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West African empire of Mali test

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 5hrs 0mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The empire of Mali had --

a)

peninsulas and fishermen

b)

grasslands and miners

c)

oceans and shipbuilders

d)

woodlands and bronze

2.

Which natural resource was often traded for salt?

a)

b)

c)

d)

3.

How do we know about Mali's history?

a)

From books in Timbuktu

b)

From journals kept by Columbus

c)

From trade records found in the Sahara

d)

From stories handed down by storytellers

4.

Which picture shows the physical characteristics of the empire of Mali?

a)

1

b)

3

c)

3

d)

4

5.

Which desert did caravans cross to reach the gold mines of West Africa?

a)

Sahara

b)

Kalahair

c)

Egyptian

d)

Gobi

6.

What city was the person writing the diary entry visiting?

a)

Rome

b)

Cairo

c)

Timbuktu

d)

Athens

7.

Directions: Color the correct continent.

On which continent is Mali located?

8.

What did Mali trade to become a wealthy empire?

a)

Camels and bronze

b)

Fish and water

c)

Silk and tools

d)

Gold and salt

9.

What are TWO reasons people used salt in ancient Mali?

a)

For their health

b)

For building roads

c)

For fertilizing soil

d)

For preserving foods

10.

What describes the government of Mali?

a)

It was a dynasty.

b)

It was ruled by kings.

c)

It was a direct democracy.

d)

It was a representative democracy.

11.

At the beginning of its culture, the West African empire of Mali was located --

a)

in southern Asia

b)

all the way to the Pacific Ocean

c)

by a river in West Africa

d)

along the banks of the mighty Nile

12.

What was found in the library in Timbuktu?

a)

Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics

b)

Chinese scrolls with characters and symbols

c)

Important books, including some copies of Greek and Roman books

d)

Documents written on papyrus paper

13.

Why were the kings of Mali rich and powerful men?

a)

The kings controlled the trade routes of West Africa.

b)

The monarchy controlled spice trade in Asia.

c)

Citizens of Mali paid taxes in gold to the kings.

d)

The kings ruled the empires of Greece and Rome.

14.

What was the role of the person in this picture?

a)

To pass stories from one generation to the next

b)

To entertain the kings of other great empires

c)

To teach children secrets to become wealthy

d)

To entertain traders from the gold mines

15.

Directions: Write the letters int he correct boxes on the map.

Match the resources to the locations where they were found.

16.

Where is Mali located today?

a)

In central Asia

b)

In present-day Italy

c)

In West Africa

d)

In North Africa

17.

What are THREE ways the people of the West African empire of Mali adapted to their environment?

a)

Mined for gold

b)

Traded across the Mediterranean Sea

c)

Traded gold for salt from the Sahara Desert

d)

Farmed and raised animals on the grasslands

e)

Created irrigation systems

18.

Which body of water did Europeans most often cross to trade gold in Mali?

a)

Atlantic Ocean

b)

Mediterranean Sea

c)

Nile River

d)

Red Sea

19.

When was Mali the largest?

a)

At the beginning of its culture

b)

During its period of peak influence

c)

Today

d)

During its period of direct democracy

20.

Which statement describes Mali today?

a)

It stretches further north than ancient Mali.

b)

It touches the Atlantic Ocean.

c)

It touches the Red Sea.

d)

It stretches into east Africa.