)
Loss of natural resources
d)
Natural disasters
16.
How have historians learned about Ghana's Empire?
a)
Wood carvings in the forest
b)
Written records kept by Arab scholars
c)
Detailed taxation records
d)
Paintings on salt mine walls
17.
Islam was first introduced to West Africa by...
a)
Slave raiders from the Middle East
b)
Armed nomads from southern Africa
c)
Trans-Saharan caravan traders
d)
Religious pilgrims from Europe
18.
Which religious practice was found in W. Africa before Islamic influence?
a)
Human sacrifices
b)
Praying to God in Arabic
c)
Building mosques for worship
d)
Praying to the spirits of ancestors
19.
Controlling trans-Saharan trade resulted in...
a)
The construction of large irrigation systems
b)
Finding the secret gold mines
c)
West African cities growing into kingdoms
d)
Requiring military service from women
20.
How did Mansa Musa's hajj to Mecca impact the kingdom of Mali?
a)
Egypt began paying tribute to the kingdom of Mali
b)
People in Mecca began to adopt Islamic ideas
c)
Armies from West Africa raided as far north as Spain
d)
People in other lands, including Europe, learned that Mali was rich and important
21.
Why did Islam spread in W. Africa?
a)
Rulers expelled anyone who opposed Islam
b)
Arab rulers visited and explained Islamic beliefs
c)
Muslim leaders conquered the area and imposed Islamic law
d)
People blended Islam with their traditional religions
22.
How were native West African languages kept alive?
a)
They were spoken in everyday life
b)
They were taught in children's schools
c)
They were required in courts
d)
They were used for religious worship
23.
What was the city of Timbuktu known for?
a)
Community of scholars
b)
Productive salt mines
c)
Talented portrait artists
d)
Sea trade with Asia
24.
Which natural resource allowed for the formation and growth of West African kingdoms?
a)
Heavy rainfall
b)
Atlantic Ocean
c)
Senegal River
d)
Plentiful wells
25.
Travelers valued oases because of their...
a)
Vegetation
b)
Salt
c)
Lodging
d)
Water
26.
At it's height, Ghana's empire was ruled by...
a)
Village councils
b)
Powerful kings
c)
Tribal chiefs
d)
Muslim merchants
27.
Camels perfect for desert travel for all of the following EXCEPT:
a)
Their eyelashes protect from sand
b)
They drink 25 gallons of water at a time
c)
They spit and moan when irritated
d)
They can travel several days without stopping
28.
What is shari'ah law?
a)
Traditional African Law
b)
Islamic Law
c)
Sultan Law
d)
University Law
29.
Islam was first introduced to West Africa by...
a)
Slave raiders
b)
Armed nomads
c)
Trans-Saharan traders
d)
Religious pilgrims
30.
West African cities benefitted the most from attaining which of the following?
a)
Requiring military service from women
b)
Finding secret gold mines
c)
Constructing irrigation systems
d)
Controlling trans-Saharan trade
31.
Why did Muslims copy books by hand?
a)
Scholars had to write texts by memory
b)
Scholars wanted to keep books rare
c)
Scholars did not have a printing press
d)
Scholars believed handwritten books were holy
32.
Which artistic form is common to both West African and Islamic cultures?
a)
Decorative calligraphy
b)
Carvings of animals
c)
Bright silks for robes
d)
Geometric designs
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